My Fab. Feb...

I guess it's time to update my blog, although sometimes I wonder why I even write, I don't think many people read it... maybe it's just for me, since I haven't been writing in a journal or anything else either and I know that I will want to look back on this pregnancy experience... Anyway...

So, I was waiting for my Dr.'s appointment that was on Feb.7th to write so that I would maybe have something to write about. Well, besides getting to my appointment and having my doctor leave suddenly (gotta go when the hospital calls, babies don't wait, or so I hear) and being seen by another doctor, everything looked good and it was boring and normal. (Which are good things in a pregnancy...) So, I was going to write about it on Wednesday the 8th, but I didn't really feel like it and then we had a WIC appointment and later that day I had to go to church (I am in the Young Women's Presidency, as the secretary) for our weekly activity. Then later that night Gus and I were sitting on the couch watching tv and I suddenly had pains in my lower back that were sharp. I thought that maybe they were just gas pains and that they would go away in a little bit, so we just kept watching tv... Then they got worse. I asked Gus to pound on my back to see if that would help but it didn't do much. So, Gus was like, "lets go to bed now and see if it will go away..." Well, the pain got really bad and I was making a lot of noise... and Gus was getting worried. So, we called the doctors office and our nurse told us to go to the hospital. Luckily we live right behind the hospital- literally, we are a block away. So, we went and everyone was thinking that I had a kidney infection, which seemed reasonable to me, seeing as how I had already had a few UTI's this pregnancy... Although, the thought did cross my mind that seeing as how I had just been to the doctors the day before, they should have caught it since they do a urine sample every time, but maybe they had missed it in the doctor transition because my doctor was there when we got there but left before she could see me. Also, I had heard that when you have a kidney infection, it is torture to touch the kidney and for me it helped to hit it and kind of try to "jiggle it" if you will. I was kind of jumping up and down (small jumps) to try to make the pain go away. Either way, I was in pain and wanted it stopped!

So, they got me up in to L&D (Labor and delivery), cuz that's where they send all pregnant women, no matter the problem. They got me all hooked up on the monitors to check on the baby. Baby's heart beat was great and I wasn't having contractions. Although, I wasn't worried about it because I was having ZERO pain in my stomach area (yes, I do know that sometimes labor is back pain, but I really felt like everything was ok with the baby, and it was). So the nurse came in and had me pee in a cup and gave me some perkacet (No idea how to spell it...) which I really don't like, it makes me crazy, and I told the nurse that, but she said, "Well, this is what the dr. said to give you." and then told me that the dr. thinks it is a kidney infection and then they gave me a big o'l shot in the butt for the infection. Well, about 2 seconds after I took the pain meds I threw them up and I was still dying of pain.

The nurse left and then came back in and said that they were  going to have to start an IV. I was fine with that because I had never had a problem with needles and such. Well, they tried one spot and couldn't get anything- not a single drop of blood. Then the doctor on call came in and said that they think I might have kidney stones. Oh yay... it runs in the family. My Dad is a kidney stone making machine! Anyway, she tries to get the IV in my arm this time and finally gets it in, but it doesn't last very long (and I STILL have a bruise from it). Luckily it was long enough to get some pain meds in, that took effect almost immediately. I felt dizzy and I laid down and went to sleep. But then they needed to get a new IV in me, so they call in someone special (I honestly have no idea who it was because I was kind of loopy) and she gets a good one in my other arm that lasts the rest of the time. With all the IV solution they are running through me, I now have to go pee a lot and the pain meds only last about an hour at a time. So I was waking up every hour or so to go pee and get more meds for the pain. They also brought in an ultrasound tech to check my kidneys and ureters (the lines that bring the urine from the kidneys to the bladder) and Gus kept saying "wake up Mickell, they need to check you." Well, I liked the drugged/sleepy state I was in better then the painful awake state and wanted to just say "no, you wake up yourself..." haha but I was to tired to even talk and then I heard the tech say that I was just fine and that it was just as good and I thought "hah!" haha but none of that ever left my brain, too much work to say it all... ;)

Well, the tech told me that I might have some "gravel" in there, but she didn't really see a stone. Humm.. ok, well, just let me sleep... ;) But then all the nurses coming in said that they were told that there was nothing there. Well, after I went pee one time, the nurse says "hey, I think I might have found the source of your pain" and shows me a stone. It was a fairly descent size too, especially if you consider the size of ureters... It was probably about the size of the circle of the 9 or 6 on your keyboard, and it is round- not just a flat circle.

