Ready for Launch

That I am.....ready for launch! A long time friend and ex-boss emailed that to me after he read my last blog post and it made me chuckle, so I thought it was perfect for the title of this post! Thanks RS!

With that, there's not much new to report. I just got through speaking with Administration at Plantation General Hospital. We are all set with our 12:30 section. We have to be there at 10:00 to get everything squared away with Registration, then I will head to Triage where I will have final labs done, and get prepped for surgery! I have to fast from midnight tonight until after surgery, so it's a good thing that I'll be sharing my last meal with my family tonight for my Mom's birthday, which is today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! I will be spending the day, trying to keep my mind occupied, by cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and making sure we are all set for when we come home as a family of 4.

As not to miss a beat as a Big Brother, David wants Tyler to stay the night in the hospital with us, so I have to make sure that we have all his stuff together. David will be dropping him off with the sitter for the day on Wednesday and Thursday for some play time with his buddies, so I have to make sure that all his meals are handled, as well. Already having 1 child does make it a little bit harder to prepare for this. Lots to cover! Not to mention the dogs. My parents will be keeping them for the time that we are in the hospital, so I have to get them "packed" too!

What it all boils down to is the blessing of a new life that we will be celebrating tomorrow! We can't wait! I'm sure there won't be much sleep to be had tonight. I'll leave you with my last belly pic at 39 Weeks! As I mentioned, I am ready for launch!!!!!! The next post will be an update on Riley's arrival from a Proud Mommy & Daddy of 2! And so it goes...

Reality Check

The BIG day is approaching and I am suddenly facing the reality of the whole situation. Funny how one can be pregnant for 9 months, knowing full and well what the end result will be, but it just doesn't sink in until it's "time".

I think it really hit me yesterday at my LAST OB CHECKUP when Dr. Grenitz said, "OK, I'll see you Tuesday". WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? You mean, that's it until the big day?????? Such a bittersweet moment, that I even teared up a little. I quickly regained my composure because I didn't want to seem like such a sap, but let's face it, I am a sap and being pregnant does not help! With that, I made my follow-up postpartum appointment, thanked everyone for their well wishes, hugged the girls and told them I would see them in 3 weeks with our new bundle of joy.

As it turns out, the patient before me in the OR did deliver early, so my time slot did get moved to 12:30 for my c-section. I'm super happy about this because I'd rather go earlier than later. Also, there is now the possibility of Riley and Tyler being born around the same time of day, since my time slot with Tyler was also 12:30. Also, even more exciting, my Mom asked if she could be in the O.R. with David and I for the delivery and my Dr. is going to allow a 2nd "cheerleader", so we're excited about that!!!

We're all still happy and healthy. I'm trying to enjoy and relax these last few days before Riley's arrival, but I just can't sit still. It's just not my thing. Sleep is apparently not my thing anymore, either. It doesn't happen. The heat is restricting the duration of my outdoor activities, but I'm still on the go. Our stats as of yesterday's visit were:
Mommy's Weight Gained to Date: 42 lbs
Mommy's BP: 110/68
Fundus Height: If you can believe, I forgot to ask AGAIN!!! Ugh!
Riley's HR: 140 bpm

ONLY 5 DAYS TO GO!!!

Full-Term!

Has anyone seen my belly button? I seem to have temporarily misplaced it!
37 Week Belly

The 37-Week milestone brings two beautiful words: full-term! How sweet it is! Now, whenever Riley's born, she's likely to thrive, even if she does decide to come before August 24th.

I spent the days leading up to 37 weeks battling a horrible cold. My head felt like it weighed 50lbs. with all of the congestion and sleep was non-existent. Of course, there's not much a poor pregnant girl can take to alleviate those symptoms, so I had no choice but to tough it out. I can finally say that I am starting to feel human again. I can't wait to actually taste what I am eating.

As always, my timing was impeccable! (Can you sense the sarcasm?) To make matters even worse, the nasty cold showed up just in time for our 2nd Annual family vacation on Hollywood Beach last weekend. It did put a little damper on my plans, as I was planning on going down early on Friday, but, I felt horrible, so we didn't make it down there until Friday night. Ultimately, it actually turned out to be a nice time and I think the salty sea air and the high humidity actually helped me. I felt much better by Sunday and now, it is finally breaking up and I can somewhat breathe out of my nose again. I took some pictures at the "Robinson Retreat" for you to enjoy. As I previously mentioned, there were 3 of us "Preggos" in our bikinis, so it really was a sight to see. My Sister and Cousin are both 28 weeks along, so we all took a picture together. My cousin Jeff also joined in the action, since he has a belly of his own. The people walking by on the Boardwalk got good entertainment that afternoon. Good times, GREAT memories!

At my weekly checkup today, all went well. My GBS test from last week came back negative, which is good news. Just one less thing to have to worry about. I had my first internal examination (oh, joy!) and the verdict is zero dilation. My cervix is still closed for business!!! This is fine with me, since I am yet to pack my hospital bag.

