Ooooo, it's chilly!

Finally stopped raining, but now it's freezing. Literally freezing, it got down to 30 here in Livermore last night. Brrrrr!

Christmas day was nice. Mom, her friend Cindy and Ron came over Christmas day. Mom made delicious quiche, "You don't spell it Son, you eat it!" We watched some basketball, Lakers kicked some green butt :)

We spend some time mulling over the baby name book, still nothing definite. I started making dinner and Rob called and was being passed around for every one's update. Ron entertained himself by playing darts. So I threw a few too. Mom claimed to have never played before so I gave her the basics and off she went. By the end of two or three rounds of 301, she was a pro. She even hit a few bulls eye. Can you say Dart Shark?
We had dinner, nothing spectacularly holiday'ish, just brined, roasted chicken and brussel sprouts. Which I found out not everyone likes. Yumm, I love brussel sprouts. Ron likened them to lawn cuttings, but he humored me and choked down a couple anyway. That was pretty much our Christmas day.

We did exchange a few presents, Pam sent me this beautiful sweater. Here it is with my belly at 4 1/2 months. I'm right at the 1/2 way point.










I have the big ultrasound on Jan 8th. This is the appointment where we can find out the sex if we so decide. Which I haven't decided, I can go either way. The practical side of me says "it is what it is", knowing, not knowing isn't going to change the outcome, just find out so you and everyone else can start preparing. But the old fashioned surprise factor is very appealing to me. We'll see....

The Yule Log

Merry Christmas to my family I won't see this year. I miss you and am thinking of you.

Remember watching the Yule Log on TV20? I got a DVD of it for Christmas :)

So, want to hear what a nutbag I am? OK. I woke up this morning at 6am and decided I needed to bake some cookies. My cubemate at work loves the peanut butter ones with the chocolate kiss in the center and since she's always doing such nice things for me, I decided I should bake her some cookies. In addition, I can take some to Dad's Christmas Eve festivities this evening as he is a peanut butter fan too. I have all the ingredients and some how in my head think this will only take me, what, a half an hour? Yeah, half an hour. Keep in mind I do have to work today, but it's a short day. So the first batch comes along easy enough, but it's already 6:45 and I haven't even had a chance to put some coffee on. I better step on it. Someone not half asleep could have probably done the math better than me, but figure 10 minutes per batch in the oven, 4 batches = 40 minutes + prep time.

Somehow I didn't get done until 7:30!! I still have crunchy sleepness in my eyes and I should be on my way to work! Ha. So I throw on some clothes, brush my teeth, wash the sleep out of my eyes and straighten out my bangs. Off I go.

Is it Murphy's Law? that whenever I'm late for something I have forgotten I need to get gas? So I must stop for gas (only $1.84 gal for Premium!, cheap) but I make it to work by 8:20, not too bad. And "I'm not even supposed to be here today". I'm working because it's only a 6 hr day and because I missed Monday with my typhoid fever. I'm all beter by the way. And the cookies turned out beautifully.

Merry Christmas !!

