Sorry

I've received MANY emails re: the private blog and haven't had time to respond to them all. I promise I will try to answer a few a day but don't worry if you haven't heard from me (or still don't for a while), just working my way through all of them when I have the spare time.

In the meantime, kitties?

Look, mommy, I'm cuter than the baby!


I don't even know what this position is but it can't be comfortable.

Of course she waited till the detergent was in...

Toodle Gifts!!!

Toodle is certainly loved, and we're so grateful for how excited everyone was/is for his arrival and the gifts they've sent.

Forever Loves sent a Target gift card which we used towards Toodle's bookcase in his room. Here's a pic of said bookcase with his stuffed animals in it (and one unstuffed animal atop it...Puddin' rocks).

Fertilized sent the cutest little rattle, called the "Toodles" rattle (you can see on the tag):

Funsize sent these adorable monkey changing accesories (wiper holder and changing pad). They match my diaper bag too (it's cream and black with red accents).


In addition to these gifts from online friends, we went through and washed all the clothes we received and just out of the clothes from my friends that they brought to the hospital, the gifts from DH's office and some stuff a college friend sent, we have all the clothes we need for the little guy until 3 months old! Can't even imagine how much we'd have if we did a normal shower (pre arrival). Such a spoiled little monkey already.

P.S. - For those who can't find my email, its just the title of the blog (all one word) at gmail dot com.

Another quick note...

Things are going well - little man is sleeping now, and the cats have reacted amusingly to him. Puddin' LOVES him - hangs out constantly, meows sympathetically when he cries, and considers him just another "activity" in which to participate. Stoli is utterly unimpressed, mostly refuses to acknowledge anything is different. Mister, however is uber-agitated. We haven't seen much of him since we came home...he doesn't like noises, change, et cetera. Hopefully he'll come around.

Re: the private blog - to the person who doesn't understand the reason we would go private now and not before, it is that it's no longer about just us, it's about our son, and while I know most people are good, I'm not comfortable having identifying info about him and his life, together with pictures, on a site where literally anyone in the world can access it. If you've been reading at all you'll note that my anxiety levels tend to be, ahem, above average. I'm certainly not the first person to desire privacy rather than posting pictures and identifying info about my child on the internet for the whole world to see.

Also, to those who have commented that they don't have wordpress accounts and therefore won't be able to continue to follow, just as an FYI, it takes about 30 seconds to create a wordpress account, all you need to do is go to the site and sign up and then send me your username. Up to you, but just wanted to make that clear.

Thank You (and private blog info)

Thanks to everyone who has commented and welcomed our little man. DH still refers to him as "Toodle" sometimes, very cute. He's cuter by the second...

I've noticed a lot of comments and emails re: the private blog, so I'm reposting the criteria for access (which I took down before after the response became overwhelming). I've created a private blog where I'll post pics and Toodle's name and more info because I wasn't comfortable having all of that public. To gain access, I prefer that you be somewhat "traceable" or that I "know" you, meaning either (a) I know you from one of my online groups or boards and you tell me your screenname so I can check you out, (b) you have a blog of your own with some identifying info about yourself and/or your children (reciprocity, haha), or (c) some other personal info/website, etc. You also need a wordpress account through which to access the blog. Anyone who wants access, please email (not a blog comment, because they're harder for me to keep track of responses and info) me (address in profile) with the info and when I have time I will begin granting additional access, but it may take me some time since I have a 6 lb distraction now! If you've already emailed me but left out some of the above info, feel free to just reply to your initial email with the rest of the info.

Thank you all SO much and sorry for being a pain. And yes, I'll still update this blog occasionally with cat stuff, maybe generic Toodle updates, and thoughts on infertility.

Toodle is Here!!!!

The induction went smoothly and he was born today at 2:17 pm, weighing 6 lbs 7 oz and measuring 21.5 inches. Thanks SO much for all the comments and apologies for turning them off. Here's a pic of me holding him for the first time:


Also, thanks to all for remembering our sweet Doodles during this exciting time.

