Our Newest Addition.... Part 2 of the story : )

So.... after the shock subsided just a tiny bit, I proceeded to call my ARNP here at home and she set up blood work for early the next morning.  I had the blood work done and hours later (after some confusion in the lab), it was confirmed that I was indeed pregnant with a HCG level of 2,164.  Now... being the worrywart that I am, I began to worry that maybe it wasn't a pregnancy but instead ovarian cancer.  Let me explain... my aunt had fought ovarian cancer the year before and a big sign of hers was that she registered as being 3 months pregnant when she knew she couldn't be.  My great grandmother had also had ovarian cancer and after all the hormones I had been on for the past year (+) I was nervous that maybe that was it.  But... God is good.  He wasn't giving me cancer to battle... He was giving me the desires of my heart.... another child WITHOUT any medical intervention this time! 

My levels continued to grow.  On August 2, I had more blood work which showed that my levels were 5,000+, but yet again with this pregnancy my progesterone was low registering at 9.5.  The good news was that this time the progesterone suppositories 2 times a day worked and I didn't have to do the twice a day shots.  I was really nervous because the pills hadn't worked when I was trying to get pregnant with Zoey but my ARNP at my OB office assured me that she felt they would work this time since this was a natural pregnancy.  On August 9, my levels came back at 28,000 and my progesterone was up to 16.  I was so thankful that everything was going well.

On August 16, I went to the OB for the first time and we saw our baby and heard his heartbeat for the first time.  It was 152 bpm.  This reassured me that there was a baby in there and not cancer! Such a blessing this was!

Since then....

Month 1-6:  I was EXHAUSTED to say the least!  It could be that I have a 1 year old little girl to chase around and that I work full time and try to keep our home together as well.

Month 1: tired
Month 2:  tired
Month 3: tired, some heartburn
Month 4: tired, heartburn, sinus issues begin
Month 5:  oh the sinuses, some sleep issues, some contractions
Month 6:  EXHAUSTION (diagnosed with anemia and borderline Gestational Diabetes which I am having to monitor 4 times daily and control), sinus issues, some heartburn, having to pee ALL THE TIME, contractions have began along with some pressure down low at times (doctor has said to take it easy and not over do it .. hopefully our lil man will bake longer than his sis did), some sleeping issues but it seems easier this time because I have Zoey to hug up to!  haha

I have been blessed with a healthy pregnancy this time so far aside from my previous issues,the anemia, and the gestational diabetes.  I'm not gonna lie, the contractions and pressure scare me and therefore we have not traveled and will not be traveling (Lord willing) out of town away until our baby is here.  The doctor felt like this was a good idea as well because I really don't want to deliver at a random hospital.  It is normal to have Braxton-Hicks contractions but my fear is that these are more than that.  My ARNP said that if I have 4-6 in even a day to let them know because it could mean premature labor.  My first two fetal fibronectin tests have come back negative meaning that I won't go into labor within the next 2 weeks, however, it did with Zoey as well and I went into labor before the 2 weeks were up.  I'm just a little cautious which I guess is a good thing in this situation. 

On October 18, we found out that Zoey would be joined by a baby brother.  I was shocked.  My hubby, mom and I thought the baby was another girl.  We felt blessed either way but how neat it will be to have a little boy so that we can enjoy the best of both worlds!  It was an interesting day to say the least as I had gotten my first speeding ticket in Anderson Co. and I wasn't even rushing!  I was going downhill and not paying attention!  (Grrr...but after DVD traffic school that is all taken care of!)  Needless to say, my blood pressure was up at the doctor's office and they were worried about it so I had to have a MIST test completed to make sure everything was ok.  It came back well and I told them I knew it was from the ticket.  I later got my flu shot that evening.

More to come...

The Story of Baby # 2! (Part 1)

So … I have not updated or told the story of baby number 2 yet. I am very behind (as I am sure I will be for the next few years). My problem is that I want to journal every little thing for me, more than anyone, to have to look back on. I have a written version so I may have to work on shortening my online version. Either way, here’s the story of baby number 2!