I then basically just slept and peed the rest of the night/morning away. (we went in at about 10:30pm on Wednesday night). I was still in a lot of pain though. At the change of shifts around six I was ready for more pain meds but the nurse said that it wasn't time yet and that she would let the next shift know that I could have it in like 15-20 min. I said ok and then went back to sleep. Well I woke up about 40 min later and was in a lot of pain. So I told Gus to go get the nurse and the new one came in and I told her that I needed my pain meds and that they were suppose to have given them to me awhile ago. She said "well, we don't just give the pain meds out, you have to ask for them." What? I had! I told her and she was like, "well no one told me and we have to do an assessment on you first." So she hooks all the monitors back up to check the baby and everything was just the same, and then she listed to my heart and such and then left. I was in so much pain. I was rocking and crying and made Gus go back out there to get someone to give me my meds and finally they came back in and gave them to me and I went back to sleep. When the new on-call doctor came in around 9am he said that they were just going to watch me, but if I didn't progress then they might have to send me up North to a bigger hospital... oh great. Around 11 they told me that they were going to move me to the regular floor. I was so happy because I had just been in like a triage room this whole time and the bed I was on was made for being able to deliver babies, so the bottom part kept sliding off and it was so uncomfortable.

I was moved around one and the room was so nice, but the nurses weren't as good. Well, so that this post doesn't get too much longer, because I know that I have a tendency to write long posts, I''ll just say that I basically slept and peed the rest of the time while trying to get help from the nurses. I was released around 11 on Friday afternoon. (after they discussed sending me back to L&D because they were short staffed there and L&D was slow) I was sent home with antibiotics (which they said that I would have to take for the rest of my pregnancy) and painkillers. I spent Friday basically sleeping.

Friday night though I didn't feel very good. I felt so bloated! But the weird thing was, it was clear up in my upper stomach area. We just kind of figured that the baby had decided to expand because he has been in my lower ab area this whole time. I went to bed and kind of felt better Saturday morning, but then it just got worse. Sunday morning I went to church, but just felt horrible! My friend who is a nurse at the hospital in the nursery (and the one who actually brought me home from the hospital because Gus and my Mom were still at work) called one of her friends and told me to take some things and call my doctor. Well, I went home and called my doctor, who just happened to be on call. She told me to take some Milk of Magnesia. I hadn't went the bathroom (#2...) since before I had went into the hospital and she said that all the pain meds I was on had backed me up. Which, at this time, is also what I was thinking, but I didn't know what to do about it. Gus ran to the store and bought me some and I felt a small relief almost instantly. But because of how my system works and how backed up I was, I only really felt better on Tuesday when everything was able to leave... Which is actually kind of a long time if you think about it...

Now, lets add to the story just to make it fun... ;) So, on Tuesday my doctors office called and said they had heard that I was in the hospital and they wanted to know what meds I was on. So I told them that they had put me on an antibiotic- a strong dose for a week and then a lower one for the rest of the pregnancy, and then my pain medicine. She said ok, and that she hoped I was feeling better. Well, about a half hour later, my actual doctor called, not just the nurse, and told me that the antibiotic they had given me was one that my body doesn't respond too and that she needs to give me a different one. Oh great... the kicker was though that this one had to be taken 4 times a day for a week, and then 2 times a day after that for the rest of the pregnancy. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate waking up in the middle of the night? I know, just getting me prepared for having a baby... So, besides the times I wake up now to go pee, I have to set my alarm to wake me up to take my meds every 6 hours. Luckily last night was the last night of that and now I just have to take it every 12 hours... Oh, and a side effect of this medicine? Diarrhea.... great, so now I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum... ;) And the info packet said not to take anything for it unless you talk to you doctor first. Fun...

Well, now that I've just told you all more then you probably wanted to know... At least everything seems to be going good with our baby. He's kicking and moving around and getting bigger- and my stomach actually did kind of "pop" during all this and the baby has moved up, so now I actually look pregnant and not just fat. I can actually feel my stomach stretching. I know when a growth spurt is happening. Haha. It's kind of exciting, but a little uncomfortable at the same time... ;) We are getting so excited to meet our little guy. I am now officially 6 months, as of Monday, 24 weeks. 16 more weeks to go!