More details (including a name) on the private blog!

Tomorrow

Well, we had the second amnio today (all went fine and I didn't need the rhogam shot again) and just got the news that Toodle's lungs are ready...at first it didn't look promising, when we were at the OB's office for the NST she told us that the first test had come back "indeterminate", the same as last week (for some reason I thought she said intermediate last week but I guess not) and we'd need to wait for the follow up again. Toodle didn't move much during the NST until she did my internal exam so she also sent us for an ultrasound and biophysical profile (BPP) because he had also had some decreased movement yesterday, for which I'd gone in for an NST that I passed only when they buzzed him.

But we just heard and we are good to go. I don't think it has sunk in yet, I'm kind of in shock. Obviously scared, and just hoping that all goes smoothly. We will, of course, update when there is any news (hopefully good news).

And now, for what it appears will be my last OB appointment update stats:

B/P: 120/70; I guess last week was a fluke after all.
Weight: +29 pre-pregnancy (when I went in yesterday it was actually +30 but we'll just ignore that). I told DH if I went to 40 weeks I'd be in danger of weighing more than him, and he's not a small guy.
Toodle: estimated at 6 lbs 11 oz, 36%ile.
Cervix: 2 cm dilated, 50% effaced, soft. Based on this, OB decided to skip the foley catheter (what they use to open the cervix instead of cervidil).

I may turn off comments on this post if the count gets superhigh because I'm still sensitive about surpassing the comment count for the Doodle video, but for now I'll take all the good vibes. Thanks to everyone!

Thoughts (and prayers) for Kayla

I know that normally I only post these types of things for babyloss but a dear friend from my boards and her family could use some positive thoughts - her niece was struck by a car earlier this week and is in serious condition with many injuries. They've created a blog for her, which can be found here - if you could spare a thought or kind word for Kayla it would be wonderful.

In other news, remember when I was so paranoid about piggy flu? My brother has just tested positive for it. He's a teacher so likely often exposed, and had a very high fever earlier this week. Luckily he is feeling better, on meds and SIL and nephew don't appear to have any symptoms, but it's still scary. And of course, selfishly, my paranoia has kicked into high gear and I'm now laying down the edict that not only don't I want any of them visiting in the hospital if Toodle is born next week (nor for at least a couple weeks thereafter) but my mom will also be restricted if she sees them...I'm already so scared about Toodle the last thing I need is for him to catch swine flu the week after he's born. Operation Toodle Quarantine to commence...

Puddin' Distractions

Officially the worst cat I've ever had...which I say quite often, but she seems insistent on re-proving on a regular basis:

(Sorry for the pic quality, all I had handy was the blackberry). She must have jumped up to the "catwalk" (hehe) from the dresser in the guest room that lies on the other side of that wall (it's a loft style bedroom). That room is potentially becoming a baby's room...sigh. Hopefully she won't figure out how to get up there from this side of the wall, so if we close the door to keep her out she'll stay out.

I was going to post that hopefully she had realized there wasn't much of interest up there after her first trip, but literally as I was posting this she jumped up there twice more (the first set of pics were from Monday night). Sigh.

Thanks for all the comments on the last post.

No Go

Lungs aren't ready so we have to wait. The first test came back showing they were "intermediate" so they had to do a second which showed they weren't mature yet. We have to redo the amnio next week. My OB thinks it will be fine then but I'm not so sure, I had a feeling they wouldn't be ready this week either. She also still thinks I might go into labor on my own soon but I really don't see that happening since I don't even have any painful contractions and the ones I do have are sporadic and don't hurt. I think I lost my mucus plug, but that can happen weeks before actual labor so it doesn't really mean anything.

Amnio was fine, didn't really hurt much, just pressure and discomfort. Had to have another rhogam shot after which hurt more than the amnio.

