My work friends threw me a baby shower

Today I got to go to a shower my work put together for me. I was really looking forward to seeing everyone. It was a bit overwhelming but I enjoyed it so much. Its so nice to see how loved I am by the people I've worked with for over 7 1/2 years. I felt beautiful at the shower.



A speical thank you to Michele, Carmen and Maria for putting the shower together for me. We had an amazing time. Thank you everyone who came out to see me!!!

Our car was packed to the top as you can see below. I think Lily has more clothes then I do at this point. Is it bad that I'm jealous? :-)

8 months Pregnant Today!!!

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, the bankroll smaller, a home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.

Congratulations Baby Lily, we did it!
We're on the home stretch little one.
I love you.

32 weeks Doctor Visit - I graduated!

Today I had two doctor's appointments like normal. I met first with my high risk doctor. I was excited to be going to see him. We haven't seen baby Lily in an ultrasound in a month and during these visits we get to see her and also check on the status of my cervix.

Everything went normal and my cervix was magically measuring 2.8 cm again. Remember anything over 2.5 is considered safe and normal for me. Since we had a scare in the hospital a few weeks back I made sure I was strict on bed rest to make sure this visit went well. With that said, after all the images were captured of my cervix and baby Lily, I was told I had graduated!!! I was so happy. This means that I won't be going back to the high risk doctor because in a few short weeks (maybe 3 to 4) my stitches will be removed and baby Lily will hopefully be born soon after. Its an amazing accomplishment for us all, I'm so glad we made it this far.

It was cool to see bits and pieces of Lily in the ultrasound pictures, we couldn't see her all at once because she is getting to big to fit into one shot. She weighs a little under 4 pounds and is in the 50th percentile, exactly where you want her to be. We are really pleased.

My parents came up to be with us for these appointments. It was very nice to share this time with them. My husband is so proud of me. I am so proud of him. I couldn't of done it without his help. He is such a great support for me.

After all the good news, we went to our next appointment with my OB. She was pleased to hear I had graduated and told me I was looking really good. The baby's heartbeat is healthy and my blood pressure is still nice and low. All is going so good. I'm so pleased. Bed rest has really made all the difference for baby Lily. We spoke with my OB on taking out my stitches. She is going to be the one to remove them and I couldn't be happier. I really hope she will be able to deliver me. At 36 or 37 weeks she is going to remove the stitches in the hospital and watch me for a few hours to see if I start labor or not. If not they will send me home to let nature take its course naturally.

Its amazing to think that in a few short weeks I could be delivering my beautiful bundle of joy!!

The Ups and Downs of Bed Rest

Well today I'm not having a good day. I'm not sure what it is exactly. It could have something to do with the fact that as of today I've been on bed rest for 69 days, or it could simply be I'm pregnant and my emotions are all over the place. Whatever it is, its not fun, not today at least.

The pain I was having last Friday has gone away, it only lasted a few days and if I stayed on my side I wouldn't feel it at all. The doctor thinks it could be because Lily is sunny side up. I hope that changes before delivery time. I'm sure it will, we still have some time to go.

But back to today, it started out like a normal day. I got up early, its been a trend lately, kissed my husband good bye and off to watching "Good Morning America" I went. But I noticed by around 11:00 am, I wasn't myself. I felt unproductive and a bit overwhelmed. I feel like I've been home in bed for so long that I need to get up and get organized. That's what I do best, and being on bed rest doesn't allow me to do that. I want to clean, I want to go shopping, I just want to do anything but be in bed another day.

I know it sounds selfish but some days are like this, most are not. Most of the time I'm content and happy with being at home in my bedroom, safe and sound. But today wasn't that day. I did my best to make the most of it. I tried to take a nap, that didn't work. I watched some TV, that kinda got old and I cried after watching every baby story there was, not normal... Eventually I gave in and called my husband at work. He let me vent it out and he cheered me up. Maybe all I needed was someone to talk to. After I got off the phone I decided I was done pouting and I got involved in scrap booking all of Lily's ultrasound pictures. By the time my husband came home from work, I seemed a lot better.

I know the end is near and I don't ever want to look back at this pregnancy as if it was a burden. I wanted to be pregnant and I want to have a healthy baby so I know I just have to roll with the punches. I'm 31 weeks now, so I have maybe nine weeks left. My stitches will be taken out in five weeks and who knows how soon after will Lily be born. I can do this, I know I can. I just have to realize I am doing all I can right now, I am doing my job.

I am growing a Lily.