Also, hope you all had a Happy Valentines Day. That day marked 2 years since Gus and I's first date. We didn't do much because I wasn't feeling to good and that Tuesday Gus had classes all evening. But, it was still nice and I love my husband more then ever. He is my best friend and I am so glad that I get to be his wife! and I know that he will be an awesome Daddy! He truly is the greatest and I am so lucky!!!

The Holiday's and other news!

So, Gus and I had a very good Christmas and a happy New Year celebration. We even got a little Christmas present early. The Friday before Christmas (the 23rd) we got lots of snow, well technically that was just the beginning because it snowed all that day and into the 24th too, I heard that in all we got 11 in. which is crazy for here, but we had a nice white Christmas, which I love! But, that isn't the exciting news! We got to find out the gender of our baby! and we are having a... boy! We are so excited. We waited until Christmas to tell our families. We might have slipped up though and said "he" a few times, so my family was all saying "it's a boy isn't it?" So, we thought we'd trick them. :) We got some little baby girl slippers and wrapped them up and then had my Mom open them. The box said "and the baby is a..." and then she opened it up. We then handed another present to my Dad and had him open it. This time inside the box we had a cute little boy's outfit and a note that said "just kidding, it's a boy!" So, everyone was excited. Most of us thought that it was going to be a girl, and I guess it still could be... hahah we shall see. The next day we were all going to go up to Utah to visit family, but because of the snow, the roads were all icy, so, we had to wait until Tuesday. We first visited my Mom's parent's, who are getting older. My Grandma had recently fallen and broken her nose and had a black and blue face. She also doesn't remember things very well, so it was hard. She has been sick too and has lost soo much weight and is like a bean pole. She didn't know why her clothes didn't fit her anymore, but she didn't recognize new clothes as hers and so she didn't wear them, and then she just couldn't get those "smudges" off her glasses (they were really, really scratched from the fall and her new ones hadn't come in yet), she was trying to clean them every five minutes. It was sad to see my Grandma like that, but I was also very glad to be able to still spend time with my Grandma and Grandpa, who I love so very much! We use to spend every summer with them at their house and there are so many memories there. On Thursday we went up farther north to see the rest of our family. Gus and I stayed with his sister and her family and my parents and younger brother and sister stayed with my older brother and his family (all about 15 min. apart).  It was really good to see almost all of our family. Gus's parent's were up from Brazil, also staying with his sister because his sister had just had a baby on the 10th. He is sooo cute! So, we got to spend time with them, which is nice because I hadn't seen them since our wedding, a year and a half ago (although we talk online quite often). This time, to announce the gender of our little one, we just wrapped up one box and Gus's Dad opened it. He has said that it would be a boy all along! They were all so excited! We also got to see my Dad's Dad, who is now in a care center. It is hard to see, but my Grandma just couldn't give him all he needed. His memory is also not so good... but he does seem to be doing better then last time we saw him (at his house) and he can still leave for parties and such. My aunt and her family moved in with my Grandma, so she isn't all by herself either. It was also good to see my brother and his wife and their cute 6 month old son! He is getting soo big! It was good to see almost all my aunts and uncles. We celebrated New Years in Brazil (through tv via the internet) early with Gus's family so that his sister could put her two cuties to bed and then we went and had a party with my Dad's family and got back to Gus's sister's place just in time to see fireworks that went off right by her house. It was a good night. Then on Sunday, his's sister's baby was blessed. Monday we headed back home. People had to go back to work and I've been trying to get my life more organized! haha Hopefully I can do better now that I am feeling better! Oh, and Gus and I believe that we have felt our baby kicking! :) Both my doctor and the ultrasound lady said that he is quite the mover. and now I will leave you a picture of our baby, Lucas Antonio (we both like the name Lucas, and it is the same in Portuguese and English, and then we thought that Antonio went well with it, and it is Gus's Grandpa's name (His Dad's Dad).We love this little guy soo much!

Blowing Bubbles

Update!!