My Yearly Christmas Sickness

I don't know what it is, but every year I seem to get some kind of cold. This year's was a doozie. Saturday I woke up really early and decided to take a nap in the early afternoon. Beto and his sister were going to the golf range and were going to come back at 2:15 to pick me up to go play 9. I passed out about 11:30 and slept thru 'til 1:30. I had to get ready quick because they were comin to get me. I made it though and off we went. I knew it was going to be chilly so I layered on the clothes. But just saying chilly, does not do the weather justice. I made it to through the 5th hole, which I par'd by the way and I had to come in, my hands were frozen, there was no way I was going to make. So off to the clubhouse I went to get some hot coffee in me. But that was the beginning of the end. I was sick. Even after sitting in the clubhouse defrosting for 45 minutes, I was warm to the touch but I had shivers. So we get up to go and go outside and I have never felt so cold in all my life. I am shivering so hard, I can barely move. It scared the crap out of me, I couldn't get warm. We get home and grab the baby bible, I look under cold, nothing. I look under shivers, nothing. I look under temperature and of course, I need to take my temperature. So I do, it's 101.7. Poop, I'm getting sick, self induced or whatever I've got a fever.
But I'm still cold so Beto buries me under every blanket in the house. I stop shivering and just decide to go to bed. I sleep, but not soundly. I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm thirsty, Tess needs to pee. I get up Sunday and feel dirty after sweating all night. I need a shower. Beto gets up and he has a fever of 102.4 !! He looks like death. I make him take a cold'ish shower to get his temp down. What a mess we are. I check my temp, it's gone down, 100.7. I feel better, but still achey. That horrible sick ache where your bones hurt. I can't lay down anymore cuz the back, neck and shoulders are sore. But we do manage to sleep the day and night away. I feel markedly better on Monday and HAVE to go to the store. We have drank every liquid in the house. Monday is lay around and nap day too. I haven't eaten very well so I try to choke down anything that sounds remotely tasty. I made beenie-weenies and those go down well. I decided to stay home from work and try to get to 100%. Beto is still running a fever so he sleeps most of the day. I can't watch another stupid movie just for the fact to be watching a movie. I read the baby name book. Got a couple new ones....girl-Calys, unisex-Skyler. I've always like Skyler, just forgot about it 'til I saw it in the book. So we're all better now...

What's the haps?

I know, I know, I haven't updated y'all on the baby front lately. There's just not much goin' on. I'm getting bigger. I am still tired.
Beto made me clean the house last night, in prep for his Sister's arrival Thursday. I was in charge of the kitchen. Although Beto did help with the dishes, I was still exhausted when I was done. The thing is, that kitchen is like the Bermuda Triangle. Everything ends up in there and it's always a mess. I swear more than two people live there, they must come in while we are at work and dirty all of our dishes! Anyway the kitchen finally gets clean and of course I gotta make some dinner. Beto has a name for when I cook dinner, the "Whirlwind". Doesn't matter what I make, the kitchen is a disaster when I'm done. This is not my intention of course, because I just finished cleaning it, I don't want to do it again! Try as I might to "clean as you go", this doesn't work for me. I make the Whirlwind and then sit down to eat. Usually I'll leave the Whirlwind 'til tomorrow and do it all over again, but today I can't. Beto is on a mission to CLEAN the house. So I have to clean it again after dinner. By the time I'm done with everything, it's 8 o'clock. I finally get to sit down on the couch and I literally pass out from exhaustion. I think I was drooling on Beto and awoke myself with a snort and finally went to bed about 9. I've never been so sleepy in all my life. Geesch, nevermind a Nanny, I need a maid.

Baby Tess

Due to the time change and such, Tess has been getting less walks after work. I feel bad because I know she LOVES to go on her walks to the park and sniff every inch of every yard along the way, but I don't like to go out in the dark. In addition, it's been really cold! So as we sit in the living room, Tess makes her countless circles around the couch, in front of the TV, behind the table and back around. She stares at me as if any moment I will get up and grab her leash. But I don't and she starts to talk to me. Yes, she talks. She makes this really funny half grunt, half roar kind of voice and she is trying to tell me something. So I ask her a series of questions to determine just what is it that she needs. Are you hungry? Do you want to go outside? She hears outside and her ears perk up and she starts her dance towards the back patio door. This means she wants to go outside. So she steps onto the patio, looks back and stares at me in anticipation. I say "GO TESS!" and she tears off with nails scratching in place until she takes hold and bolts to the yard where she picks up her tennis shoe and proceeds to throw it around the yard, shake it back and forth in her mouth, hitting her head with each thrash. I can't do anything but laugh and laugh, it's the cutest thing ever. Tess is a strange dog, she doesn't play fetch or catch or anything like that but she will toss things to herself and also chases her tail. Which she'll do until she looses her balance, falls to grass and continues to roll around on the ground still chasing her tail. This is how she releases her pent up energy when we don;t go for walks. She also runs at full speed up and down the yard like a racing horse. Pam captured her in a rare motionless moment during the shoe toss.

Oh, the pressure of a name !!

