Bed Rest

Thuesday I had a really good appointment with the oncologist. He said the questionable spots didn't look that bad, that he wanted to see me in eight weeks but I would probably get my natural birth! He didn't even take a biopsy. After I got up from my nap though, things started to go down-hill. I noticed when I woke up that I had more than usual discharge and that it was quite watery. I gave it two hours to change while I sat and addressed Christmas cards. When it didn't slow down or thicken I called my nurse. Being that it was 4:30 I didn't get a call back (NOT normal for my ob office), so about a quarter after five I called the after hours number. The RN gave me the advice you would give a woman in pre-term labor (although I had no pain and very minimal discomfort) and called my ob. She called me right back and told me to go to Labor and Delivery, Dr. Rojas would be waiting for me. A good friend picked up Ben, and John and I headed to the hospital, informing the family on the way. Once we got there the nurse realized they didn't have my early registration (they generally send it over around week 20 or 21) but Dr. Rojas walked up and noticed me and PUSHED to get me into a room with an ultrasound machine. He stayed right on top of the nurses to make sure things happened quickly! The first thing he did was the ultrasound. He was VERY happy with what he saw. We were also happy with what we saw... Baby was very active, his arms and legs were flying all over the place and he was kind of looking around! Yes, HE!! Once we saw everything was good on the ultrasound Dr. Rojas did an exam. Everything seemed to look good, but he did notice I had a bit more discharge than he'd expect. He got out the swab (the swab is bright yellow, if there is any amniotic fluid it turns dark blue), and much to his chagrin it turned bright blue... He didn't expect it to turn blue at all, but he had never even seen this particular shade before. He didn't see any pooling, or any liquid actually escaping... But he was still pretty uncomfortable. He took a slide to look at, but that was unhelpful too. When it came down to it, he didn't see a lot of evidence that I was actively leaking, but SOMEthing seemed to be off so he put me on modified bed rest until after my ultrasound this morning.

Things looked good again this morning and with everything back to normal I was taken off bed rest!! We didn't get any very good evidence of his manhood and not enough of a look at his heart so we will be going back in several weeks and hopefully I'll have shots worth sharing. Don't anyone hold out hope that there was a mistake though... This IS a boy! He was quite cooperative Tuesday evening (during his more active time of the day)... The printer just wasn't working!

So, there you have it. Our boy is healthy, strong-willed, and a night owl!

New One

There is a new One a-coming. I feel like the coming was not-so-joyously told, but I HATE telling people I'm pregnant! I like it better when they find out for themselves. I think the awkward part is watching that shift in their face, that change in their body language, and the demeanor flux that mirrors the way you'll be treated for the next x-number of months... Don't get me wrong. It's a good change. There is a sort of goddess aura that surrounds a pregnant woman, and the attention is quite positive and in a lot of cases, useful. But a change it is. And I hate change. I'd rather not witness it.

We are 18.5 weeks (and yes, that half makes a difference). I started feeling her move at 12 weeks, John around 15 or 16. My OB was a little startled this morning to actually feel and see her! We are saying "she" because we don't say "IT" and there are absolutely no similarities between this pregnancy and my first. Truth be told though, I wouldn't be shocked to find out next Thursday that she is a he... These little buggers are unpredictable, aren't they?!

Speaking of bugger, that boy is... TWO. You know what that means; and if you don't, you don't want to. We can't complain too much though, he's the best TWO I've ever known and he's more and more awesome every day!

Jumping Back In

It's been a LONG while... I always mean to post, but life, love, and the pursuit of happiness are taking up a lot of time. Summer was a whirlwind. We had a deployment, trips to NV, two to MI, Anguilla (sans Ben) and lots of to-dos in between. We had an earthquake and a hurricane (both of which were mild and anti-climactic). We got lots new teeth, went through MANY phases, and are now, quickly emerging from baby-hood. We spent most of September doing absolutely nothing, which was much needed. This isn't much of an update, not really meant to inform, simply to get me back here, where I will make a pointed effort to share more often!

Cat's in the Cradle...

Yesterday I took my boy to dinner. I had forgotten that it was Father's Day. We must have looked a little pathetic, the two of us with no daddy in sight. We somehow managed for a second year in a row to be right in the middle of the thousands of miles that separated our two daddies. My daddy was with his other babies, camping. His heart must have been so full! I'm SURE he thought of us. He's a good daddy. He taught me how to drive a stick and use a knife and build a fire (sorry I did such a bad job last time, dad!!). He instilled in me a sense of self worth, a knowledge of right and wrong, and he lead me to our mutual Daddy. Ben's daddy... He hasn't really had the opportunity to do all those things yet. And, I think, his heart was a little heavy yesterday. He has missed all of his Father's Days now. I am so proud of him, and I know some day Ben will be too, but I cannot think about their separation without tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. This is not forever, and he is doing good things. I just pray they will not miss these times... I pray that we will manage to enable the same connection I have with my daddy.

Not Much

Six months...

I haven't updated in six months!!

I have a friend who I see three or four times a month. Whenever we talk she asks, "what's new with you?" I always respond with some form of "not much."

There is another dear friend whom I only speak with three or four times a year... She says, "tell me about your life!" To which I respond, "nothing really to tell..."

As mundane as my life seems (I stay home all day with a toddler and a dog with fairly regularly scheduled play-dates for both) there is A LOT to speak of! I don't know why I can't see that more often than every six months... My little man is almost fifteen months old. He's not just walking, but running, climbing on EVERYthing, "reading" books, deciding he's a car boy, learning how to play with the puppy, using phrases..! He is brilliant, seriously! He has the sweetest little heart too. He is a snuggler, loves to sit in our laps while he plays or reads. While he has not yet developed the empathy needed to feel badly for hitting, he LOVES it when other kids laugh! He's a good eater, ALMOST a good sleeper, and a tough little cookie (although he never hurts himself being brave, just walking!). What a good life!