Well, it has been over a month since I last wrote, so I guess that I can write a new entry now... haha I really didn't mean to wait so long for the next entry, but I didn't have much to write about. I didn't think that everyone wanted to hear how I haven't been feeling well and that my bed and I have been best friends. But, on the up side, I am starting to feel a little better now. I still don't feel great, but the nausea has lessened and I am actually feeling like I can get up and get things done, which I know will make Gus happy! haha I think he is tired of cleaning the kitchen and being in charge of all the meals and anything else I need him to do while I lay in bed. I felt bad, but I just couldn't do it. I started feeling a tiny bit better the week of Thanksgiving, but on Thanksgiving Day I had so much acid in my stomach that I just didn't feel good and we didn't even get over to my parent's house until after 1pm. But, we stopped and got some Pepcid Complete from Walgreens (I hate that stores are opened on holidays, making others have to work, but I sure was glad that they were opened!) and I felt quite a bit better after that. Thanksgiving was really good. My Mom and sister did most of the food. I made the stuffing- it's my job and let me tell you, it sure is hard to open that box up and mix everything together! ;) haha That reminds me. A couple of days before Thanksgiving my younger brother comes up to me and tells me how much he likes my stuffing, it is so much better than that boxed kind that some people make... my sister, mom and I started laughing because that is the only kind we usually make for Thanksgiving... haha Anyways....

The Saturday after Thanksgiving Gus and I went with my family and we picked out our Christmas trees. We ALWAYS get real trees in my family, none of this fake stuff. When I was little we use to actually cut them down ourselves too- then we moved to AZ and then to NM and this became a little harder and we just went to tree lots- with my Dad protesting of course. Gus, on the other hand, always had fake trees; I guess real trees aren't really that common in Brazil. Anyway, I told Gus that we were getting a real tree, no ifs, ands, or buts! ;) We picked out a cute little 4 foot one and then we put it on one of our end tables and it is the height of a regular sized one! Our apartment is pretty small and so we don't have many places it could go, but we both really like it. Then we decorated it- after we bought lights and a star of course! We had some ornaments that we had gotten last year (we were living with my Grandparent's then though and just used their tree and didn't have one of our own) and some that I had received throughout my life, and of course, our first Christmas together ornament. Then I put up some Christmas decorations that I had been given in Christmas’s past.  I also have a village to set up, but we are trying to figure out how to put it up still since we don’t have too much room. Have I mentioned that I love Christmas? This will be our first Christmas together in our own little place and I’m so excited! (Yes, I know, technically it is our second Christmas together, but first in our own little place!)

And I just thought that I would throw in some more baby news. We had our second doctors appointment the other day and we got to hear the heartbeat again and it was going strong! I had lost some more weight though (not that much, a whole 2 pounds!) but the Dr said that she didn’t want me loosing anymore weight  and gave me an anti-nausea prescriptions, but I haven’t used it yet- I don’t want to take stuff if I don’t have too. But here is the kicker! I asked when they usually do the gender ultrasounds (I had heard some do it at 16 weeks, some 20, so I was just curious) and you know what the nurse said? “We don’t.” What??? She said that the insurance doesn’t pay for it; they only pay for ultrasounds if they suspect there might be a problem. What?? I thought that now days everyone did the gender ultrasound. My mom had it for all four of us and that was about 27 years ago (starting with my brother). Weird.  But, I have a friend whose mother –in-law does ultrasounds around here and she told me that she does ultrasounds for all of her friends and can do it for me, but she just can’t do anything official or give you the pictures or anything else. So, at least hopefully we will still get to see something even if we don’t have “official” results. I was really shocked. Oh well, I guess that’s how things go. I have a few more weeks to worry about it since I’m still only about 13 weeks. I did get more of an official due date though- June 11^th. My little brother’s birthday is on the 13^th though and he hopes the baby comes then. I thought 6-6-12 sounded good (although, my sister informed me that June 6^th is the birthday of her best friend, who died a few years ago :(). And, something else I’m sure you have all been dying to know… I feel so fat! Haha and since I have nice large hips, my baby has decided it likes it there, for now I’m sure, but that makes pants feel tight- and the elastic (like on my pajamas and underwear) really makes me feel squished! And there really isn’t anywhere to get maternity clothes around here. (You would think there would be with all the births around here, but most are teenagers and I guess that they just buy clothes a little bit bigger and my brother informed me that they just let their bellies hang out… eew)  And something else that makes me sick- my Sister-in-law is due any day now (they will induce her on the 10^th if she doesn’t have her baby by then) and she is still wearing pre-pregnancy pants… I feel so fat!!! But I love our Baby anyway and Gus says I’m still hot… ;) Well, this post is getting long. I guess I shall end. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years, if I don’t write before then, I make no guarantees! ;)

Baby!!