Stats, thus far, are:
Mommy's Total Weight Gain: 41 lbs. (looks like I might be neck & neck with Tyler's pregnancy, when I gained 44 lbs. total)
Mommy's BP: 117/71
Riley's HR: 156 bpm
Fundus Height: Whelp, I forgot to ask him what this was.....so I'll call tomorrow so that I have accurate records. Darn pregnancy memory!!!

I also saw the Hematologist today, for a follow up. My anemia has improved, which is good. He wants me back to do another follow up 2 weeks after Riley's birth, to see if things are back to normal postpartum. I presume that they will be, especially since I will continue my prenatal vitamin until I am through nursing.

12 DAYS TO GO!!!!! And so it goes...

Let the Weekly Visits Begin!

Baby Bump at the Beach, 36 Weeks
Today marks 36 Weeks, 3 Days pregnant. Just about 20 short days from now, Riley will have made her way into this world, making David and I Proud Parents of 2 and Tyler a Proud Big Brother.

My C-Section has been scheduled for August 24, 2010 (39 Weeks, 2 Days) at 2:30pm. The patient scheduled before me in the OR is also my Dr's patient. My Dr. told me that if that patient ends up going into labor prior to that, there is a chance that I may get her spot at 12:30. That would be so ironic, seeing how that was the same surgery time I had with Tyler, who arrived at 1:07pm.

At my checkup with my OB this morning, which marks the beginning of my weekly visits until Riley's birth, I had my Group B Strep (GBS) test done. This is a common test done at this point of pregnancy which tests for bacterial infection in pregnant women. Surprisingly, my fundus was still measuring small. My Dr. told me it could be one of two things; she is small or she is already settled in my pelvis. I'm hoping it's that she's small, but I have my doubts. Although, I don't have excruciating pressure in my pelvis yet, so it could be that she is small. We'll just have to wait and see. I go back to the Hematologist next Wednesday for a follow up on my anemia, but so far, all of my labs have come back good. My BH contractions are still present. As a matter of fact, David and I watched as I was having one the other night. If only I had a camera to capture the look on his face. My whole belly tightens and forms to Riley when I have them. It is pretty crazy. I'm going to try to catch one on video.

Mommy & Riley stats are as follows:
Mommy's Total Weight Gained to date: 38lbs
Fundus Height: 33cm
Mommy's BP: 110/58
Riley's HR: 128bpm

Those are the facts, as we know them. Aside from that, we are just finalizing all else in preparation for our second little miracle. Riley's hospital bag has been packed since last week, only because hers was the fun one to pack. Mine is still yet to be packed, but mine is the boring stuff. The bassinet is set up in our room and I am going to get the glider out of storage this week. We're looking forward to our 2nd Annual Family Stay-cation this weekend with the whole fam-damily. I like to refer to it as the Robinson Retreat, since it's all my Mom's side of the family. We had such a great time last year! This year, there will be 3 preggos on the beach, so it should be a sight to see!!! Something tells me that I will be spending LOTS of time in the pool with this awful heat! Stay tuned for more pictures of baby bumps on the beach! And so it goes...

87.5% Cooked

We're getting down to the nitty gritty here and getting super excited about it! We are officially 35 Weeks & 1 Day along.

Last weekend, we made our last trip up to Lake Wales, until after Riley makes her debut. It was a nice weekend and we spent it doing some last minute things in preparation for Ms. Riley. Our room now looks like a crib storage, as we now have 2 cribs and a changing table, among our furniture. We did it this way so that the second room can remain the guest, or bunk room. I meant to take a picture, but forgot to. Imagine that! Other than that, we took our normal rides and David helped friends of ours do some drywall work in their new place. As always, the weekend went by too fast and we were sad to come home.

I saw the Hematologist last week and he is not at all concerned with my Anemia. After reviewing my labs, he said it wasn't bad, so we will remain status quo for now. I am to continue on the iron supplement, in addition to my prenatal. I have a follow up appointment in 2-1/2 weeks where he will do another test to monitor my levels. I am also making a personal sacrifice and eating red meat and other iron-rich foods as much as I possibly can. It's not that I am totally against red meat, I just prefer white meat.

My weekly pregnancy email from TheBump.com reminded me that this is the week that I should pack our hospital bags, so I guess I'll do that. You never know what can happen. With Tyler, I waited until 38 weeks, but since we're scheduled for delivery at 39 Weeks & 2 Days, my timeline is cut a little short this time around. In fact, 4 weeks from tomorrow, Riley will be here!!!!