As previously mentioned, Beto and I both like the name Maximus (Max) for a boy. However, one lunchbreak I was reading "Star" magazine and was sad to learn that Max has become very popular with the Stars. J-Lo, Xtina and Trista(Bachelorette) have all recently named their boys Max. Dang it! First, I never hear it and then it's everywhere. I was even shopping at Target in the lightbulb aisle and a Dad with his son come rolling by and the kid is whining incessantly about the bicycles about 20 feet away. Dad says, "No Max, not today." Ugh! How can everyone steal my name?
So, during the Thanksgiving holiday while sitting around a Karaoke bar in SF listening to bad Karaoke, me, Ron and Pam began brainstorming names.

Boys:
West
Joaquin
Ryne
Cal

Girls:
Alec
Magnolia
James
Dallas
Addison

I still like Max, so it's not completely out the running....
any thoughts?

On the road again!!

With my current condition, I have been hesitant and too tired to get out on my bike. But I miss it sooooooo ! I bought this contraption that turns my fancy road bike into a stationary bike, pretty cool, huh? Not sure Beto's too excited about it because I put it all together at the foot of the bed. But it's a perfect spot to be out of way of the normal house happenings and smack dab in front of a TV, so I can be entertained while I exercise. The plan is to roll out of bed and hop on in the morning. I did it this morning for 1/2 an hour and worked up a little bit of a sweat. Tour de France, here I come !

It's Official !

Beto took me ring shopping on Saturday. I had done some homework on the web and had decided on what type of ring I wanted, or rather the type of ring I didn't want. I didn't want the traditional solitaire, just not my taste. I've always been more of a band kind of girl. The simplicity appeals to me, it doesn't have to stick a half inch off my finger for it to pack a punch.

We went to the mall, already shock enough, cuz Beto hates to shop. We wanted to take a look at Whitehall and see what kind of deals they had going on in their bankruptcy sale. We hit Samuel's on the way there and got a nice education of diamonds and what we should be looking for, I think Beto enjoyed that more, but none of their rings caught me. We then went to Whitehall, they were in fact having some great sales, but their rings didn't look "right" to me, kinda poorly made, cheap'ish looking. I found one in the style I was after but the diamonds were cloudy and it was just OK. And just OK won't do.

Then we proceeded to Kay's. I felt attacked as soon as we walked in, forced to sit, forced to tell the sales lady why we were here, what are we looking for, when are we getting married. So many personal questions just so I can look at your rings, back off sister. She asked me what kind of ring I was looking for. I was searching through the one case she forced us to sit at and I saw it. I'm looking for something....like that. And pointed to it. She took it out and I put it on. (Cue the music) Less than 30 minutes later, the search was over, we found it. I was scared to admit that it was the one because we had only gone to one mall, 3 stores, tried on 4 other rings! This was supposed to take all day, with multiple mall trips, consuming several grande decaf skinny vanilla lattes. So I had a moment of panic, do we leave and keep looking knowing we can come back? What if it sells? What if we waste all day and not find a better one? I couldn't, didn't want to take it off. I told the lady, I don't want to give it back to you. Besides it fit me perfectly, I could take it home right then and there. I am super picky and indecisive, terrible combination I know, so I'm sure Beto thought we would be there forever. But when you know, you know. It was the one and we were done.

Routine Appointment

Went to the Dr. yesterday, this time was with the OB/GYN, Dr. Burrs. She's a very friendly, easy to understand, personable kind of person. I like her. The visit was quick though, mostly just questions, am I OK ? , any concerns ? , blah-de-blah. I'm feeling fine, same-o fatique, back ache, hungry all the time. We did get to hear the heart again, that was cool. That was it, see ya next month on your next visit.
My Dr. is in Fremont and I had to go to a co-workers house in Hayward after for a get together. Fremont to Hayward on 880 at 5pm is never a pretty picture but yesterday it was horrendous. A big rig had overturned on 880 at 238 in San Leandro, albeit on the other side of the freeway but it was blocking the lanes both ways. Luckily, I heard this before I got on freeway, so I decided to take Mission Blvd. I heard on the radio that the backup was from San Leandro, all the way back to Mowry!! Ugh! What a freakin' nightmare on a Friday at 5pm. So Mission moved along OK until I got to about Whipple. Then that stopped too. So I inched my way up to Industrial and took every back road I ever learned from my Dad and got there in almost exactly an hour. It was only 18 miles, but I thought I made pretty good time considering. It's weird and cool that I haven't been back in Hayward for any long length of time and I still know every street, side street and back road. You could put me anywhere in Hayward and I could get out.