Well, Since it's on Facebook I guess I can blog about it now. I'm pregnant and Gus and I are sooo excited!! We found out a few weeks ago when I went to the Dr's because I wasn't feeling the best- turns out I had a bladder infection and am pregnant!! Yesterday we went to our first Ob-gyn appointment. We were thinking that we were about 10 or so weeks but the Dr. couldn't hear the heartbeat and sent us to get an ultrasound. The U/S tech said that it looks like I am about 8.2 weeks along and the heart was beating at 196 bpm. We got to hear it and it sounded like a washing machine just chugging along! We also got to SEE the heart beating for a second or too- the Tech didn't stay in any one position too long and so everything was real quick. The "morning sickness" hit about a week after we found out and has gotten worse every week since then. I feel like crap! Luckily I haven't thrown up "too" much... I have a lot of nausea and NOTHING sounds good though. and Everything smells horrible!!  I don't sleep well and last night I woke up multiple times just because my stomach wasn't happy.... :( I hate feeling sick... But I am happy that everything looked good with our baby! We are putting the due date around the end of May beginning of June, so the baby will be almost exactly a year younger then it's cousin (My brother's son) who was born May 28, 2011. and just a few months younger then it's cousin (Gus's sister) who is due in about 6 weeks! Well, that's all I can think of right now and I don't feel good... I don't know how people do this and work too... ick!


I always had a hard time reading the ultrasounds- but I think this one is pretty good for just over 8 weeks- the baby is in the middle with it's head on the right and body on the left in the middle of the dark spot!

October post...

So, I guess I failed at writing a blog in September, and almost for October too- I couldn't let it get away, but I haven't had a whole lot to say. In September I worked 40hr weeks- which I know is normal for most people, but was exhausting for me. So, we didn't do much. Gus and I went to work at 8 every morning and we had lunch at 12 (usually, although he had a 30 min. lunch and I had an hour) then he got off around 2:30 (sometimes later depending on if he had meetings or needed to help other people) and then I got off at 5 and we came home and did nothing. Well- some days of the week. ;) On Tue and Thur Gus is still cleaning our friend's office and then on Wed. I had mutual and Gus had meetings. But that is all going to change and this week will be my last week of work, period. I thought that I would be going back to my 15 hours a week once I was done helping answering phones, but I found out on Friday afternoon (at 4ish) that this fiscal year is coming to an end and that they don't have money in the budget for me... :( I have a lot I could say about this whole thing, but I am choosing to try to be more positive about it and so therefore, I must not say anymore... ;)
       This Thursday is Gus's birthday. He is going to be 27 on the 27th. Wow, he's sooo old! haha I just love him! and he's soooo stinkin cute too! We probably won't do to much though cuz he isn't big on celebrating birthdays- especially his birthday. Oh, and today is my Grandma's 86th birthday- now talk about old! haha It is hard watching my grandparents get older. I love them soo much though and am so glad that I have been able to know and be close to both sets of grandparents and even know some of my great grandparents. I just love my family. Well, that's all I have to say for now............. :)

Work

Well, I guess the most exciting thing that has happened lately is that I started working full time- temporarily. At work there were some ladies that went on maternity leave and left a vacancy... So, I was asked if I would be willing to fill in until they got back- so for about 2 months. I am now the operator. I get to direct the calls, and sell cheese to the employees and whatever else they need me to do. It is pretty good, besides the fact that I have never liked answering phones... We needed the money though, so I said yes. It makes me tired. I know it is normal for people all over the world, but I don't really enjoy working full time. I'm glad that my husband isn't making me. He says that I can do whatever I want and we will try to make everything work. If only now he could start working full time and we could get benefits... But over all, things are really going pretty good. I have the best husband ever and I love him soooooo much! Thanks for being the best Amor!