Mommy and Riley updates this week are general, since my next appointment isn't until next week (Doc is on vacation this week). From then on, until "D Day", they will be weekly visits. Still, I am feeling great and Riley is still as active as ever (but running out of wiggle room!). Last night she gave me a jab to some organ on the left side (kidney, maybe?) that made me jump. It was painful, but only for that second. It kind of made me chuckle a bit since I was the only one in the Living Room and I thought to myself, if that were to happen in public and someone would have seen me jump like I did, they probably would have thought "what the "F" is wrong with that woman?" HA! We're looking forward to a busy next couple of weekends with Stef & Jarrett's Engagement Party, Ember's FIRST Birthday and the 2nd Annual Robinson Retreat! These next 4 weeks are going to fly!!! Also, congrats to the Spencer Family on the birth of their baby boy, Layne, this morning! And so it goes...

Our Little Honeydew

Perhaps it's just me, but this pregnancy seems to have been the fastest on record. (I say that with all 20 extremities crossed, hoping that the last couple of weeks don't drag on and on and on.) As of today, I am 34 weeks, 1 day along and 5 Weeks from tomorrow, Riley will be in our arms. My C-Section has been scheduled with the hospital for August 24th, 2010. Therefore, we will be the proud parents of 2 Virgos. That is, if she doesn't decide that her debut should be sooner than that.

The Braxton Hicks contractions that I've been experiencing have been crazy. With Tyler, I didn't have them until around 38 Weeks (Doc says I did, I just didn't recognize them) so when I started experiencing them around 30 weeks, I was a little taken back by them. I can literally sit and watch my stomach contract, which is crazy, not to mention the fact that they are very painful. When I had them with Tyler, they were very mild and did not stop me in my tracks. These do. So, at my last checkup, I consulted with my Doc about this and he said it is very common and normal for the second pregnancy. Phew!!!! He also warned me that the healing contractions that I will experience while nursing will be much more painful this time around. Oh, joy!!!! As if nursing isn't painful enough in the first month, or so. Again, while nursing Tyler, the healing contractions were mild and not painful at all. On the upside, Doc said that the surgery recovery will be much easier this time around, although, I didn't think it was bad at all with Tyler, so that's surely something to look forward to. So, basically, I'm just supposed to keep an eye on the contractions and make sure they're not too frequent.

On to other topics (and I know I'm going to jinx myself now)...

I'm feeling great. I still have plenty of energy, which I need in order to keep up with Tyler. I still wash my truck and mow the lawn on a weekly basis, which most people call me crazy for. You should see the looks on some of my neighbor's faces when I'm out there in my bikini pushing a mower. Last week was the best. As I was mowing, I got caught in a rainstorm that I thought I could beat. Not so much! I didn't stop and was drenched by the time the lawn was done. Upside, it felt soooooo good! All of the NB clothes, blankets, burp clothes, etc. are washed and loaded in the dresser. The bassinet is set up in our room and the car seat will be in the car this week. Nesting has begun (although, personally, I think I'm a full-time "Nester").

My stats at my last checkup were all great, with one exception....Anemia. Weight gain at 34 weeks was 34 lbs, fundus height was 32cm, Riley's heart rate was 150bpm and my BP was 116/68. I got an A+ in those categories. Riley (per my fundus height) is still in the "average" size range, as the fundus is typically supposed to be consistent with the gestational week. She is about the size of a honeydew at this point. As for the anemia, I am borderline anemic without being pregnant, so pregnancy just makes it worse. 50% of all pregnant women develop anemia during pregnancy due to the additional amount of red blood cells required to distribute oxygen to their body and to baby. Therefore, I am to be on an iron supplement, in addition to my prenatal vitamin, as well as see as Hematologist starting next week, just to monitor it until delivery. I had to do the same when I was pregnant with Tyler. As most know, women lose A LOT of blood during and after childbirth, so it's important to make sure blood counts are good before childbirth, so no postpartum complications develop.

Sleep is still OK. I usually have no problem falling asleep and I only wake once a night for a potty break. It's at that point that I may have an issue getting comfortable again, but it usually doesn't take long before I am back to sleep.

Other than that, all is well and we're busy preparing to our little girl's arrival. I still haven't experienced any swelling in my hands or feet, but I didn't with Tyler either, so maybe that will be consistent with this one.

I'll leave you with 2 departing photos, which show the belly from the 8 week mark and the 34 week Baby Bump. The female body is truly amazing!!!!!!!!

Maternity Shoot

After a short deliberation, we decided that we should do a Professional Maternity Portrait Session, only because we did one when we were pregnant with Tyler. After doing it, I'm glad we did. It made us realize, again, how special this time is and how quickly it is forgotten once baby is here. Besides, to me, there is a special beauty about maternity photos that set them aside from any other portrait. Not to mention that the photographer snuck in a few shots of Tyler alone, so that was nice!

We only contemplated doing it because we are now well aware of how fast the maternity portraits get covered up with newborn pictures, then 6 month pictures, etc. It just goes so fast! I would love it if I had enough wall space to just keep adding frames with new pictures, but that would require endless wall space and who has that???