Reality Check - its still a high risk pregnancy

I woke up this morning feeling like I had a tummy ache. That's the only way I could explain it. It was a feeling I hadn't felt before. My lower abdomen ached from left to right. If I laid on my back the ache would increase and be somewhat painful. I wasn't having any stomach problems. I was just having some unexplained pain in my lower abdomen.

My husband had called around lunch time to see if I wanted him to come home to make me lunch. I didn't want him to come home because I felt bad for him to leave work, but after we talked about what I was feeling we thought it would be best if he came home. He came home and we ate lunch together. The pain was still around but it kinda came and went. I rested after lunch for a bit to see if it would pass. It didn't.

We decided it would be a good idea if I called the doctor. I called and they thought it would be wise for me to go to the hospital. There was a chance I was having contractions and there might be something wrong with my cerclage. We didn't think twice, we were off. We called our parents to let them know what was going on.

When we got to the hospital they took my vitals and then hooked me up to the baby monitor machine, to watch the baby's heart beat and to see if I was having any contractions. I was nervous about my cerclage. They monitored me for about an hour, minor contractions and the baby's heart beat was just fine. They had a doctor from my OB practice on call at the hospital, she was aware of my situation should something happen. They decided to have a high risk doctor come and check my cerclage. That wasn't fun but you have to do what you have to do. The cerclage looked fine, the stitch was still holding perfectly. They did an internal ultrasound and told me my cervix was measuring 2.18cm, which is shorter. That was upsetting to hear. The high risk doctor wasn't concerned, he said everything looked fine. They gave me an IV with fluids and also gave me some drugs to relax my uterus. They discharged me about an hour later. They told me to relax and take it easy for the next few days. If the pain comes back, that I should call my doctor or come back to the hospital. I think we were there about five hours total.

When we left, I got upset. I was upset to hear my cervix had shortened but very much relieve that my cerclage and the baby were doing fine. This pregnancy has been so unpredictable. The little bit of freedom I had, I decided wasn't worth it. No one is telling me to go back on strict bed rest, but I am putting myself back on strict bed rest. I want Lily to have the best fighting chance she can have at life. I know in the end its worth it.

When we got home, I passed out. The drugs they gave me to relax my uterus, relaxed me... And that's putting it mildly. We got home around 6:30-7:00pm and I was knocked out until the next morning. Those were some good drugs...

30 weeks (7.5 months) Doctor's Visit

Today I have my follow up doctor's visit to get all of my blood work and gestational diabetes test results. I am visiting my OB today so I won't be having an ultrasound done. She will just measure my belly size, take all my vitals and ask me if I'm having any contractions or issues.

My results from the diabetes tests came back and I don't have gestational diabetes which is nice to know. I didn't think I would because I try to live a very healthy lifestyle but I know sometimes it just happens to pregnant women no matter how healthy you live. My blood work was fine except I am showing a little low on my iron levels, meaning I might be slightly anemic. She told me I should take an iron supplement for the remainder of the pregnancy. She gave me some samples and a prescription for more if needed.

I haven't had any contractions or any other issues. She said I looked great and my weight gain was right on track. It was a good visit. I will see her again in two weeks along with seeing my high risk doctor on the same day.

Celebrating "Mommy To Be" Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day and for me, even though I am over 7 months pregnant I don't feel like I can "officially" celebrate mothers day. I know I became a mother the moment I got pregnant but I don't think I'll actually feel like a mother until I get to see and hold Lily.

My husband surprised me this morning with a Calla Lily plant for my bedroom and made me breakfast in bed. He also gave me two cute pregnancy shirts. One that says "Love my Buddha Belly" and the other one says "Geek Incubator". I think they are both adorable and I can't wait to wear them.

Unfortunately my husband had to go into work today so I'm home alone. I can't be mad at him because I know how bad he feels about having to go into work and honestly, because I don't feel like a mother yet, I'm not really bummed about it. I know next year Lily will be with me and I'll be able to do something wonderful. I can't wait!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers.

Our 5 year wedding anniversary - Lily's first beach trip

Today is our 5 year wedding anniversary and I'm super excited!!! We decided that since I'm on bed rest with a little freedom, that we would take a little trip to the place we got engaged, Cocoa Beach.

We woke up super early to go watch the sunrise. It was a nice ride over in the car, hardly any traffic and the fresh air smelled wonderful. We set up a blanket to lay on but I was so excited to be at the beach that I couldn't lay down. It dawned on me while there that Lily had never been to the beach so I had to show her a few things. I walked around pointing things out to her it was very cute. We brought our camera and took some amazing pictures. We went to breakfast afterwards at the same place we went to breakfast five years earlier after our engagement. It was a wonderful Anniversary celebration.