1st Prenatal Visit

Stasha’s pregnancy was confirmed this morning and the first prenatal visit is behind us. Right now we have a due date of 11/05/2008. Today Stasha had all the lab work stuff done, her blood pressure, weight, etc… and of course that infinite list of questions they ask. I’ve found with the nurse in this office that you’re better off to keep it quick and easy because she seems to have no interest at all in the events that are unfolding. If we didn’t like the doctor so much and if we had another obvious choice we probably would not have gone with this doctor the second time around simply because of his nurse. She has no personality what so ever and she’s rather slack in my opinion but we all know what they say about opinions right?? We can’t fault Dr. C because of his nurse. He really is an awesome doctor.

Dr. C took a good deal of time talking to Stasha about what to expect the second time around and he stressed the importance of keeping herself on a healthy track since we know this will be a scheduled C-Section and we want her to be at the best physical condition she can be when that time comes for optimal recovery. He went over the do’s and don’ts … most of which I had forgotten then he told her to come back in next Friday and he would do her first sonogram to get a better idea of how far along she is. If we’re lucky she’ll be far enough along to be able to detect a heartbeat … if not he will follow up with another sonogram a week later.

One thing we have found out is that a local community college is always looking for volunteers to visit their radiology class for sonograms. They ask for a small donation of $5.00 to cover the cost of sono print paper. They will do them as often as she wants to visit. They seem to be really excited about having someone inquiring this early in a pregnancy about the sonogram program and the prospect of being able to follow this pregnancy through to delivery. It would be a great training experience for the techs. They have already asked to do one at 20 weeks for gender determination (they will only tell us if we want to know and of course we do!!) and then to do a 4D at 30 weeks.

Keep watching for updates!!

Family Knows and I’m Dealing as Best I Can

After a total breakdown during Church yesterday morning, a visit to the alter to lay my burden at the foot of the cross, and finally telling my Mama and my sister that Stasha is pregnant again, I’m looking brighter at the future. While I’m still not totally happy and excited about another bundle of joy I’m accepting the fact that God is not going to give us anything we can’t handle. He’s going to be there in time of need and he’s going to give us the strength we need to get through this.

Stasha has been pretty nauseated and extremely fatigued. More so than she was with Peyton. Another scary note is that even this early she has a little belly budge. Actually the little bit of lose skin from her previous pregnancy is already tight and solid. Why does this scare me you ask? Well … let me break down the family tree a bit here for ya …

1. My grandfather’s mother, on my mothers side of the family had 10 sets of twins in his family. Count it … 1, 2, 3, etc… These twins would have been his brothers/sisters had they survived. As it turns out only one set survived.

2. My grandfather then had a daughter, my aunt, who gave birth to a set of twins, unfortunately they were too small and did not make it. This set of twins is my generation.

3. My grandfather’s sister’s daughter, which would be my 2nd cousin, gave birth to twins who are now 18ish. These twins would have also been my generation.

4. The potential for twins born to my generation, thus far, appears to be the ’skip’ year. Following the family tree enlightens me with the thought that my kids, aka Stasha, could very well be a generation for twins.

Now then … while you’re saying Yeah, but maybe not … let me throw another twist …

5. This new baby that’s just getting started … his father has a set of twin brothers and the history as I understand it for twins in his family is greater than it is in ours.

Just another thing this Nana has to worry about! Thank goodness I’m laughing. I honestly don’t think I could cry anymore. We see the doctor on Thursday and I feel pretty certain that since we are so early he will do the endovaginal sonogram to confirm the pregnancy and estimate a due date. I’m guessing around the end of October or first of November. NO … We are NOT having a Halloween baby!!! LOL

Watch for an update on Thursday.

When Random Thoughts Become Reality

I guess I should learn to stop having random thoughts huh? Right now I’m rather numb. I’m not sure if I want to laugh or cry, be excited or be depressed, be angry or be grateful … I’m just downright not sure how I want to feel or how I should feel. My previous random thoughts were confirmed … once last night and again this morning.