On July 19th I went to my ARNP to FINALLY have my thyroid checked. I was suppose to do this about 3 months after I had Zoey and instead I had waited 5 months longer. A few days later I went back for the results and found out that my thyroid was really, really out of whack. My ARNP asked me how I had any energy and I just shook my head. I guess I had just gotten use to being tired. She sent me straight to have an ultrasound on my thyroid to check the nodules that were found a few years before. I was scared too death and the tech wouldn’t really tell me anything (even though sometimes she does). That worried me.

I was all worried about finding out the results so I called off and on for a few days to see if they had came back. I then got caught up in some things and got my mind off of it. On July 29 (Thursday), I had an appointment with Zoey and was looking forward to the next day being void of anything to do so that I could swim and enjoy our last Friday off from school with my girl. However, I received a phone call from my boss stating that I needed to attend a meeting for training in the PEP program for PE at our school.

The next day was filled with tons of workouts and ways we could teach certain workouts to our students. We worked hard and we all left very tired. I, myself, was exhausted. I just thought it was from my thyroid problems so I went to pick up my Zoey from my mom’s and ended up napping with her on the couch for a bit. When I got up, I just couldn’t shake the tiredness. My mom told me that I really should take a test because I was about a week late (I thought anyway) and my beloved friend Misty had been telling me the same thing for a few days but I had been blowing it off. I got up to go to the bathroom and notice one of the cheap cassette pregnancy tests that my mom had had left over. (FYI… when my aunt tested positive for ovarian cancer, she also tested positive for pregnancy … so before my mom had the 2nd half of her hysterectomy this past May, she checked with a pregnancy test to see if anything was showing up that may mean something. ) Anyway, I decided to take the test for the heck of it because I had done that a few times over the past couple of months and it was always negative. I took the test and then went to get up from the toilet. Much to my surprise… IT WAS POSITIVE!

Now yes, I had seen a positive test before but NEVER before I knew I was pregnant. I always wondered what it would be like to just be late and then take a test and find out at home. Now I was getting that chance. God knew that I had always desired that and He was giving me that to cherish. I screamed, “MOM” and she knew as soon as she heard me scream what it was. She, of course, told my mamaw who she was on the phone with. My dad was holding Zoey and my brother was in the living room with them and they started questioning… “She’s pregnant?” Zoey got so excited because everyone else was excited that she started banging my dad in the head with her toy phone.

I called my husband at work (Richmond at the time) and he said "I knew it... you were grouchy."  Lol.  Too funny! 

Talk about crazy!  I was so in shock that you could have knocked me over with a feather!  More details to come ....

Zoey @ 11 months

Zoey's 11 month began with her hanging out with Uncle Billy during some really crazy storms.  Mommy and mamaw had scheduled a hair appointment for after school on that Thursday and Billy had kept Zoey.  Of course the bad storms would come while we were gone.  However, Uncle Billy took awesome care of her, as he always does.  He'll be such a good daddy someday!

On Friday, Zoey, mamaw, & I went to town to find some party things for her upcoming 1st birthday party.  We found a ton of stuff at the dollar tree.  The next night, Zoey went trick or treating in the town square and in our subdivison.  Zoey was shy and sleepy while trick or treating but was wide awake and ready to play in her candy when we got home.  She cried for a sucker that I had let her lick on.  She wanted the whole dum, dum in her mout and I wouldn't let her for fear that it would break off and she would choke.  She got the cutest blue toboggan from the local college and we began to rely on that for help on the following cold mornings.

On the 31st, Zoey and I met mamaw and papaw at church.  We were by ourselves and running late.  I had to stop at the store to buy a new paci since I had forgotten the others at home.  I refuse to go to church without her paci!  haha  I would be asking for it!  Then we had a poopy diaper as we pulled in.  Needless to say, we were pretty late.

We headed home afterwards and I held the ladder while daddy applied stain/sealer to the house.  Then we had drama trying to match everyone to get ready for church directory pictures.  After a fight with the car seat base, we were on our way and I was exhausted.  We were late for church because the pictures weren't over until 6:30 and then we headed to Wal-Mart, my hubby's bright idea because he never seems to run out of energy unlike me!

The next day was November 1st, Danielle's (Zoey's namesake and my bff) 30th birthday.  I was amazed that it had been 5 whole years since I had sent her flowers for her last birthday here on earth.  I put on my commemorative pin that I attempt to wear daily during November each year and headed to work knowing that this year, my daughter would notice that pin and would already question what it was and why mommy was wearing it.  More questions will come as she gets older and I'll be glad to share the story of Danielle's life with her. 