Stats:
Weight: +27 lbs
BP: 130/90, but OB redid it and did it laying down and attributed the spike to being situational and wasn't worried. That's the highest I've ever had my BP measured in my life and I've never noticed it rising situationally, but I guess if she isn't worried I'll try not to be.
Cervix: 50% effaced, soft, 1+cm, Toodle at -2 station (at least based on this and the fact that I've given birth before I should have a pretty promising Bishop Score when we are eventually induced).
Toodle: Did fine on NST, estimated at 6 lbs based on ultrasound at office where they did the amnio.
Uterus: Appeared "irritable" during NST but again, not even uncomfortable so doubtful it's real labor contractions.

So...we wait. Again. And possibly another week after that. And hope he doesn't die between now and whenever we can get him out.

Pro Maternity Pics

I wasn't expecting these so quickly but Rachel is amazing! Here are a handful of the shots she took yesterday. I'm so happy with how they came out, especially since I was very self conscious about doing any bare belly shots (being a heavier girl), but she even managed to hide my flubber. I also LOVED that Rachel thought to do some shots including the Doodles' picture and took some highlighting my Angie Fertility bracelet with the pearls that represent the Doodles (on her website, linked below).



I really could not recommend Rachel enough if anyone local is in need of a photographer. Not only do I love all the pictures, Rachel was also so fun to work with and even DH didn't mind, and he usually hates (and I mean HATES) having his picture taken, but not only did he have a good time doing the pics, he even likes how he looks in them! Her photography website is Brisham Photography (there are some pics from other shoots she's done there, as well as a few more pics from our shoot yesterday).

Otherwise, still waiting...

Still Here

Sorry for the lack of updates, everything is ok as far as we know, I just haven't had much to say. Time is REALLY dragging now as we're getting closer, and I'm getting more nervous both that the amnio won't show the lungs are mature and about the induction if it does. Any continued good thoughts for us and Toodle and a safe delivery are SO appreciated.

Today we did have a nice distraction, the awesome Rachel (who many of you know as Maydaygirl*) offered a while ago to do a maternity photo shoot for us so I had to take her up on her offer based on how amazing her photos are. We took the pics today, and it was so nice to finally meet her in person after "knowing" her on the boards and via her blog for years, plus I'm very excited about the pics she took.

That's about it for now...hopefully we'll update Tuesday evening with amnio results. If there is no update, it's probably safe to assume we're going forward with the induction and I didn't have a chance to update. Hoping and wishing for all to go smoothly in the next several days. I think I may have a nervous breakdown if I have to wait another week.

*Link to her old blog since the new one is private.

Almost 36 Weeks

Things were still ok at this morning's appointment...if the amnio comes back mature next week, I only have one more OB appt left - surreal.

Stats:
B/P: 110/80
Weight: Still +26 lbs pre-pregnancy. Yay for no weight gain this week!
Fundal Height: "perfect".
Cervix: Softening, between fingertip and 1 cm dilated.
Toodle: Head down, 55%ile, estimated weight 5lbs 14oz (a full half lb bigger than I was at birth). Heartrate in the 150s.

My OB thinks it's possible I could go into labor on my own in the next week or so before the amnio/induction based on the fact that I'm having very intense pelvic pain and pressure. It went from just being mildly achy on Friday to now being very painful (fists clenching and having to breath through it) every time I move, stand up or walk in the last couple days. I'm pretty sure it's because Toodle has "dropped", during today's ultrasound when they were looking at his head the probe was very low (around my pubic bone). She actually expected more change to my cervix based on the pressure and pain but so far not much. Otherwise, scheduled for amnio next Tuesday. I asked what happens if the lungs aren't mature, and she said depending on the results, either we would have to wait a week and then induce, or if the levels they test are below a certain level, it might require a follow up amnio before going ahead the following week. Fingers crossed all is ok next week and we don't have to wait. I'm trying to be prepared for it but that will be tough to take considering how anxious I already am. So really hoping for nice mature lungs for Toodle.