Anyway, here they are for you to enjoy. Click Here To View Maternity Photos. If there is any family member out there reading this who wants a copy of any of them, let me know. 62 days to go! And so it goes...

Up Close and Personal

Hello, Ms. Riley! Yes, we will see you soon!
Where will technology take us next??? Yesterday, we had our 3D Sonogram done of Ms. Riley. I invited my Mom and Mother-in-Law along so that they could witness the experience of modern technology when it comes to the gestational world. My Mother-in-Law ended up with the stomach flu and was not able to attend, but my Mom got to witness how incredibly awesome it was!

Like with Tyler, Ms. Riley was ever so uncooperative and would not part with her right arm. Her right hand was in her face 99% of the duration of the scan, but we were still able to get some really great shots of her. The tech kept having to pat my belly and give little nudges to try and get her to move her arm, but it would end up right back where she liked it, against her face. She was moving a ton, just not moving that arm out of the way. I think I rolled from my back to my side to my back 4 different times. In the end, it worked for the most part and we were able to say hello to our little Riley Girl. We concluded that she has the same facial features as Tyler did and she DOES have hair, so I think we're all in agreement that she is going to be the female version of Tyler. I am ecstatic about the fact that she has hair because I already have a basket full of hair bows & headbands and more are being shipped to me as we speak (shhhhh...don't tell David!)
Yawning!
Eyes Open!
Smiling! It was really incredible to be able to watch our little girl (and yes, we did confirm yet again that there is a hamburger and no hot dog) on the screen yawning, rubbing her eyes, opening her eyes and even smiling. As I've said before, we had the same sonogram done with Tyler, but the miracle of new life never gets old and I would be just as intrigued if this were our 8th child. Now, more so than before, I CANNOT wait to meet her. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE 3D PICTURES Only 11 more weeks (or less) to go until we get to see her face to face! And so it goes...

The Home Stretch

28 Weeks

The term "flying by" doesn't even sum it up. 40 weeks seems to be an eternity when you first find out you're expecting and feeling like garbage. But, when the joy sets in and the baby bump starts to expand, it seems to all rush together and before you know it, you're where I am........in Trimester 3 thinking "holy crap, only 12 weeks to go". It's possibly only 11 for me, since I may be scheduled a little early depending on Ms. Riley's growth.

It really set in last week when I went for my checkup. It had only been 2 weeks since my last visit and I just couldn't believe that I was already at the point of visits every 2 weeks instead of 4. Speaking of, I had my glucose test done at my visit last week (when they test for gestational diabetes) and I'll get the results next week. Fingers are crossed that all is well and I don't have to go back to take the 4 hour test.

Other than that, all is starting to come together. The pink and brown is starting to flood the house and I'm really starting to get excited about having a little girl! Everytime I buy something for Riley, David's response is "wow, I'm not used to seeing pink everywhere". He's getting excited, too! He often asks me "how's my little girl doing" when he gets home from work or being away, and it melts my heart.

In the next few weeks, we are trying to conquer the following:
- Traveling to Lake Wales as much as possible before I reach my "can't travel out of the county" stage.
- We will be having a 3D sonogram done of Ms. Riley, to try and catch an early glimpse of what she looks like.
- Mommy will be having a prenatal massage so that she can slip off into heaven for 60 min. or so.
- Infant / Toddler CPR course (we signed up for this when I was pregnant with Tyler, but a lovely hurricane threatened FL, so it was cancelled.)
- We are still deciding whether or not to have Maternity Portraits done. We had them done when I was pregnant with Tyler, but we now know how quickly they get covered up with baby photos. We'll see...

Other than that, we are all happy and healthy. Stats from my last visit were:
Riley's Heart Rate: 148bpm
Fundus Height: 28cm (right on target for 28 weeks)
Mommy's Total Weight Gain: 24lbs (right on target with Pregnancy #1)

And so it goes....

29 & 25

Sunday marked 29-years-old for Mommy and 25 weeks gestation for Riley. My sister got me a super comfy pink dress, so I thought it would be fitting to take my 25 week picture in it!
**********************************************************
Is this your first pregnancy? No, it sure isn't.

When did you find out you were pregnant? Officially, January 6, 2010, but we had very good suspicion prior to that day.

Was it planned? Kinda, Sorta

What was your first reaction? Ha! I knew it!

Who was with you when you found out? No one. It was 6 a.m.

Who was the first person you told? David, of course.

How did your parents react? They were happy, and not the least bit surprised.
How far along are you? 25 Weeks, 2 Days

What was your first symptom? Good Ole' Ms. Nausea

What is your due date? August 29, 2010

Do you know the sex of the baby? Yeppers!

If so, what is it? It's a Girl! ♥

Have you picked out names? She shall be Riley Paige Hunter!