Give me my PAJAMAS!!

I'm feeling grumpy today, I want to be at home in my 'jammies!!
All I ever want anymore is to be in my pajamas. If they'd let me wear them to work, I would. Beto and I went to Target a few weeks back and he bought me the best PJ's ever! They are Sock Monkeys which is cool enough on their own, but they are FOOTIE pajamas. Since all I ever want to do is sleep anymore, I have practically lived in them since we brought them home.















I have to admit, they do get a bit toasty at times, like when Beto throws all the blankets on me at night and Tess decides that my legs are the most comfortable place to sleep. Much like last night, I got up in the middle of the night to pee, which is a nightly occurrance for me now, I was sweating from neck to toe. I had to peel them off.
But I LOVE them and he bought them a little big so when I expand, they will still fit :)

Last but not least....

I finally told my Dad on Saturday. He was the last person to know, sorry Pops! We gave him a copy of the ultrasound (previous post) and he is also sure it's a boy and asked me if I was going to name it Robert. I had to remind him that he already has a child named after him, remember your first born?, yeah that's the one. So, no, not Robert.

OK, so let's talk about names. Beto actually picked a boy name early on that has stuck so far...Maximus (Max). I really like the short, very guy, kinda names-Max, Sam, Tom. Maximus is the winner so far.
The girl names have been harder to come by. Beto likes Lexy, which I have vetoed. Not Alexis, which is worse, but Lexy, not short for anything. I like Madison (Maddie), he has not vetoed that one yet. I did think of a very cool girl name which Beto didn't like, but I think he just didn't get it, Aja. Yes, from Steely Dan. I like it. I will take suggestions, but don't be offended if they get shot down.

How am I feeling? Overall, OK. Still a bit tired, which according to the books says I should start feeling more like myself now that I've begun the 2nd trimester. This is supposed to be the easiest 3 months. Still waiting for my energy to kick in. Today, specifically, I'm feeling overly emotional, I was listening to Dancin' Queen by Abba on the way to work, usually a very uplifting, fun kinda song. But I thought how I would like this one played at my wedding (yes, we are getting married, eventually) and it made me teary. Go figure, Dancin' Queen makes me cry. What an emotional retard. I am also experiencing some major constipation, which isn't painful, exactly, but definitely uncomfortable. It's the hormones slowing down my already irritable digestion system. And I can't take anything for it! Just water and fiber pills, which make me bloated. I guess it's better than nausea and vomiting, I should count my lucky stars :)

A look inside....

Yesterday we had our genetic screening test for Down Syndrome, which includes an ultrasound.

There's a fluid sack on the back of the fetus' neck that is an indicator of Down Syndrome. The ultrasound is used to measure the size of this fluid sack. For low risk you want it measure 1.5mm -3mm. Ours measured 1.3mm, well below the cut line, which in this case is good. There is an 85% chance that it does NOT have Down Syndrome. They also took blood which once that info comes back is coupled with the measurements, ups the likelihood to 94%. The counselor explained that because it is a screening vs. a diagnostic test, we do not get a yes/no answer but a likelihood. We have the highest assurance available that this screening can offer that we are in the clear. Because of the positive result, we are opting to not have the Amniocentesis diagnostic. This test is more invasive and not required.