The next day there was no school and I headed to the doctor, 2 hours away.  After being in the doctor's office for ever (waiting 40 minutes for blood work), I picked up stuff for my dearest friend Tina to make Zoey a tutu, ate Japanese, picked up 2 Halloween costumes on clearance and got home around 6ish. 

The next few days were just work and then that weekend, Zoey and I went to town with mamaw.  I got Zoey her first birthday gift... a small chatterbox Elmo that she enjoyed playing with in the store and the rest of the supplies for her tutu.  I also found her baby brother's Halloween costume even cheaper so I ended up saving more money by purchasing it at the lower price.

We were home from church the next day due to mommy overdoing it herself that week and needing some rest.  I did manage to straighten up Zoey's room just a bit and her clothes before making myself lay around the rest of the day.  Monday, I gave Zoey's tutu stuff to Tina and boom... Tuesday morning she had it ready.  Zoey was amazed by it and was kinda intimidated by it haha  That day was Celebrate America at work for me and then home to prepare for Zoey's 11 month pictures (which would include those for her 1st bday) the next day.

The pictures were so much fun and my lil girl was hilarious!  She first took her Thanksgiving pictures with the fall background and the little turkey and then she took her 1st birthday pictures.  Zoey hated the feeling of the cake icing on her and actually cried when she got it on her!  It was hilarious.  She also didn't like that the icing was strawberry... what can I say... she's my girl... she loves chocolate!

I picked up her pictures the next day and they were adorable to say the least.  I ended up making a last minute decision to change her birthday party to the following weekend and stayed up until 3am getting invitations ready for it.  The next day, I mailed the invitations, worked, and then headed to a meeting during the 2nd half of the day.  The meeting ended early and I headed out to take Zoey to get her 1st flu shot.  She did great with it.

ZOEY MEASUREMENTS:
AS OF 11-12-10
HT. 28.5 INCHES
WT 18.15 LBS
HEAD 45 cm
Temp. 97.8

That night ended with me in the process of changing Zoey and her managing to pee on the changing table and get it all in her hair and all over her.  LOL  So the night technically ended with another bath and bedtime.

The 13th brought about a trip to Corbin with mamaw to the Dollar Tree for some things, Wal-Mart, Sonic, and a few shoe stores with Zoey's great grandmother Rose.  The next day we headed to church and Zoey wore her frilly dress that her Aunt Carrie had gotten her a few months back.  We through a sweater on with it so that she wouldn't get too cold and it was adorable.  She was complimented a lot but she always is haha

That Monday was work.  I was exhausted and feeling a lot of pressure down low so I took a nap with Zoey at mamaw's house and fed her mashed potatoes and bananas before heading home at 7:30pm.  I fell asleep again getting her to sleep and woke up at 2am to take my meds.  That night we also got our church pictures back and they turned out really well... well Zoey's did haha

The rest of the week was work, work, work as usual.  The 19th was a busy day being so because it was a work day and our 5 year wedding anniversary.  We celebrated by going out to eat at Golden Corral and doing a bit of last minute birthday shopping at Wal-Mart with Zoey.  That night began the period of over a month of sickness beginning with Zoey's 1st round of diarrhea.  She screamed all the way home after daddy dropped us off at my car so we could follow him home.  When we got home and I got her out, she had went big time.  I assumed it was something in the potatoes we had ate so I let it go.  That night she went again and so my mom brought her some pedialyte just in case.  She did great the whole day and so I didn't cancel her birthday party.  We had a great time after we finally got moving.  I couldn't seem to get motivated to finish decorating and daddy was trying to help me and clean.  Finally we were finishing dishes as our 1st guest, great mamaw Brock showed up.  Next was Tina and Lauren, then Jessica and Gavin.... etc.  Zoey had a great time though she was a bit whiny.  She licked a ton of chocolate icing off her cake and did a much better job with it this time than she did at her photo session.  She had a ton of icing in her nose and so after her bath I had to clean it all out of her nose haha  She got lots of cool toys and had a great time seeing everyone.  Her birthday cake was to die for and was created by my dearest Tina.  She is so good!