How is your sleep? Whelp, let's just say it's getting less and less comfortable. Not to the point that I am up most the night, but my belly has begun to get in the way. This is probably my least favorite part of pregnancy.

How much weight have you gained? 15 lbs.

Have you felt the baby move? All the time! Especially, at night!

Have you heard the heartbeat? Sure have. Last time we heard it, it was 142 bpm. We'll get to hear it again this Friday!

How are you feeling? Overall, I'm feeling great! No complaints here! I can't believe I'm approaching trimester 3 already! It sure does go fast! We have been walking at night, which seems to help me sleep better.

What do you miss the most? Hmmmm. Sleeping on my belly??? Oh, and sushi!!!!

Hot Off the Press!

Literally, the sonograms are still warm from the printer and the paint is still wet.

Today we saw Dr. Rosa at SE Perinatal Associates for our Anatomy Scan. Talk about detailed. I thought our Integrated Screening was long and detailed. This one was a full 45 minutes and we saw every nook and cranny on our baby (not that we minded at all). Big Brother Tyler also came along with Daddy and I to see his baby sister. We kept telling him to look at the baby on the screen and the look that we got from him in return was that of total confusion. It's hard for an adult to make out a lot of the images on a sonogram, so I did not expect Tyler to understand what we were talking about. As for the scan, it was incredible! I had a different technician than I had last time, but this one was just as knowledgeable and friendly, making for just as good of an experience. She measured her brain, all 4 chambers of the heart, kidneys, spine, legs, arms, abdomen and head. HB2 measured exactly to the day of what my EDD calculates, which is 21 weeks, 3 days (already?!?!). We also got to see the blood flow in the heart and to all the major organs. It is absolutely incredible how far technology has come, even since my last pregnancy. At the end of the scan, the technician confirmed that HB2 is still a girl, thankfully. Otherwise, I would be returning a lot of stuff that I have already purchased for her. Other than that, she and I both got a clean bill of health and we were on our way. Here are a few of the pictures of our baby girl. You can see more of them in the Gestational Photo Album.


And now, the moment that so many have been waiting for, we are prepared to reveal her name. I have diligently been trying to make time to complete her letters for the wall above her crib. Now that they are complete, we can rightfully disclose that her name will be...[I literally just finished these today and they were still wet when I took the picture!]

Riley Paige Hunter

I also wanted to thank The Banzin's for Riley's first personalized gift. I received a box in the mail a few weeks ago and thought, "what the heck did I order and forget about, this time???" Luckily for David, it was a gift from someone and not my doing, ha! It's a super-soft Lamb with a matching "lovie" that has her name embroidered on it. Thank you Matt & Andrea, it's perfect!



As for me, I'm doing wonderfully. I just started to get some lower back pain after standing for a long period, but it's nothing major, so I can't complain. It's probably due to this ever growing belly, as it sure has "blossomed" over the last week. You can see my belly growth, week-by-week, in my Pregnancy Photos Album. My sleep is still great and my appetite is still ginormous. "Eating for 2" is sometimes an understatement, as I feel more like I am eating for 3. But, as long as we're all good and healthy, it's all "worth the weight". Speaking of weight, I go for my 4 week checkup with my OB on Friday and I'll find out what my total weight gain is at this point, which up to now, has been 11 lbs. That's all for now. And so it goes...

Midway Mommy

Yesterday marked 20 weeks pregnant, halfway through this 40 week journey. I can almost consider my journey as being more than halfway complete, seeing that if this little girl decides to develop like Tyler did, this journey will end around 39 weeks and a new one will begin. Only time will tell.

That being said, I feel great! I feel little Miss moving all the time now. The movements have gotten a little bit stronger as she is growing by the day. I have noticed that I do have a quite a bit more energy these days and I'm napping and sleeping less and less, which is the way I prefer it anyway. One big difference that I have noticed, in the past week or so, is that my appetite is ginormous! Over the weekend we were in Lake Wales and I feel like I did nothing but eat! I'm keeping up with my pregnancy journal and my belly book and it seems that I'm right on track, just as I was with Tyler. Other than that, all is well. We go to the Perinatal next Wednesday to have our Anatomy Scan done (can't wait to see her again) and then for a regular OB checkup on Friday! And so it goes...

Perfect Positioning

Our little girl is making history...our history, that is. Last Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at 17 weeks-2 days, I officially felt our baby girl move for the first time.

At first, of course, I thought it may be gas rumbling around, but after the feeling reoccurred several times, there was no doubt in my mind what I was feeling. I went back through my Maternity Journal that I kept with Tyler to see when I was first able to identify his movement. With Tyler, it was 20 weeks when I documented feeling him move for the first time. Being my second pregnancy, this time around these feelings are no longer foreign and I am able to identify them more accurately.

