Why does X-mas seem to creep up so fast? When your a child, you wait an eternity for Xmas and when your old, it is here in a blink of an eye.

No Santa, No cards,  No fun! lol lol
Merry X-mas and Happy Holidays to the non-Xmas folks.

3 Years!

The last few years have been a whirlwind. What more can I say?

On October 11, 2008, I gave birth to Aria.

On October 4, 2009, I gave birth to Athena.

On July 20, 2010, I had Alexa.

In August 2010, I resigned from my job to take care of my girls. In an economy where people are starving and homeless, I gave up a federal job that paid well and provided stability.  It was a scary step; however,  I worked so hard to keep my girls alive that I should enjoy them and not get caught up in the rush of life- work and daycare. Further, when I resigned, I seem to have also left some bad habits behind.  :0)

Doing Great

Alexa aka Karma is doing great. She is a little over a month old and gaining weight. The doctor's office never received the results of the newborn screening so I am assuming that she does not have the amino acid disorder.

Unfortunately, we are going to have the apnea monitor for quite awhile. Another 2-3 months. It is great if it is waking you up for a problem and not a false problem every hour!!!

WEEK 2

4 Lbs 11 oz

NICU DAY 1

SHE IS GOING TO BE OK- I can feel it.

Billy Joel - Lullabye Written for his daughter Alexa

JULY 20, 2010 @ 5:48am

EARLY DELIVERY

Since arriving to the hospital, I maintained a calender on the bathroom door. Each morning I crossed out the day before and hoped that I would make it through the current day. The neo-natal doctor said, that 32 weeks gestation is key so that was the day highlighed and my goal.

July 19, started out like any other day. My dear friend stopped over with a D&D iced coffee and the maya wrap to try. After she left, I was feeling pretty tired. Later that day, I started getting pins and needles throughout my body. I tried to ignore them but I started having problems breathing so I contacted the nurse for assistance. She called my doctor, who then called the general practitioner. They did an EKG and blood work. A few hours later it was determined that I had gestational diabetes again and my glucose level was super elevated. I was informed that the following day I would be seeing the endocrinologist and begin an 1800 calorie diet minus sugar.

It so happened that X worked late that night and was there with me at the hospital when I got that news. I was bummed out! He reassured me that everything would be OK and that it would all be over soon. He gave me kisses and left for the night.

After he left, I felt as though I had the round ligament pain; however, it would not go away. I texted my friend, who is a nurse there and told her and she suggested that the baby was just leaning or pressing on something. I could not get comfortable. I was turned the TV off, tried to sleep but it was not working out so well. I turned the TV back on, flipped through channels and could not distract myself from the pain. I got up to use the bathroom and when I came back and hopped back in bed the contractions began. WTF! I sent my friend another text saying- now I am in labor. I called the nurse in and said, I am having contractions and I just have a feeling that this it. She called the doctor but he was with another patient. I said, nurse you better get my IV started now so she complied and got the saline pumping through my veins. When the doctor came in, I was contracting every 2 minutes. Upon examination, I was 6cm dilated. I texted X at 3:02 am saying 6cm as he was rushing back from Allentown. With that being said, my heart rate was too fast and I developed a high fever, It became critical to have this baby. The dr said he was going to break my water and I said not until I have drugs! We got the drugs flowing, he broke my water but then had to turn the drugs down so that I could feel the contractions because we had to get this baby out fast. When he did that, I said, I think I am ready so he said, OK lets try to push. I did and the baby came right out in one try. The nurses were yelling the NICU is not here and the doctor responded but the baby is! haha*

I almost made it to my target date. She was born at 31 weeks and 6 days. She came out crying and seemed to be in good shape considering her age. She was 4lbs and 9oz.

IN HOSPITAL SINCE WEEK 28

30 Weeks

This situation is out of my control. There is nothing more that I could do to. It seems like such an accomplishment to have come this far. I remind myself daily that this is what is best for Alexa (I think that is going to be here name). We are either sitting in this room together or we will be sitting in the NICU. I reckon that being in my belly is more fun than being attached to monitors. I think staring at the wall beats staring at a helpless baby in the NICU.

28 Weeks
My 28 week appointment did not go so well. Despite being on bed-rest at home, my cervix continues to thin. Upon examination, it was determined that I am completely effaced and 2cm dilated. Because the baby is premature and very low in my pelvis, it is so longer safe for me and the baby to be outside of the hospital setting. In addition, the positive fetalfibronectin test added to the alarm. I was admitted into the hospital and given mag- yuck. A day later, I was informed that I will not be going home until I deliver. At first. it felt like a prison sentence but I quickly had to change my stinky thinking and do what is best for my daughter.

27 Weeks
My cervix is unchanged from week 26. Yippy! Finally, some good news. Everything good is peppered with bad. I had the fetalfibronectin test. False positives are common but are still viewed as a red flag that labor can occur within 2 weeks. Of course, my exam came back positive. We were all expecting it, but I was hoping for different results. As always, holding onto hope.

26 Weeks
I have some sort of bacterial infection. I will be taking antibiotics for 10 days.

20 Week Scan

The Baby is 9 inches and 13 oz. At this point, the baby appears developmentally perfect.

The tech visualized 3 lines but it was a quick unclear moment.

Girl or not girl, tis the question?

Mommy, Athena and her soon to be bro or sis!

PINE NUT NIGHTMARE

A few days ago, I noticed a chemical taste in my mouth that only seems to be apparent when I eat or drink.

Like many people, I went to the GOOGLE gods to try to diagnose myself.

Common reasons for a bad taste

• * Being Pregnant- generally a first trimester thing.
• * Acid Reflux/ Heartburn
• * Diabetes
• * Seizures
• * Pine Nuts

I have been pregnant for the last 3 years and never experienced such an issue. I have suffered from severe heartburn and had gestational diabetes in the past but this is new. As I am reading, it occurred to me PINE NUTS. I ate those in a greek salad and my symptoms seem to match those blogged by many. Symptoms last approximately 2 weeks or so! OMG- eveything I eat or drink tastes nasty! The only normal tasting item is water. It is not a happy day for this preg chica!

18 Weeks

Today the baby's heart rate was 145 and s(he) was very active.

Is the old wives tale accurate? Is it a boy? The dr's guess is a he....

03-30-2010

16 Weeks:

6oz, 6 inches

BPM: 154

Sex: Unk

WOW~~Again!

12 WEEKS

On Jan 6, 2010, I went in for surgery to have my uterus burned to stop the massive bleeding that I was experiencing. Although I met all the criteria for a hysterectomy, we decided to put that off because it would make tending to my infant difficult. Needless to say, they could not operate because I AM PREGNANT!! After years of trying to get pregnant, suddenly, it just happens at the sheer thought of sex! HOLY HELL!!

I had some bleeding early on but everything appeared to be ok with me and the baby. Instantly, I got scared. I did not bleed at all with Athena. I bled a lot with Aria. Is this a repeat? The situation is rather the same: an unexpected surprise.

I am excited and a nervous wreck! I have so many questions racing through my head. Who is going to help me if/when I end up in the hospital with pre-term labor? How am I going to handle everything and everyone? what is going to happen with my job?

I had an ultrasound at 13 weeks and again the baby appears to be developing normally. The heart rate is 156.