So that's the technical crap, now the ultrasound images. So there were 3 things that we were going to learn from the ultrasound:

1. the down syndrome measurement

2. if the original due date is accurate based on the size

3. the number of fetus' inside

Beto was with me in the dimly lit, overly warm ultrasound room. The technician lady who had a very thick German accent clicked away on her keyboard, taking measurements and pictures of the fetus. Beto got to look straight at the computer screen, but because I'm lying down I had to look backward into a mirror. For the first time, I was excited. Oh my heck, there's a real baby in there. It has arms and fingers and toes! And it was moving all over the place. It is 5.5cm or approx. 2 1/4 inches for the metrically challenged. Sooo little, but it already has body parts!

The 3 questions were answered:

1. Down Syndrome unlikely due to measurement

2. due date of 5/19/2009 is accurate

3. one fetus, no multiples

So, Beto tells me after that he wanted it to be twins!!!!!! Is he crazy?

Maternity Section

I finally broke down and shopped in the Maternity section of Target last night. I bought 2 pairs of nice and roomy maternity pants. My regular khakis were getting snug, so I HAD to. They're a bit big now but there's plenty of room to grow into them.

See the expansive stretch waistband?
I know, way too sexy for the workplace :)

End of First Trimester

Week 12, last week of the first trimester. I don't really feel any different, except I'm having some kind a sciatic nerve issue in my lower back and left cheek. Makes sitting uncomfortable, but I'm working through it. I am still tired, though I do manage to take Tess for her daily walk to the park and around the block. If I don't, she's more hyper than usual for the rest of the night. So, for both our sanities, I walk her, so I can rest.

The baby bible says the fetus is 2 1/2 inches long and weighs about 1/2 an ounce at this point. I haven't gained any weight yet, but I feel more gushy and soft. I think due to the constipation and bloating that have become the norm in my belly, it does protrude, but I've always had a Buddha belly so no change there.

Next week Wednesday it's back to the Dr. This time for genetic screening. Due to being over 35, I have a higher risk for Down Syndrome and other genetic issues. It's precautionary and voluntary, but my Midwife says it's a good idea. The bonus is, we get to see an ultrasound earlier than we thought. Regularly we would have to wait until week 20 for the 1st ultrasound, but this genetic screen requires an ultrasound, so we get to see it 7 weeks early. There will be pictures, I already asked :) But you know how those grainy, black and white things look. See that black blob that looks like a spider? Yeah, that's my kid.

Beto's coming with me, I'm lucky he's so into all this stuff. I think he's read more of the baby bible than I have. He will start posting too, he's more excitable than I am, so I'm looking forward to what he has to say on here.

Spilled da beans !

Last Wednesday, I had my first appointment with the Midwife. These are the nurse people that take care of the pregnant folks. There was good measure of poking and proding, lots of blah, blah, blahing, short version - everything is as it should be. I'm am progressing as expected. The best part of the hour long appointment came at the very end. We got to hear the heartbeat with some kind of dopler contraption. The Midwife lady squirted some goo on my lower belly, (no, I'm not showing yet) and ran this dopler thing over the goo. At first she cautioned us that we might not be able to hear anything. She found my heartbeat, which was not too exciting and then she moved the thing over to the left side and we heard it! Thump, thump. Oooo, it was fast 160 bpm.
But as soon as she found it, it went away :( The fetus ran away, it had enough of us invading its space.
We had made plans with my Mom to have dinner after the appointment. I had to lie to her to start with, so she wouldn't be suspicious as to why both Beto and I were in Fremont together. So I made up some work related thing, she went with it.
I had an idea to "spill da beans" with some kind of baby gift. I was thinking a bib or something with "gramma" on it. We finally found a cute little outfit.
We got to the restaurant, gift bag in tow, met Mom and was seated. I had already decided that Beto was the one to tell her, he's much better with the story telling, I was sure he'd say something clever. So he started with you want the good news or the bad news? She said bad. He said, looks like there will be a lot of hard work ahead and you'll be tired. The good news...he handed her the gift bag. She didn't even take the thing out of the bag and all hell broke loose. She was crying and hoopin' and hollerin'. Yes, people were staring. There was not a person in that restaurant that didn't know she was going to be a gramma!! All the while, I kept eating my salad. I knew she would lose her mind and I was right. She immediately called Aunt Nancy and told her. I don't think I've ever seen my Mom smile so much, honestly. So it's out there, Mom knows.
Now...how do I tell my Dad and brothers?