It is all becoming so real seeing that I am feeling and looking pregnant now. Even more surreal is that I am nearing the halfway mark already, as I am 18 weeks today. It will be sooner than we know, that we will be able to watch and feel baby girl's movement on the outside of my belly as she tries to find her perfect position. It is then when all the feelings of heels to the rib cage (oh joy) and fetus hiccups will all come back to me. Until then, I'll enjoy these pain-free flutters. And so it goes...

Word Jumble Anyone?

And her name will be.........


Did you really think it would be that easy???? If you're trying to figure it out, please know that the break in the lines and the letter ordering have no meaning whatsoever. To make matters even more confusing, there is also a catch to these letters.
I'm not really sure why we're holding her name hostage, but we're still not ready to disclose it. It's certainly not for the reason that we're worried that we'll be swayed from it, because we LOVE it. Perhaps it's just an anticipation thing, seeing how we've waited so long to finally associate it with a living being...OUR living being. It's special and we know it will suit her perfectly.
Sorry to keep you on the hook, again, but at the rate that the days are passing, it will be soon enough before her name is revealed. And so it goes...

Hot Dog or Hamburger???

After much awaited anticipation, we are pleased to announce...

A Hamburger it is!!!!!!! David told me when we first found out that we were pregnant, that he hoped it was a girl. I was riding the fence. Already having a boy, I found it to be my "comfort zone", but the idea of a girl really excited me. I had a gut feeling that it was a girl from the beginning, but for some reason, these past 2 weeks, I have been doubting my intuition. I feel like I am carrying the same way that I carried Tyler. From what I've been told, with girls, you carry more round. With Tyler, I was all out front. Maybe it's too early to tell, but I definitely don't feel like I am going to be as big as I was with Tyler. Only time will tell.


On another exciting note, we can now put our girl name, which I've mentioned we've had picked out for 6 or 7 years now, to use. My sister even tried to steal it when she was pregnant with Madison, but I stood my ground. I thought that may have been my downfall. I figured since I didn't let her use it, I would probably never have a girl. BUT, here we are, pregnant with a little girl. And now you're probably wondering what that name is????? Stay tuned. It will be disclosed sooner than later. And for those of you that do know it, keep those lips zipped, please.

Most importantly, I want to thank my dear friend Mari for going out of her way to arrange this special sonogram for us!!!! You are the best!!! I hope you had as much fun as I did, even if she was a little stubborn for you. We watched baby girl for about 40 minutes (not knowing the gender) and got to listen to her heartbeat. We were finally able to see between the legs toward the end, after much moving and grooving. Thanks again, Mari!

To make matters even more sweet, as I was publishing this post, the Perinatal's office called with the results of my integrated screening. Baby girl tested negative for Trisomy 18, Trisomy 20 and Nueral Tube Defects! Great news yesterday, followed by great news today!

And now the pink preparation begins! And so it goes...

Farewell, Trimester #1

Is this your first pregnancy? Nope

When did you find out you were pregnant? Officially, January 6, 2010, but we had very good suspicion prior to that day.

Was it planned? Kinda, Sorta

What was your first reaction? Ha! I knew it!

Who was with you when you found out? No one. It was 6 a.m.

Who was the first person you told? David, of course.

How did your parents react? They were happy, and not the least bit surprised.

How far along are you? 13 1/2 Weeks

What was your first symptom? Good Ole' Ms. Nausea

What is your due date? August 29, 2010

Do you know the sex of the baby? Not yet, but we will in a few weeks

If so, what is it? Stay tuned...

Have you picked out names? Only if it's a girl. We've had that one since we were 23, thanks to a Trace Adkins concert. We're still working on the boy side of things.

If so, what are they? Not to be disclosed just yet.

How much weight have you gained? 3 lbs.

Do you have stretch marks? Doesn't everyone who has had a baby?

Have you felt the baby move? Not yet

Have you heard the heartbeat? Sure have. I actually heard it today at my checkup. 155bpm

More Baby Assessment

As the first trimester is winding down, let the testing commence!

Today I had an appointment at the Perinatal's office for my First/Integrated Screening. They conducted testing for Trisomy 18(Edwards Syndrome), Trisomy 21(Down Syndrome) and NTD(Neural Tube Defects). This is a three-part test, consisting of Blood Draw #1 (today), Blood Draw #2 (in 3 weeks) and a very detailed sonogram.

I, aside from wanting to hear that everything looked great, couldn't wait to see Hunter Baby #2 (HB2) again. It's so funny how, although I've already experienced all of this when I was pregnant with Tyler, it never gets old. With every appointment, we get even more excited and live the moment over and over again. The whole process of creating new life is so amazing, that I'm not sure it could ever get old [even if I was Michelle of '19 Kids & Counting'].