My daughter’s dad took her yesterday afternoon and bought the First Response Pregnancy Test. Not just any box of test but the box which contains TWO test … he wanted to be sure of the results. She took the first test before I got home then called me at work to let me know the test was positive. I was still in doubt until I got home and looked. Sure enough there is one bold pink line and a second really light, almost faint pink line. That second, I can just barely see it line, is the line that says YES, you are pregnant. My thought last night was that the second line was so faint it was in error and the test was actually a negative. I told her we would do the other test first thing this morning. At 7:15am we’re both standing in the bathroom waiting to see what lines showed up. That first bold pink line came up and then nothing … we waited … the instructions say to wait three minutes … we waited … by the start of minute three that really light, almost faint second pink line began to appear.

Part of me is saying “we’ve got a box of bogus, I’m going to play with your mind tests”. Another part of me is saying “I know it’s positive but I’m not going to believe it”. Yet another part of me is saying “both tests is positive and I’ve just got to accept it”. Deep inside a part of me, the part that is being unrealistic, is saying “I really am excited that another little baby is on the way”.

I’m guessing this blog will end up turning into the baby watch/baby update blog. I wish I knew how to update and create this stuff to make it more appropriate … I don’t … so I’ll just mumble through … it’s quiet alright anyway!

Stay tuned and any advice you wanna share please feel free to do so.

A Random Thought & Why

I absolutely love Lil Man with every ounce of my heart and soul.  He is the one thing that makes me anxious to wake up every morning and negligent to go to bed at a decent hour every night. He is the reason I let my housekeeping duties fall by the roadside. He is the reason I smile, giggle, laugh, and even the reason for digging to find that extra ounce of energy at the end of a long work day. Everything I endeavor to do or to even think about … I put Lil Man first. He’s like the most important thing in the world to me.  I never dreamed a precious baby boy would be the one that made me put my life in perspective and give up the things that were unnecessary and even damaging to decent, respectable life.

Now I’m a little concerned … Lil Man is a part of every breath I take. He’s my grandson … my only grandchild … and I’m not sure there’s room for another right now.  Does that sound selfish?  I’m not even sure there is going to be another grandchild but it was posed to me  a few days ago by one of my daughters that she may be pregnant. I’m not sure the concern is from having to share Nana time with a new baby or from having another baby in the house to raise. Lil Man is just past his first birthday and I’ve provided everything he has needed since before he was ever born.  His mama doesn’t work, she doesn’t go to school, and the biggest advantage I see from this is not having to put Lil Man in daycare right now.  Daycare availability in this area is very limited and would not be the best choice at this point in his or our lives. I believe his mama is in a lucky position to be able to stay home with him all day, every day, and take care of him without having to put him in an environment that would be less conducive to healthy and wise choices so providing 100% for him is not an issue that I need to deal with.  The issue I need to deal with is the possibility of having to do that with another baby.  I’m “40something” years old and I have raised my children. It’s time for them to move out and allow me to re-feather my nest minus kids. Its time for me to be able to take a week off, pack a bag, and head out on a road trip if I want to.  Its time for me to be able to go home and run naked through my house if I want to … its not time for take on raising yet another baby …

Am I being selfish?? or is my way of thinking right??

Thoughts on Valentine’s Day

I have watched today unfold from the confines of my office which includes three large windows that overlook the parking lot. Florist deliveries have come and gone throughout the day and although the normal work day hours are drawing to a close the florist are still coming and going. The call center floor looks very much like a full blown flower shop decorated with various colors of roses, balloons, and stuffed creatures. I’ve heard several co-workers commenting about their plans for this evening or for the weekend to celebrate the day for lovers. I have also heard some complaining because they have not received above mentioned items. I sit here in my office (which also has none of the above mentioned items) and find that I’m thankful my family members didn’t waste their money on flowers that will eventually wilt and die, balloons that will deflate and be tossed, and stuffed creatures that tend to clutter my room and collect dust. For me … a hug is so much more personal. Hearing someone say “I Love You” and know they mean it … and to hear it on a daily basis versus hearing it once a year means so much more to me than something material that will be only a fleeting thought a few days from now. One day a year dedicated to love!! I do remember when I thought Valentine’s Day should be celebrated in grand style but as I’ve gotten older and ‘things’ have happened in my life which allowed me to value life so much more I find that all of the material things used to celebrate days like today are trivial in comparison to the value of telling someone, or having someone tell you those three famous words “I Love You” and to know they truly mean what they are saying.

Do you agree … or am I being a Valentine’s Day prude? Share your thoughts!