The Current Grand"babies" situation

These are the grand babies my Mom curently has. The Lab is Puddy, that's my brother's pup.
The Greyhound is Cowboy, that's my sister's.
And the sweet-faced Border Collie is Tess. She is my baby and she is going to be really jealous when she has to share me.
Last but not least, my brother's talking orange kitty, Holden.

Week 11 - Heartbeat

This Wednesday I have my first real Dr. appointment. I am told this will be the longest appointment as we will cover both families histories/ailments, choose my Ob/Gyn, decide which tests my insurance will cover and the most exciting part, we get to hear the heartbeat. Just the sound for now, we don't get to see the ultrasound picture until week 20. I'm hoping this will help my brain realize that this is real.

I am also contemplating telling my Mom on this day. My sister is urging me to do this sooner than later. But I let the Dr. scare me into keeping the secret until the 12th week. I told Beto he has to tell her with me and he's fine with it. He's even anxious to do it. He already told his Mom, even though I cautioned him on the week 12 milestone, but since she lives in Los Angeles and he doesn't see her as often, he told her last time he was there with her. She thinks I'm crazy for worrying and is mad at the Dr. for trying to scare me.

My Mom, I fear will lose her mind. As with all expectant Grandma's, I'm sure they are excited, but I really can't stress the level as to how badly she wants grand-babies. It's a lot of pressure to put on one little fetus. She will be over-the-moon.
Stand by with some smelling salts and/or paddles. -CLEAR-

Week 10 - Symptoms & Feelings

So I am in week 10 and according to the baby bible, the FETUS is the size of a prune. It has officially graduated from embryo to fetus. I have the same symptoms every day, all day since the day I found out - fatigue and sore boobies.

The more I talk about it, the more real it seems, but I am still weary of the 12 week milestone. For the Dr. says I must pass that to decrease the chance of losing it. I haven't had any bizarre cravings, althought one day last week I simply couldn't stop eating. I was a bottomless pit. I am doing my best to eat healthy because of my age, I can get gestational diabetes. So, I am maintaining my food journal and trying to be good. I am still riding my bike and will do so until the Dr. tells me no. I want to find a pregger yoga class. I took a few classes before and enjoyed it. It's a good workout but you don't feel like your working out. It's very calm and fluid, your muscles are working but your brain is relaxed.

Mood today: optimistic

Oh Crap! Is this really happening?

The day is September 16th, Mexican Independence Day and I'm tired, really tired and achey. Can I be coming down with something? Probably. But as I sit in my cube wondering how it is that I've gotten sick while it's 90 degrees outside, I have a revelation. My monthly flow has not arrived. I break out the calendar and start counting days. Oh Crap! Is this really happening?

I leave work and am headed to grocery store as usual for the nightly din-din and decide to stop in the "lady aisle". I find a kit, seems easy enough, grab some pork chops for dinner and I'm off. Straight to the bathroom to pee on a stick. Only 60 seconds for results to appear. One pink line=not pregnant, two pink lines=pregnant. 60 seconds? What do I do for last 60 seconds of my free life? Go let the dog in.

I return to the bathroom to find two very pink lines staring back at me. I literally am sitting on the bathroom floor, oh crap! I think I cried a few tears, I can't remember. I get up and call the Doctor.
Jen: "I need to see the Doctor, I just saw two pink lines."
Appointment Lady: "Congrats"
Jen: "Uh, thanks?"
Appointment Lady: "Yes of course, come in tomorrow"
Jen: "OK, thanks, bye."

Beto gets home and I have no idea how to tell him. Should I surprise him with a gift? Should I kick him in the balls? What I did do was drag him by the arm into the bathroom and shove the pee stick into his hands with something like a grunt, here look. All I can remember saying is, "I'm scared" He wants be thrilled but sees terror in my eyes and isn't sure how to react. He, unlike undecided me, has wanted this for a long time. I just never thought it would happen. But it has, is and I'm still scared.