Enough digressing....The sonogram technician, whom I really, really liked, performed a VERY detailed sonogram, focusing on so many things. In plain English (which is the explanation that I always opt for), aside from measuring the baby for normal development, they measure the thickness of the skin and fluid behind the neck for early detection of NTD. In babies with NTD, the measurement of that area is very thick. I am happy to report that HB2 looked and measured perfectly. After I heard that news, I just focused on the screen and watched our 2nd little miracle wiggle and wave. The sonogram technician was so personable and made me feel like we'd known each other for years. She was nice enough to take various "pictures" from all different angles and printed them all out for me. [Did I mention that I really liked her?] I put some of the different pictures in the Gestational Photos Album for you to see. What a difference 3 weeks makes. HB2 resembled a nugget in the last sonogram 3 weeks ago. Today, a perfect little human being appeared on the screen. HB2's heart rate was 158 bpm today, nice and fast, just they way they like to see it. I also got to hear the heartbeat for the first time today during the sonogram, which is utterly indescribable. Again, it's one of those things that will never get old. Not in my book, anyway.

I go for my regular 4 week checkup with my OB next week and then back to the Perinatal to complete my integrated screening in a few weeks. Shortly following that, we should be able to find out what the sex of our newest addition will be, which we do plan on finding out. Until then, we'll keep it a guessing game. And so it goes...

Smooth Sailing

Good riddance, Ms. Nausea!!!! Welcome back, productive Mommy!

And with that statement, I breathe a heavy sigh of relief (as I simultaneously knock on wood). I have been praying for this day to come for what seemed like an eternity. I think David has been patiently awaiting this day more than I have. I've never heard him tell me he "feels so bad for me" so many times. For those that know me well, I have severe OCD and NEVER leave laundry in the dryer or dirty dishes in the sink. Well, I am unhappy to report that I did leave dishes in the sink a couple of nights and left laundry in the dryer countless times over the last month or so. That being said, it was such a task for me to even cook dinner or start a load of laundry, I felt so bad.

With Tyler, I experienced the unfriendly nausea and, while I don't remember it being as bad as it was this time around, my Mom reminds me all the time of how I would call her telling her that I was "going to die" because I felt that bad. Funny how the good always outweigh the bad. According to my pregnancy journal that I kept with Tyler, my nausea subsided just after 11 weeks. History has repeated itself, only this time, it has spared me a few days.

Last Friday, much to my surprise, I woke up on my own at 6:40, full of energy. My Niece was coming over for the day, but I had already warned my Sister to enter quietly and to just put her in bed with me when she got there. My typical sleeping habits, for the last month or so, have been extensive, not usually rising until at least 9:00, just to feel like poop for the entire day/night. When I woke up at 6:40, feeling great, I was shocked! I did 2 loads of laundry and was in the process of mopping the floor when my Sister arrived. Incredible! The day went on and so did my feeling good. I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but I thought MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, this was a good sign. Saturday morning, we loaded up and headed for Everglades City for their annual Seafood Festival. I was a little hesitant on agreeing to go to this, seeing that it was about a 1-1/2 hour car ride, but nonetheless, I figured we could just leave if I began to feel bad. I hung in there and actually had a great time. We wanted to stay to watch John Anderson perform, but ended up only hearing 2 or 3 of his songs and left at about 7:00. By then, it was really chilly out and I was ready for a nice warm shower and bed. Sunday was even better. We worked around the house and did a few small home improvement projects, all the while, I felt great!

Sunday also marked 11 Weeks gestation for Hunter Baby #2. All in all, I ended up getting sick 3 times (which, for me, is 3 times too many, as I am repulsive to vomiting) and was nauseous every waking moment since the 6 week mark. Although it was all for a wonderful reason, I am extremely pleased to see that stage go. Now, on to the next. And so it goes...

*11 Weeks*

Smile, You're in Print!

Today we got to see our second little miracle for the first time! Without further ado, I present to you Hunter Baby #2...The round object above the baby's head is the yolk sac that is feeding baby right now.
I went in for my 9 week sonogram this morning, which is when the fetus (no longer an embryo at this point) is measured for gestation age accuracy and development. They also check for other things to do with the ovaries, etc., but, I wasn't keeping up with the dialogue for that part of the scan. I was too busy watching our little miracle fluttering away on the screen. In the end, the sonogram technician said everything looked PERFECT! We could see the head, the body and the tiny flipper-like arms waving away! The fetus measured 9 weeks-1 day, which accelerates my due date one day to August 29. I've already been told by my doctor that my c-section will be scheduled a little early, so the final birth date is still to be determined. At this rate, Mimi (my Mom) and baby may share their special day. My Mom's Birthday is August 23.

We also got to see baby's heartbeat, which was beating strongly at 167 bpm. At my first sonogram with Tyler, which was also at 9 weeks, his heart rate was 150 bpm. The myth is that a girl has a higher heart rate than a boy. I guess we'll just have to wait a few weeks and see. At this point, fetus measured approximately 1" in length, about the size of a green olive, which is right on track for her gestation age. (I say her, because nothing has "developed" yet).
As for me, even with all my nausea, I have still managed to gain 2 lbs. Looks like I, too, am right on track to follow in the footsteps of my first pregnancy. I gained a whopping 44lbs the first time!!!! Also, all my blood work came back perfect, so we're good in that department, as well. Healthy Mommy = Healthy Baby! That's all that counts in our book! And so it goes...*9 WEEKS*

Let the Belly Shots Begin!