Just when we thought she was feeling better... the diarrhea started again.  And it lasted through the next day and actually for the next week and half.  We were home with Zoey that next day only running out to Kmart for more pedialyte and stopping at Mr. Gatti's for daddy some dinner.  On the 23rd, Zoey and I spent the night with mamaw and papaw because mommy had a doctor's appointment at 7:30am the next day which meant I had to leave at around 5:15 to get there.  I was leaving her there so I figured I'd spend the night there so she could just sleep through me leaving and not have to get up and then try to go back to sleep when I dropped her off.  I headed out by myself so that my mom could cook our Thanksgiving dinner for that day while I was gone.  The appointment went well and I was out before 10am. I stopped at a Wal-Mart in Lafollette, Tn and picked up a few things for Zoey and her brother along with some bananas and flowers and then was on my way.  I then stopped by the cemetery to visit Danielle's grave and I placed the flowers there.  I had cried my eyes out that morning as I had passed by driving down the road we traveled so much together and now I was just numb standing there.  So surreal that she's really gone... even 5 years later.  So amazing that I have a little girl that she would have spoiled rotten that shares her name and even reminds me of her in some ways.

I then headed home to eat some Thanksgiving dinner via my momma's kitchen.  It was wonderful!  It always is!  Next, I took a nap... ate some more and then sat around until my hubby and dad arrived to eat.  It's always a little off kilter when we celebrate ahead of time because they aren't always off work and so we eat again with them.  My mom does everything early and this is no exception.  Zoey enjoyed to potato salad and dressing.  I knew she would... it's a tradition in our family and no one makes it like my mom and my grandmother do (did).  We left for Louisville at around 7pm and headed to Indiana first.  We spent about an hour and half there taking my sister-in-law our old couches for her basement.  Zoey was amazed watching her animals while sitting on my hip.  Carrie fed her some egg nog shake and then Uncle Keith tried to give her chocolate milk.  Then we headed to Aunt Fefe's to drop off the trailor until we were ready to head back home.  Finally, we made it to granny's house and to bed after a White Castle snack at 3:30am.  I noticed that zoey had a slight cough that night but I dismissed it.

The next day was Thanksgiving with the Lville clan.  We ate and then they threw Zoey a birthday party because they hadn't gotten to come to hers.  She had a blast with her cake there.  She ate a lot of it and then rolled it around on the table.  I then played rummy with my Carrie, Pa, and Jesse while Zoey took a nap on the bed with Granny.  I won and I wasn't even paying attention... I was sifting through sale ads.  At 12:30am, we headed out (Zoey, too) to Wal-Mart where it was hilariously packed.  My hubby was the ring leader and quickly changed his mind after he saw the crowds. I picked up a few movies and then headed to Toys R Us for a couch for Zoey for Christmas.  They were sold out :(

The next day (a year from the day that I had went into labor with Zoey), Zoey met her great-aunt Darlene and uncle Bob.  We hung out with Aunt Fefe that day, had some Roadhouse for dinner, then headed home with the whole back end of our Navigator filled with clothes and toys Aunt Fefe was sending home with us.

The next day, Zoey and I headed out Christmas shopping in Kville with my family.  We were exhausted from being on the go so much that week.  I could barely move.  To make matters worse, Zoey's cough got worse. Still, it was great to go shopping with my parents...my dad enjoys it so much! By the next morning, Zoey sounded awful and we decided to keep her in.  I hated missing church 2 Sundays in a row but I didn't want her to get worse and hated that she had been out the day before without me knowing that she was getting sick.  It was sad to see my lil girl sick on her very first BIRTHDAY.  But I better leave that to the next post : )

Zoey @ 10 months

ZOEY MEASUREMENTS:
AS OF9-10-10
HT. 27 1/2 INCHES
WT 17.10 LBS
HEAD 44 CM

Zoey turned 10 months old on September 28^th, the same day that I went to the doctor and we got to see the baby.  He/She had moved all morning and according to the ultrasound (which they did extensively because of the 1^st trimester screening) my due date was changed which made more since with the movement I was randomly feeling.  I am now due on April 2^nd instead of April 10^th.  This was my gut feeling the whole time but I hadn’t measured up to it until this visit.  I was also given a complete physical which went well except for the fact that I had a BV infection.  For those of you who read the blog when I was pregnant with Zoey, you will remember that I had this near the end of my pregnancy with Zoey.  Many things can cause it including bleeding and anything that can change your PH balance.  I wonder if mine was from the progesterone suppositories that I have been using this time instead of the shots I took last time.  I also had my glucose screening that day and my thyroid tested.  Zoey in the meantime was so well behaved and had a good time exploring in the doctor’s office.  Here’s a picture of her looking at her sibling!