*8 WEEKS*

The purpose of these belly shots are for my "Belly Book". I have a Belly Book from my first pregnancy, compliments of my sister, who is a scrapbooking Queen. I conquered the production of my first Belly Book for my friend Katrina while she was pregnant. I was pretty proud of the finished product, as it was 24 pages long and very detailed, right down the fundus height. Thank goodness Katrina was good about getting me all the stats!

This time around, I will be combining things I learned from my first pregnancy and what I have learned along the way, while doing my own Belly Book for Hunter Baby #2. I'm sure I'll turn to the Queen for some advice, as well as, revert back to the 2 Belly Books I have under my belt. In any event, I can't wait to start it.

Sit back, relax and watch this belly grow! And so it goes...

First Prenatal Visit

I decided to switch my OB with this pregnancy. I had been seeing my last OB for about 8 years and have been at the same practice since I was 15. I had no problems with my last OB during my first pregnancy, but decided that if this might be my last pregnancy (if it's a girl), than why not experience Dr. Grenitz, and see what all the rave is about.

I attended my first prenatal visit with Dr. Grenitz yesterday morning. My first impression: I liked the office. It's a much smaller office than my last, which seemed a little more welcoming. Second impression: the receptionist is a man????? Correct, a super nice, gay man. Pretty funny, too! After filling out the oodles of new patient paperwork, it was my turn to be seen. A quick urine sample and I was off to be weighed. The nurse was extremely nice and personal, so I knew that this relationship was going to be a lasting one. It was then time for my examination with Dr. Grenitz. I'll spare the details, but will say, it was a good visit. Everything looks great! We talked, went over a few things that may have slipped my mind from last time and then determined that my C Section will most likely be scheduled for a week prior to my due date, since Tyler was such a BIG BOY! I was happy to hear that. With my exam complete, I was off to give 8 vials of blood for testing. It's amazing how many advances in medicine there have been since my last pregnancy. There are tests for everything and then some. I go back in 1-1/2 weeks to have the first scan done and see Hunter Baby #2 for the first time.

So, to sum it up, the pertinent info is:
Estimated Due Date: August 30, 2010 (Scan will confirm or give more accurate DD)
Current Gestation Age: 7 weeks, 2 days
Current Weight: 121 lbs

We're Pregnant with #2!

WoooHoooo! The Hunter Family is soon to be a family of 4!

For a couple of weeks I have been telling David that I had a feeling that I was pregnant. I just had a feeling. When ya know, ya know. Then, one night, I was awoken by my heart about to beat right out of my chest and I knew exactly what it was all about. It wasn't a bad dream and it wasn't an anxiety attack. It was my body pumping 10% more blood than usual. I vividly remember this occurrence when I was pregnant with Tyler. It is so outrageous! You can feel your heartbeat in your temples. Well, at least I can. I eventually fell back asleep, probably an hour later, after tossing & turning. At that point, Aunt Flo wasn't considered late yet, so we just played the waiting game.

A week or so later, Aunt Flo was due, but she never showed up, thereby confirming my suspicions. Not to mention the fact that good ole' Ms. Nausea came knocking on Jan 3rd, 2010, and has been here ever since. We headed to the store to buy a home pregnancy test. Good thing we bought the 2-pack, because the first one was "retarded" and after I took it, it read "See Pamphlet". What?! I should have taken a picture, I was so baffled. This is not brain surgery, so I knew that I hadn't done it wrong. Anyhow, I took the other test the next morning and it didn't even flash for 2 seconds before "PREGNANT" appeared on the screen. I left it on the bathroom vanity and as I kissed David good-bye for work, I told him that I left him a present in the bathroom. His reply: "Here we go!"

On my way to work, I called my Sister. I had told her about my suspicions, so she was waiting on the results. Next call was to my new OB, who comes highly recommended by SO MANY people, including my Sister, as he delivered my Niece. First prenatal visit was scheduled. We told my parents that night at Family Dinner Night and went to David's parents the next night to tell them. The chain reaction has been trickling down from there! The funny part of the whole thing is the fact that I am basically reliving my last pregnancy time-wise. I found out I was pregnant last time just after New Year's and told my parents just before my Dad's birthday, which is January 8. Same thing this time around. The only downfall, I have had to skip out on his sushi birthday dinner twice now. No fair! The BEST part...the kids will be almost exactly 2 years apart. I think that is going to be so much fun for us and them!

OK, so there's our story. I will update you all as we go. And so it goes...