I was back at work and tired as usual.  I was at mom’s until 8pm and then home to finish things up for the day.  The next day I found out that my thyroid had improved a lot (moving from approximately 8 something to around 2.9 and I was left on my 137 mcg dosage) but that it was possible that it had affected my glucose screening because I had missed the conservative cutoff on it by 3 points with a 133.  This was odd to me and the doctor because I had passed the early and later screenings with Zoey with flying colors so she suspected something may be affecting the test.  I was told that I would have to schedule the 3 hour glucose test to see how things went.  I debated as to when to do so and ended up scheduling for my Fall Break, October 11. 

Friday, October 1, 2010, Zoey and I headed to get a few groceries after school with mom.  On Saturday, Zoey and I went to mom’s for the morning after I had packed for our Louisville trip.  We watched the movie “The Last Song” and relaxed.  Then we headed to pick up daddy at work so we could head to Louisville at 12:30.  Zoey slept most of the way but got aggravated with her carseat during the second half because she had been in it so much that week already.  We arrived and Zoey ate a candy apple with her daddy.  Her granny thought it was hilarious.  I also introduced my in-laws to their newest grandbaby by sharing the ultrasound pictures.  She also went with us to Indiana to eat at Paula Dean’s new restaurant.  Zoey wasn’t too big on Paula’s mashed potatoes.  On Sunday we went to church at Victory Baptist with Zoey’s grandparents, aunt Fefe, and cousins.  The older pastor Bro. Gentry preached but we didn’t get to stay in very long because after everyone had taken a turn with Zoey, she was excited.  She wasn’t loud but I was afraid she’d get there so she and I went to the vestibule where we preceeded to wrestle around for the next hour.  We walked the halls and read every poster, looked at the fish tank, spoke to the nursey lady, and finally she fell asleep right before church ended.  We then all rode to Shoe Carnival with her daddy and then to Qudoba’s to get something to take home and eat.  I, once again, was not impressed.  Just not really my type of Mexican food.  After playing around at her granny’s with everyone and eating food with aunt Fefe, Zoey was ready for a nap and so was mommy.  She and I slept 1.5 hours and then got up to pack to head home.  We got home around 10pm and the next morning we were both exhausted.  (Zoey also was given just a small taste of coffee on her granny’s spoon that morning …. I glanced over and noticed her face and realized it and her daddy was vocal in saying no no no… he is anti-coffee haha). 

Monday started with a bang… I woke up sick which I suspected the night before.  I then got to work and realized that my bank account had been hacked into through Paypal, an outside 3^rd person service that you can use to pay for purchases through.  The thing was, I hadn’t made any purchases but apparently someone else had and by the middle of the week it had rang up to almost $3,500.  It was a headache  but we got everything straightened out.  I went back to work after stopping to use my brother’s computer to call and cancel things.  Zoey wasn’t sure what was going on for me to be there that early and then to leave again.  I was feeling sick still the next day and slept at mom’s that evening.  After going home that night, I woke up to a really red face and a sore throad along with my sinuses that were clogged.  I went back to bed and got up for work.  I almost called in but I am afraid to use my days so I made myself go.  This happened again that night and I was up at 3am using my Neti pot to relieve sinus pressure.  On Thursday, I ate with mom at her house before going home to eat a whole can of sauerkraut that night that my hubby fixed for me because he knew I had been craving it.  I bathed Zoey while my hubby cooked dinner and got Zoey’s bag packed for the doctor the following evening.   I scratched the hubby’s back while we all sat on the couch and he and Zoey cuddled up to watch Dinosaur Train.  He even sung the theme song to her like I do.  It was quite cute.  We were a little stressed but we had a great time as our little family of 3 (actually 4). 

I went to work feeling worse than I had felt all week on Friday.  I tried to do things in class that would be educational yet would help me rest my voice because after singing all week, I had nothing left to use.  After school, I picked up Zoey and mom and we headed to Zoey’s eye doctor’s appointment.  Appointment went well. I did get a little upset at the lady who dilated her eyes because she was really grouchy about it and c’mon …. My baby isn’t even a year old, of course it will be difficult for her to have her eyes dilated especially when she is sleepy. But the appointment went well and we don’t go back for 6 months. Yay!

During the end of this week… Zoey began waking up during the night and crying off and on until I held her close and then she would fall back asleep. This happened repeatedly. Not sure what was going on, other than her feeling bad from teething and trying to get sick, but after about 4 nights she was ok again. Fall break began that weekend and I was so glad because I was exhausted and still so sick. That Sunday, Zoey clapped her hands in church for the first time. My dad has been teaching her and she’s been clapping but this was her first time clapping in church. So sweet! I got Zoey a small Elmo doll after stopping at the Dollar Store because she didn’t really have any that were that small. We spent the day and night at mom’s house because I had to be up so early to head to the doctor the next morning for my 3 hour diabetes test. It just made it easier than dragging Zoey out extra early and to get to my mom’s before heading to the doctor at 5 am. I was exhausted because I couldn’t sleep that night.

The test took FOREVER… as they normally do haha… and I was really tired by the time it was all over. We did manage to fit in Duck Duck Goose, a consignment sale with tons of children’s things, and Zoey’s refitting of her splints. We were exhausted that night! (Notice… we seem to stay exhausted lately haha). Tuesday was spent just relaxing with mamaw because daddy had to work. It was back to work on Wednesday and then Thursday we discovered that Zoey was sick with the cold (?) that I had had the week before. I left work and went to the store and bought her some trucks and a Cookie Monster toy to cheer her up. I hate seeing her sick. And she loved the toys.. especially the trucks! They were so cute! I also had to pick up things for my boss’ retirement party the next day. The next day was spent at work and then out to Htown to get some things for the next week. On the way, I stopped at the florist that sells baby bows and bought Zoey 3 new bows. I hadn’t bought any in forever!

Saturday was spent straightening up the house and then heading to London with mom and dad to pick up a few things. After coming home, my dad and hubby played around with a metal detector while mom, Zoey, and I went inside to sit for a bit. We headed to church on Sunday morning but not that night because Zoey wasn’t feeling well. We had dinner at Pizza Hut after the morning service and then headed straight home.

I was off work the next day for my doctor’s appointment, so we headed out early and I wasn’t in a rush at all. However, mom and I got to talking and I got my 1st speeding ticket ever! There were cars whizzing all around me and they picked me to pull over HAHA It figures. Needless to say, by the time that I got to the doctor, my blood pressure was h igh… 163 over 75. I explained to them what had happened but they wanted to be sure so I had the MIST test done and everything came back well. It was barely near the edge of being abnormal. I had a wet prep to ensure that the BV infection was gone and thank God that it was! It was at this appointment that we found out that Zoey is the big sister to a LITTLE BROTHER! Afterwards I had bloodwork and then went to pick up Zoey’s new splints. Then I waited for an hour for a Flu Shot at Wal-Green’s before heading home.

On Tuesday the 19th, it was back to work full force with an SFA visit.  You just gotta love visitors.  That evening Uncle Billy came over to help daddy move our old couches to the garage to make room for the new ones.  Daddy then made spaghetti for dinner.  After work the next day, Zoey and I went straight to the courthouse before going home.  She slept as I carried her through.  She was so tired.  She woke up later kicking me in the belly.  That night we got our new couces and had pizza.  Zoey hugged up to me after playing around the new couches and went straight to sleep.

The next few days were the usual... work, work, then the weekend.  Aunt Carrie, Uncle Keith, Cousin Lea and Cousin Adam came to visit.  We had a great time hanging out and enjoyed a boat ride (well Zoey and I didn't) the next day.  Zoey and I actually sat on the floating dock and she slept all covered up because it was so windy and I was afraid to take her out and make her even more sick.

On the 27th, Zoey went to have her 10 month pictures (Halloween & Fall) taken.  They turned out so well.  She looked so adorable in her pumpkin suit.  Here are the remainder of her pics that haven't already been scattered throughout the post: