Pregnancy Blog

It's positive!Date: 10/17/2006
After 2 years of trying to conceive we have finally gotten our positive pregnancy test! It honestly doesn't seem possible to me...it is just so hard to believe. I wasn't sure this day would ever come.We decided to stop fertility treatment in August 2006. We really felt at peace with this decision. I honestly came to know in my heart that God was going to take care of us and give us His best for our lives no matter what. Even if that meant no children of our own.I had been seeing an acupuncturist since June 2006. I decided to continue and also take some of the herbs and supplements that I was not able to take during the fertility treatments. 2 months later...I was pregnant! I am not ready to say that acupuncture and herbs cured my infertility...but I was pleased with my experience and I actually enjoyed it! Not at all what I expected.I really think this all had so much more to do with what God wanted to do in our lives. I think it was simply a matter of waiting on Him and His perfect timing. Learning the lessons that He needed us to learn. God has truly blessed us. He has taught us so much during our journey through infertility. Now He has granted us the desire of our hearts. I just can't wait to see what He is going to do through our lives and this new life to come.

Spreading the newsDate: 10/18/2006
After I took the test last night, we called my mom, Mike's brother Jon, Jamie & Steve, Stacy & Stewart, April & Jeremy, and Lori & Parker. We decided to wait to tell Mike's parents in person because they are coming over Saturday for Mike's birthday. We have decided to tell a few of our close friends and family so they can keep us in thier prayers during the early phases when miscarriage is more of a risk. We will probably wait awhile to let the word out to everyone, just to make sure things are going okay.I sent a message to Stacey, I couldn't resist. As soon as I told her I started to worry about miscarriage. It is just so early, and since we had trouble conceiving it is hard not to expect something to go wrong. I do know that God is in control and He will do whatever He sees fit for this baby. He has a plan for this baby and it will be what is best. I trust that.I called my ob today and my fertility specialist to tell them about the positive test. The ob says they will schedule my first appointment when I am 8 weeks or more. I made the appt for Nov 21st. I'll be 9 weeks. It seems like an eternity away since I am only 4 weeks now, but I know this is standard.I wasn't expecting to see my fertility specialist again, but I just wanted to let them know. They decided to schedule an early ultrasound for me!! I am so excited. Getting to see the baby and the heartbeat and everything will be so reassuring. Most people don't get this opportunity so early, so I am very thankful. My ultrasound will be November 10th. I'll be 7 weeks. Can't wait!!!

Mike's BirthdayDate: 10/19/2006
Today was a pretty quiet normal day. We went out to eat for Mike's birthday. We talked a little bit about becoming parents. He is really excited. It makes me feel good. I wasn't sure how he would feel about it. I knew he'd be happy, but perhaps overwhelmed. Maybe he is or he will be...but that's okay. Overall he's excited and that is good.Later in the evening I had my first hormonal outburst. I felt bad because I really overreacted to something silly, but I did feel it was important for Mike to understand my point. I just didn't have to be quite so emotional about it. Anyway, it's going to be a long 9 months if I am a hormonal mess the whole time!I'm getting pretty tired these days, it really doesn't take much. By 3:00pm I could nap for the rest of the evening if I let myself. ;)

Blood workDate: 10/20/2006
Today I went and had a blood test. I think it is just to confirm the pregnancy and see if my hormone levels are where they should be. Confession...before I went, I took another home pregnancy test...just to make sure I wasn't crazy. It was positive. :)I saw my friend Shelly from Brown City Camp today. I don't get to see her very often so I decided to tell her. She was so happy for us and said she would pray for everything to go well.This evening I went to Mike's hockey game. It was late and I was SO tired. I was glad I went though.

Telling Mike's parentsDate: 10/21/2006
I spent most of the day cleaning the house. Mike's family is coming over to celebrate his birthday. I tried to take it easy and take lots of breaks. It wasn't too bad. Mike helped a lot.We told his parents just before dinner. Mike said "a year from now I will be turning 30, and you guys will have been grandparents for about 4 months!". It took them a minute, but once they caught on they were VERY excited. Lots of hugs and tears. I knew Karen would cry...it was sweet.

Can you keep a secret?Date: 10/23/2006
It is getting a little harder for me to keep this secret! I went to choir practice yesterday and I just wanted to tell so many. So many people have followed our struggle with infertility, so I'm afraid they might get suspicious when I don't have any infertility updates! :) Plus I just really want to tell them cuz I know they will be excited.I spent the day with Carrie and Jess today and again...wanted to tell really bad, but didn't. Mike and I have decided not to tell anyone else until we have the ultrasound. If we see that everything is okay and we see the heartbeat...then we will be more comfortable spreading the word. (I guess seeing the heartbeat drops your chances of having a miscarriage significantly).My only symptom so far is the fatigue. Otherwise...not too bad.

Has it started?Date: 10/27/2006
Well, I can't say that I have morning sickness yet...but I will say that food just hasn't been very appealing to me. When I think about eating or what I'm going to eat...I just feel a little yucky. Most of the time there is at least one thing that sounds okay and once I eat I feel fine. It is funny cuz sometimes the things that sound good to me now are not the things I am used to eating. (Hamburgers, Arby's, mac and cheese etc...)Mike had the day off today and we were running errands for our Halloween party tomorrow. I felt good most of the day and was even feeling pretty good about eating. We went to Chili's for dinner and I ordered Chicken Tacos. I ate about two bites and unfortunately ate a fatty piece of chicken. That was it for me. The texture made me want to hurl, I just felt so gross after that. I hope this doesn't last the whole 9 months!

Halloween party!Date: 10/29/2006
Last night we survived our Halloween party. It was really fun! Lots of people. Jamie and Steve even suprised us! We didn't know they were in town, so they crashed the party. It was so good to see them.I was feeling pretty good most of the day. I can manage orange juice (this usually makes me feel better first thing in the morning), cottage cheese, cheese and crackers, string cheese, mac and cheese, grilled cheese (do you see pattern here?), grapes, pretzels and sour candy. We had sloppy joes for the party and I did okay with those. I was afraid to be around so many people who don't know yet. Not feeling so great...I didn't know if I could continue to hide it, but I think all the action took my mind off it and I did fine.I was SO tired this morning after the party. I couldn't make myself to ANYTHING! I was afraid I would be a zombie for GOC choir practice, but I got a burst of energy and it was okay. After practice Mike and I went out. We were just going to get some carmel apple cider at Caribou, but when we got out of the car, we smelled the pizza from Mother's pizzaria. It smelled so good and I actually had an appetite for it...so we took advantage of the opportunity and had dinner there.

A little slipDate: 10/30/2006
Well, we told just a few more people...The girls in my accountability group from Praise Team came over today and I just couldn't resist. So now Kristi Kurtz and Jess know. They were so excited and of course will be praying for us. That makes me feel good. Mike also told Jason Haslam and Chris Wirth (at work) so they know too. If bible study comes before the ultrasound, we might tell the group...but we haven't decided yet.

7 weeks. 11/5 - 11/11Date: 11/11/2006
Morning (really "all day") sickness seems to be a little worse this week. It has certainly been tolerable, so I am trying not to complain. It could be a lot worse. If I keep snacking, I seem to feel a little better. I am still pretty wiped out most of the time, but I have noticed that I really have gotten bursts of energy and moments of feeling better when I have needed them (at work, for choir practices, special events etc...)I was on Praise Team this week and I was afraid I would feel too sick, but it went really well. It seems that when I need to be active, it actually helps take my mind off of it.I had lunch with my Aunt Pat and Heather on Monday. I couldn't resist telling them...the ultrasound is this week...SO close! They were both happy, Heather cried...I knew she would. :) They are both excited for my ultrasound this week.Mike took the day off Friday and we went for the ultrasound. We waited for quite a while, which seems even worse when you are already a little nervous. When the doc came in it was SO great! We saw the baby (an embryo at this point) and saw the heartbeat. We even got to hear the heartbeat! (Mike told me later he almost cried). The heart rate was nice and strong 150 bpm. The baby measured 7weeks 5days so I am right on target with my due date. 6/24/2007!!!We called Mike's parents, my mom, Jamie, and Stacy right away and told them everything looked great. Then we decided we would start to let the word out as we had the opportunity.Saturday we met with our bible study group and we told them (the Maliks and the Parkers...the Holmes already knew). They have all been praying right along with us for so long and were so happy to hear the good news.Sunday we told friends at our Sunday School class (Bohnwagners, Thompsons, Wasalewski's, Jenks, Gerwings, and I'm sure many more that I am missing...sorry!) Again, many of them have followed our infertility struggle and have been praying so all were happy to hear about the answer to prayer. We told lots of choir and drama members at GOC practice later Sunday (Blacks, Bettingers, Williamson sisters, Atwells, Tierneys, Ray Ott, Cindy Stanley, and so on...) I was so excited to tell Carrie Bettinger...she was SO happy...lots of hugs and tears. :) It was great.

8 weeks. 11/12 - 11/18Date: 11/18/2006
So, I guess it is a good thing that during my journey through infertility I learned that I have basically little if any control over most things. What I was not prepared for was this experience of having NO control over my body and how I feel. I don't know what I expected...I guess I didn't know what to expect. The first trimester of pregnancy has knocked me off my feet...I am drained! Don't get me wrong...it could be a lot worse...I have heard of women who suffer through much more agonizing sickness than I have yet to experience (and pray daily that I won't go there). I just didn't realize that I would have NO control over my energy, my hunger, my moods etc...So far this week I have come home every day after work and collapsed on my couch. Some days I sleep, some days I watch T.V. but I have yet to get anything close to productive done. There is more laundry than any 2 people should ever have piled up in the laundry room and a sink full of dishes. Mail from days ago is left unopened on the counter or the table. The refridgerator is virtually empty, which isn't a huge problem since I really can't eat anything anyway...but poor Mike! He doesn't have to eat crackers and ginger ale. Every time I think "pull yourself together! you should be able to get something done!" I roll over on the couch and forget about it.No control over what I can eat. That pretty much stinks. Nothing that I am used to eating sounds even remotely good anymore. Before the nausea started getting bad I was actually craving things that I rarely eat (hamburgers, dairy, fast food...weird). Now that I feel nauseous 90% of the time, my diet consists of crackers, grapes, apples, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, yogurt and water...none of which actually sound appetizing, but they have managed to stay down, so I stick with what I know. I always have a supply of peppermint gum and sour candies and I am TERRIFIED that I will toss my cookies in public (which probably makes me feel worse most of the time, so I'm trying to get over that).At 6 weeks I felt a little yucky and thought "this isn't so bad...I can handle this". Then 7 weeks was a little worse, but I got through. 8 weeks has left me wondering how much worse this is going to get before it gets better? I hope I don't have to miss out on GOC (Glory of Christmas concerts at Northridge), but I guess I'll just have to play it by ear. They say it gets much better by 12 or 13 weeks. I hope so!!

9 weeks. 11/19 - 11/25Date: 11/25/2006
Sickness is about the same this week. It may be getting a little better. I have been doing okay at all of the rehersals for GOC and this week was Thanksgiving! I actually felt pretty good and was able to enjoy all the food. I was pretty tired, but overall it was a great Holiday. I was on Praise Team again this weekend. It went well. My fears of vomiting or passing out on stage have not yet become a reality. :)I also had my first appointment with my ob this week! We talked about my appointment schedule, what to expect, what is "normal", she gave me TONS of reading material and some free samples. She also did an exam and another ultrasound (I got to see the heart beat again...very, very, cool). Before I went off to the vampires to give half of my blood away (okay it was only 3 tubes...but it was not the most exciting part of my visit)...she talked with me about certain genetic tests that are available to me.Mike and I decided early on that we probably wouldn't bother with the genetic testing because we don't have any intention of ending a pregnancy regardless of what we find out in any test. Problem is, my uncle was Down Syndrome and my brother is Autistic...huge RED flags in the medical community. My doctor said that she had to strongly recommend not only the genetic testing but an amniocentesis as well! Now, I love my doctor...don't think for a minute that she is the one I am feeling "pressure" from...not at all. She made it VERY clear that I can decline any and ALL of these tests and it would be perfectly fine. She just has to recommend them based on my family history.We feel confident about our decision though. We believe that God has a plan for this life from now in the womb until He is finished with it. I trust Him.

10 weeks. 11/26 - 12/2Date: 12/02/2006
Still pressing on. The sickness is about the same, but I have been blessed and it has been tollerable. I have made it through all the GOC rehersals and the first 3 performances! It is amazing that I can be feeling totally miserable before I have to get out there on stage and once I'm out there...I just feel fine! I am so thankful because I really love being involved in this and being so close to all these people.

11 weeks. 12/3 - 12/9Date: 12/09/2006
I was pretty busy this week. It was a good thing cuz it kept my mind of the nausea a little bit. It seems to be getting a little better and I was able to do the things I had planned this week. A church Christmas tea with my Mom and Grandma on Monday night, dinner with my friend Katie from college on Wed night, GOC concerts on Thur/Fri/Sat, and Alexis Bohnwagners first birthday party on Sat night.I was so excited to have dinner with Katie and share the good news with her. I didn't tell her over email or phone cuz I was really hoping I'd have the chance to tell her in person. She was SO happy and she called her mom right away. Katie and her mom have been praying faithfully for us (her mom barely knows me) and when she told her she just started crying. I felt really blessed and special. Katie and her whole family are just so sweet. Katie is due to have her baby the end of this month. We're so excited!

A little craziness in week 12.Date: 12/13/2006
Turns out I got a little too excited too soon about the decrease in my nausea. This morning is brutal. I woke up trying very hard not to gag at the slightest little thing...dishes in the sink, making coffee (decaf), making oatmeal (very bad choice when your already nauseous by the way...), trying to figure out what I'm gonna have for lunch, taking out the garbage, etc... Even sitting here now recalling the situation has started that familiar and uncomfortable feeling in the back of my throat. (open and insert one raspberry preggy pop!). Okay, I'm going to move on to another topic now.Seems that these pregnancy hormones have done quite a number on me. I really thought I was doing okay in the mood category...I've never been one to blame my actions on PMS or any other hormonal instability...but this is really just CRAZY. Sometimes I feel like a totally different person. For starters...I have never been terribly emotional. Sad movies and stories often make me tear up a little, but I'm generally really good at keeping my composure. Well, forget that now. Tears are rolling far more frequently than I am used to and it has kinda thrown me off a little. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. One thing is for sure...I am going to have to quit watching Emergency Vets and Baby Story...sure waterworks, every time! Not only that...but I seem to be having trouble keeping my conversations rational. I mean, I can start out talking about a very good topic...something that needs to be discussed...something that could be resolved calmly and orderly...and by the end of the conversation I am a hopeless mess and I've managed to blow the situation completely out of proportion and made matters about 1000 times worse. I have always had an incredible knack for being over analytical and talking things to DEATH...combine that with these pregnancy hormones and...watch out. My intentions are good...I just want whatever to be resolved so we can move on and live in harmony...but once I get started there is NO resolution or harmony anywhere to be found. Who IS this person? And talk about over sensitive! I'm constantly making the wrong conclusions or assumptions about other peoples actions. Things that would normally just roll off my back can now become major issues in my mind. I'm a paranoid mess.

12 weeks. 12/10 - 12/16Date: 12/16/2006
Morning sickness (or all day sickness as my experience has been) is getting better for me. I managed to get through all 9 GOC concerts and I actually felt pretty good. I really felt like God was giving me the strength and the energy I needed at just the right time. I would wake up feeling absolutely seasick and by the time I stepped on the stage (and with a little help from preggy pops, tums smoothies and peppermint gum...not all at once...) I would be feeling good and ready to sing my heart out. I suffered through a few pretty annoying headaches, but discovered that tylenol actually can get rid of a headache when combined with just a little bit of caffeine (only 1/2 cup of coffee...did the trick).I'm reading a book by Max Lucado called "The Cure for the Common Life". I haven't gotten too far into it yet, but what I have read so far has been about how God has created a "sweet spot" in our lifes. He's given us just the right talents and abilities to do exactly what He wants us to do. Of course I have heard this concept before...but it was refreshing to read it from a new perspective. Expectant parent. The last couple of years have really felt like a search for me...like I wasn't quite in the right spot...like this wasn't really "IT" for me...like God was preparing me for something more. I really started thinking about my gifts, talents, desires, and dreams...and began to wonder if this could be my sweet spot? Parenthood? Motherhood? Is this what God has created me and gifted me for? It could be...It could be that and even more...but it gave me a new excitement for what is about to happen in our lives and reminded me that I can't even begin to do this without Him. He has blessed us and gifted us just for this purpose and I just can't wait to see what He is going to do in our child's life through us.

13 weeks. 12/17 - 12/23Date: 12/23/2006
The holidays are approaching and I have been feeling pretty good. The nausea really seems to have let up. I'll have a moment of it here or there...but it passes quickly and for that I am SO thankful.I was able to see lots of friends this week that I don't see very often. Jamie and Steve are in town and I've been able to spend some time with Jamie. I always love spending time with her, but I treasure it so much more now that she has moved to S.C. We really have a great time together. She made me the cutest "pregnancy survival" basket. I love it! I has lots of pampering stuff for me and few things for the baby (bibs and a teething ring). Can't wait to use this stuff.On Friday Joe and Tiffany had a Christmas party and we saw lots of people there too. April and Jeremy are also in town and we saw them at the party and then I got to have coffee with April on Saturday. She gave me two really cute little onsies. I'm getting quite a collection here and I haven't really even gotten started! It was sweet of her to get those...I'm thankful I have such good friends.On Wed I started coming down with a cold. It seems to be going around. I'm pretty congested and I've had a sore throat. I woke up Friday with a low fever so I called the ob. They said if my fever got above 100 or if I started getting nasty green junk from my nose to call my primary care doc cuz I might need an antibiotic. I get these things often in the winter so I'm sure it will pass, but I'll call the doctor if it gets any worse.

14 weeks. More gifts for baby!Date: 12/26/2006
On Christmas Eve we saw my family at my Mom's and my cousin Heather gave me a cute little baby book. Then we went to Mike's Aunt Janet's house and we got some bibs and a little butterfly toy from Aunt Janet and some onesies and booties from Courtney.Finally on Christmas Day, Karen and Rich (Grandma and Grandpa) gave baby a cute, cuddly little pooh bear outfit for next winter. I just love getting this baby stuff! Wait until the showers...I won't know what to do with myself! (and all the stuff).

14 weeks. 12/24 - 12/30Date: 12/30/2006
Now I am really sick...caught one of the worst colds I have ever had (not adding that for drama here...I'm serious...I don't remember ever having a cold this bad). It started getting really bad the day after Christmas. I have tons of junk that has built up in my sinuses, screaming to get out. My face hurts so bad...even my teeth! I have a horrible cough now and anytime I try to sleep the coughing gets worse and keeps me up all night. Seriously, I've checked the clock every hour.I went to the doc Tuesday, certian that I had sinusitis or bronchitis or pneumonia or something worse than a cold. But he said it was just a bad virus and all I could do is wait it out. None of the medications that the ob said would be safe to take (Tylenol, Sudafed, Robitussin) were very helpful. (Tylenol did help keep my fever down, but that was about it).Tues/Wed/Thur were horrible. By Friday I still had a fever and I was getting the "green" junk they warned me about so I called the doc again and they put me on an antibiotic. Hopefully, that will help!

15 weeks. 12/31 - 1/6Date: 01/06/2007
Well, I think I am finally on the mend from this horrible virus I caught. It seems like it really got a lot of people this time around. Maybe we'll find out what we all had was actually the plague of 2006.Just to make matters worse, I ended up pulling a muscle in between my ribs during one of my cough attacks. Nice. So now on top of congestion, screaming facial pain, a cough that wouldn't quit, and a fever...I had added excruciating pain whenever I would breathe, cough, sneeze or laugh (although I wasn't doing much laughing at the time).It turns out I did end up with a sinus infection, so I finally got some antibiotics that helped me kick this nastiness. My main problem now is this pulled muscle between my ribs. My congestion has broken up, but unfortunately that causes me to cough quite a bit (not nearly as much, thank heavens) and that is still quite painful for me.Mike was lucky enough to catch the plague from me, so he is recovering now as well. We both still felt pretty bad on New Years Eve, so we decided to stay home. It was actually kinda nice. We had a chance to just sit on the couch together and talk for hours. We don't do that often enough. I expected to be asleep by 9pm, but we talked so long we got to see the ball drop! Even though we didn't feel so hot, I'm really glad we got to spend this time together. Hopefully we'll make a point to do this more often.At least now I can see light at the end of this tunnel. I have felt a little better each day for the last few days. I am getting better sleep and I'm sure my sore, beaten up body will recover fairly soon. I have been a little worried about the baby through all of this. It was just such an ordeal for my body...I can't imagine what the little bean went through. I have an appointment next week...hopefully everything will be okay.

16 weeks. 1/7 - 1/13Date: 01/10/2007
Well my appointment yesterday went really well. I was relieved to hear a good strong heart beat again. 153 bpm. I was a little worried that being so sick could've been hard on the baby, but everything seems to be going okay so far.First milestone...we scheduled my ultrasound appointment. It will be Monday, Jan 29th at 11:00am. Hopefully, if all goes well and the little one cooperates...we will find out if we are having a boy or a girl!Second milestone...I've gained 8 pounds. Of course I know it is what I need to do, and I have a long way to go with many more pounds to put on, but I'm not going to pretend to be overly excited about it.Third milestone...I wore my first pair of maternity pants today! I still have a few pairs of my regular jeans/pants that I can fit into...but some of them I can't button anymore and that is just becoming a hassle. So, I guess I've hit that "in between" phase. My normal clothes are getting uncomfortable and maternity clothes are still a little too big...but comfortable...so I'm gonna go with it! There is a maternity and children's resale shop down the street from my work. I bought a few things yesterday and a few other things online. My friend Stacy has given me some things too! Thank heavens for that. I hate to spend a lot of money on maternity stuff, but hopefully I will get to wear it again...at least once.

17 weeks. 1/14 - 1/20Date: 01/18/2007
I have a belly! There's no hiding this anymore (not that I was trying to or anything). People are starting to notice and many are asking the risky question, "are you pregnant?". Only a few have actually asked me...most are asking other people and once they have it confirmed they admit that they could tell. :) It's kinda fun!I've been feeling pretty good this week. I am still pretty tired by the end of the day. Wish I could get a few more things done in a day, but I'm learning to let that go a little bit. I've had lots of encouragement to take advantage of this time to rest...so I am!There have been moments that I think I may have felt the baby move. It's so hard to tell! I know it won't be long before I feel it more consistently...that will be such an amazing thing. Only 11 more days till ultrasound day!

17 weeks. Not again!Date: 01/20/2007
I think I am getting another cold or sinus infection or something! My cough never completely went away, but over the last few days it has gotten a little worse. I ended up pulling a muscle AGAIN on my other side between my ribs, and I'm getting congested again. This is the pits. I don't feel as bad as last time, so lets hope it doesn't get that bad. Poor baby. He/she is probably getting tired of the sickies too.

18 weeks. 1/21 - 1/27Date: 01/24/2007
I am pretty sure (as sure as I can be for a first time pregnancy) that I am feeling the baby moving around. It feels kinda like when your muscle has an involuntary "twitch". I wish I could know for sure, but I am just going to pretend that is what it is and be excited about it! :)My back and hips are starting to ache from time to time. If I don't change positions frequently it gets worse. I have been trying to get up and move around. Thanks to Mike and Stewart, my treadmill is back in the house and I have been walking almost every day since (only missed one). I am a little hesitant because it seems impossible to keep my heart rate under 140bpm (which is what the standard is, I guess) but I don't feel like I am overdoing it at all. It feels good to be somewhat active again...so I'm just gonna stick with it and make sure I take it easy if I have any signs of discomfort.I have also been able to get a few more things done around the house. I have learned to do little bits at a time and take short rests in between. It seems to be working well and it makes me feel so much better physically and mentally. I have decided to spend some of my resting time reading and praying rather than just sitting in front of the T.V. which is also making me feel 10 times more productive and much less like a slug.Only 5 days (counting today) until my Ultrasound!!!

18 weeks. On the Move!Date: 01/27/2007
The baby seems pretty active first thing in the morning. I put my hand over the spot where I could feel the "twitch" and I can actually feel it from the outside too! When we were lying around watching T.V. I would feel the twitch from time to time so I'd call Mike over to see if he could feel it. Every time he would get there the twitch would stop. :) That night when we went to bed I felt it again so I told him to feel for it and this time it worked! Mike felt the baby too. So much fun...tomorrow is the ultrasound...I can't wait!!

19 weeks. We're having a boy!!Date: 01/30/2007
We went for our ultrasound yesterday and everything went really well. The tech said that everything was normal and we found out we're having a boy! We got some pictures of him and the tech even put a video tape in for us so we have a few minutes of him on video.I have to admit I was a little surprised. These last few weeks I had been getting the feeling it might be a girl. Surprised, but not at all disappointed. We are both very excited!We called our parents and my Grandma. I also called Jamie and my cousin Heather. Everyone was so excited! We sent Text messages and emails to everyone else and spent most of the day receiving congratulations and blessings from all our friends. It was a fun and exciting day.

20 weeks. 2/4 - 2/10Date: 02/10/2007
Things have been pretty status quo this week. I did have an appointment and my ob went over the ultrasound with me a little bit. She said everything looks great! Over all I have been feeling much better. I still have days when I get very tired in the afternoon/evening, and I've noticed that if I eat too much I'll be paying for it later. :)We have been talking about taking a little trip before the baby comes. We had thought about a cruise, but my ob didn't seem too comfortable with it so we decided against it. She did say however that I can fly or drive pretty much anywhere up to about 30 - 32 weeks. So, we are looking into some warm weather choices now, hopefully it will work out. I've heard these little trips referred to as "babymoons". Cute!

21 weeks. 2/11 - 2/17Date: 02/14/2007
So far this week has been pretty good. I did start having some mild discomfort that I am pretty sure is the "round ligament" pain. Anyway, it is a normal result of the uterus growing to support the baby. Monday was the worst day. I just had a moderate ache all day long. Then it got better so I'm not really worried about it.Well, we did it!! We decided to book our "Babymoon". We will be going to Jamaica!! We have never been there so we are very excited. I admit that I am a tad nervous to fly...I always am, but now even more so with an extra passenger "on board". My OB said flying would be okay and everything I have read is reassuring. I don't really like to fly regardless...but it will be worth it. Mike and I both really need a vacation and I'm so excited it will be just the two of us AND we'll be somewhere WARM! We may not get this chance again for quite some time. :P

22 weeks. 2/18 - 2/24Date: 02/22/2007
I am noticing a little more movement lately, and this little guy seems to be getting stronger. He can pack a good punch sometimes. :) I have actually been able to see movement now, but Mike hasn't seen it yet. I keep trying to catch him...but I think I can "see" it better because I can also feel it. I had jury duty yesterday and as I sat (for over 4 hours reading a book) I noticed my belly jumping and I just started giggling. I couldn't stop! I'm sure people thought I was a little nuts...So I just opened the book and acted like it was something funny from the book. :)It is becoming a little difficult to bend over and to get up from sitting or lying down...which has provided us with some laughter at times. Of course I know this is only going to get more and more difficult (and less amusing I'm sure). The "round ligament" pain I was having last week hasn't been bad at all. The kinda weird thing is I still pull muscles in my ribs from time to time, if I move a certain way or sometimes when I cough or sneeze...but it is more like a bad cramp now...it hurts for a minute or two and then it goes away. Not like before when the pain lasted for days and days.Lots of things coming up to look forward too! My best friend is coming in tomorrow from South Carolina. I can't wait to spend some time with her. We are having a pamper day next week...Pedicures!!! So excited for that. Some of my pregnant friends are having their baby showers and I will be attending those, and several of my friends who had babies last year are celebrating 1st birthdays! It will be fun to get together with friends and celebrate.Then there is our vacation! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Sometimes it actually keeps me awake at night! I've just been thinking about it all the time. Hopefully I'll be able to look forward to it without losing any more sleep. :)

23 weeks. 2/25 - 3/3Date: 03/03/2007
This was a fun week catching up with friends and celebrating milestones. I went to 2 baby showers and 3 first birthday parties. More to come next week!Mike and I registered today at Babies R Us. It went really well and I think we picked some good stuff. We both felt a little uneducated about certain things, but the people were really helpful and we feel good about our decisions. We got all the "big" stuff taken care of. I'm just going to consult some of the other new moms I know to finish up some odds and ends.I also made my first purchase this week for the baby. When I was shopping with Jamie on Friday I picked out a few shirts that were on sale at Old Navy. :) It would be really easy to get carried away...I've been proud of myself for exercising self control that I don't normally have when it comes to shopping! :) Can't wait to see all the fun stuff our baby boy is going to get.

24 weeks. 3/4 - 3/10Date: 03/09/2007
This was a pretty good week. I had a dr. appt on Wedneday and the dr. seemed a little concerned at first about my blood pressure and weight gain. I guess my blood pressure was a little high when the nurse took it and the dr. said that I have gained just a little more than I should have at 24 weeks. We talked for a little while about the symptoms of pre-clamsia and I didn't have any of them...so she took my blood pressure again and it was totally normal (even a little low). So I just have to be careful about my weight and if any of those symptoms appear, I need to see someone right away. I asked about our trip, a little nervous she would be hesitant about it...but she said it was fine. Yahoo!It must have been an off day cuz when I weighed myself this morning it was 4 lbs less!?!? Weird. Anyway, I'm not stressing about it...I KNOW I am not overdoing it with my eating and I'm walking on the treadmill almost every day. So, whatever weight I need to gain...I guess I'll gain. Just praying that I don't develop any more symptoms of pre-clamsia. Sounds like I'm in the clear for now. :)Leaving for Jamaica on Sunday!

25 weeks. 3/11 - 3/17Date: 03/17/2007
We had a great time in Jamaica! The weather was AWESOME, the resort was fabulous, the food was very tasty and we were able to lay around all day with nothing to do but relax. Perfect! Exactly what we wanted. Baby boy is moving around...A LOT. I think he's learning to do aerobics or something in there. Mike did actually SEE the baby moving this week! My belly is starting to jump around...it's pretty funny.I did get a message from my ob while I was gone. I'm a little nervous because I just took my glucose test before we left. I hope I didn't fail the test...and I really hope I don't have gestational diabetes. Trying not to worry about it too much. I've been doing everything they asked. My weight hasn't gone up and I've been on the treadmill everyday...even in Jamaica! I can't get ahold of the office until Monday anyway. I'll update then.Overall...great week!

26 weeks. 3/18 - 3/24Date: 03/21/2007
Well, I did get in touch with my ob finally on Tuesday. It turns out that I did fail my glucose test, so I have to schedule another test to see if I have gestational diabetes. I have to fast for 12 hours, drink the "glucose" drink (the very sugary drink) 3 times over 3 hours and have my blood drawn every hour. For two days before the test I have to follow a special diet. Some people have told me that this test made them sick to their stomach, so I'm not looking forward to that. Hopefully it won't be too bad.I also found out that I am anemic, so my ob put me on an iron supplement. I have only taken it for one day and I already feel a little better (I had been feeling a little tired and disoriented from time to time). I've heard that iron supplements can also be hard on your stomach, so I'm a little concerned about that...but so far so good.I'm not sure why I was so disappointed by this news, but I was pretty bummed about it Tuesday. I guess I just didn't want to have to deal with any "issues"...who does really? I'm sure whatever ends up happening it will all be fine in the end.I see the ob tomorrow to check my weight and blood pressure. More updates to come!

27 weeks. 3/25 - 3/31Date: 03/27/2007
Things are going pretty well this week. After I started the iron pills last week I have been feeling better. I haven't had any of the common side effects from the iron (yet) so that is good news too!At the doctor last week my weight and blood pressure were normal, so she was very pleased. No more worries about pre-clamsia for the time being. That was a huge load off my mind!My second glucose test will be this Friday 3/30. So I should know within a few days after that test if I have gestational diabetes. My ob says IF i do have it that it is not difficult to manage so not to worry (easy for her to say to the worlds biggest hypochondriac!). I honestly do feel better about the whole thing. I know everything will be fine and I'll just continue to do what I need to do to stay healthy and take care of me and the baby.The baby is getting much stronger. I feel him move a lot and it has gotten to be a little uncomfortable sometimes. I still laugh a lot though...it's just funny to see my tummy jumping around all over the place. I think it is possible I have felt a few braxton hicks contractions...but I'm not really sure. Sometimes my stomach just gets tight and feels like a rock! No pain or anything...just a different feeling. I'll have to ask the doc about them. :)

28 weeks. 4/1 - 4/7Date: 04/05/2007
Borderline. That's the term they use when you fail your glucose tolerence test by 1 point. It means that I don't really have gestational diabetes, but my numbers were not normal either. So what do I have? Glucose Intolerence.C'mon...I mean...ONE point. Unfortunately, it is what it is...I "failed" the test and they treat glucose intolerence the same way as gestational diabetes (so why bother to distinquish them...I'm not sure). But anyhoo...I have to go and see a diabetic nutrition consultant and check my blood sugar every day with a glucometer. (Yep...the fingerstick...fabulous.)I was given the option of taking the 3 hour glucose test again, but I opted out of that seeing as I almost passed out several times during the first hour of the test and felt like a truck had run over me for pretty much the remainder of the day. Yea, I'd rather prick my finger everyday for the next 80 days or so. No problem. And, I will possibly have to make some adjustments to what I eat...but to be honest...I have always watched what I eat...so I'll be interested to see what I will be able to change! (I'm sure there is always room for change).So, this is a minor inconvenience at the least. I'm obviously ready and willing to do what I need to, to keep this little boy healthy and strong. I hope he appreciates all this!

29 weeks. 4/8 - 4/14Date: 04/12/2007
Things have been going fairly well. I am starting to not feel so great again sometimes. I am getting sore and having more trouble getting around (nothing major, just noticeable). Baby boy is kicking a lot harder too. Sometimes when he's moving around in there it can be quite uncomfortable. Totally worth it though!The fatigue is coming back as well. It is definitely not as bad as the 1st trimester, but it's more noticeable than the 2nd trimester. By about 2pm I've hit my wall. I don't totally crash everyday on the couch like before, but it takes a little more effort to keep me going. I haven’t heard from the nutrition consultant for the glucose intolerance yet, so I have done a little reading online and I’m trying to eat right and stay on the treadmill. Hopefully that will help us both stay healthy.Mike says I'm nesting. I have been quite the cleaning machine as of the last week or so. I guess he's probably right, but it feels so much better to be in a nice clean house!We picked up most of our nursery furniture last weekend. I LOVE it! We (really Mike) put the crib together last night. It is gorgeous. I will try to get some pictures and put them on here. Very exciting stuff. :) For those of you who check I have finally put up a new belly pic. (I missed a few weeks!) It's not a great pic but it was the best I could do with the self timer and a rapidly dying battery. :) Enjoy!

30 weeks. 4/15 - 4/21Date: 04/21/2007
This is a busy week! It started on Sunday with my baby shower. It was such a nice shower and I had a great time. I hope everyone else did too. Monday I had my normal errands and running around to do. I was in a mini choir Wednesday night so I had practice Tues. and service Wed. I was pretty tired afterward. I think I'm going to have to start winding down my time on stage. This will be kinda hard for me and I will really miss it, but it is for the best. Hopefully, I will be able to transition back in pretty easily after the baby. Once I feel ready, of course.I had a dr. appt Wednesday afternoon. Things seem to be going pretty well. My weight is in the normal range and so is my blood pressure. I don't have any swelling or other problems so I was happy with that. Still trying to work out the whole blood sugar issue. I finally have an appointment with a nurse/dietician for next Wed (4/25) so hopefully everything will be clear after that. It sounds like I will have to follow a special diet and check my blood sugar fairly regularly. As long as I can keep it in a normal range...no worries.Thursday, I met Rita for coffee. We got to talking and didn't even realize it was 10:30pm! Needless to say I was a little tired Friday, but did I learn my lesson...nope. I had a get together with the choir/praise team "girls group" on Friday night and I didn't even leave until about 11:30pm. They did a little surprise for me and gave me all kinds of "pampering" things so I could focus a little on myself during this time when so much focus goes to the baby. VERY sweet of them.Finally, Saturday night was Bunco! I just love to get together with the girls and play bunco. I have developed quite a reputation as the "loud and excitable" player of the bunch. The theme was Bunco from around the World, so people brought all kinds of ethnic food and goodies, it was SO fabulous (I didn't eat sweets or carbs all day to make sure I could sample as many things as possible without blowing my "special diet"). Wednesday, I started to feel a little sick again. It started with congestion/headache, and sure enough it turned into that nasty cough I had back in Dec. I'm hoping this won't be a repeat of that experience...so far it doesn't seem to b e quite as bad. I'm looking forward to a much less busy and more restful week next week!

31 weeks. 4/22 - 4/28Date: 04/28/2007
This was my birthday week! Overall it was a good week, and I did get more rest than I did last week. Good news, the cold that I caught didn't last nearly as long as my crisis in Dec. Bad news, I did pull muscles in my ribs again. That has got to be one of the most uncomfortable things I have yet to experience (I know, I know...wait till childbirth!). Fortunately that didn't last long either...just a few days.I had a birthday dinner with some friends on Tuesday. We went to Mexican Fiesta. YUM!!! I love Mexican Fiesta. :) Mike and I celebrated on Friday. We had a great evening together! My friend Stacy had her baby girl early on Thursday, so I went with some friends to visit her. The baby's name is Sadie Lee. Mom and baby are doing well, but it was quite an ordeal from what I was told. I have to admit as our date gets closer it is hard not to be a little anxious about how our experience is going to go. I have pretty much decided not to have any expectations...and to expect the unexpected. I finally met with the nutrition consultant. The appointment went well, and it was pretty informative. It turns out that I have been eating well (the right foods) but I just need to watch my amounts and eat them at very regular intervals. Also I need to be sure to eat carbs and proteins together at each meal (including snacks). I thought I was going to get a glucometer to measure my blood, but it turns out I have to make another appointment for that! UGH! I haven't done that yet, I guess I will next week.I have cut my hours down a little at work. It helps when I get off at 1pm instead of 3pm. I still have a little bit of energy left to get a few things done and get on the treadmill. Then, I'm pretty much done for the evening. I still feel pretty good, I definitely can't complain. Just a few aches and baby is packing a few good punches every once in awhile. Just trying to rest and enjoy these last few weeks.

32 weeks. 4/29 - 5/5Date: 05/05/2007
This was another great week. It started with another baby shower given by Mike's family. It is always nice to see everyone and I got a lot of nice things. It was an afternoon tea theme and it was very nice and relaxing. :)Socially, I had a bit of a rest this week. I am getting pretty tired these days, so I've spend most of my evenings resting on the couch. I had an appointment Thursday and everything seems to be going well. I'm measuring on schedule, my weight is on track, my blood pressure is normal, I don't have excessive swelling, and I have the info I need now to keep my blood sugar stable (still don't have the blood meter, but I get that next week).I don't want to complain, but I am getting increasingly more uncomfortable now. My whole body just aches sometimes and if I am in one position too long it seems like I can hardly walk for a minute. When he moves around in there it can be down right painful at times. Overall I have to say it is not that bad, just different from the woes of the first and second trimesters. I'm starting to understand why women are so ready to get these little ones OUT when the time comes.Well, about 8 weeks to go!

33 weeks. 5/6 - 5/12Date: 05/12/2007
I'm starting to realize that there is not much time left here. Some days it feels like this could go on forever, and other days I feel like it is right around the corner. Several of the girls I know who were due before me have all had their babies and now...we are NEXT! I guess that is what is bringing this all a little closer to home now.This week was fairly uneventful. I did finally get my blood glucose monitor. I have to stick my finger 4 times a day! Most of my numbers have been right on target. I've had a few outside of the range, but hopefully nothing to worry about. It has helped me learn what to eat and what not to. I will see my dr. next week and she'll check the numbers and let me know how I'm doing. You'd be suprised how little it takes to throw off your blood sugar (if you have glucose intolerance that is).Thursday, I got a pedicure! It was nice. I'm mostly concerned that I can't cut my toenails very easily anymore, so it was nice to get that taken care of. The cute pink nail polish is a nice bonus. :)Saturday, we saw my Mom's family at my cousin Jenni's shower. She is due the day before me. It is really fun because she was also born the day before me. The family gets a huge kick out of it cuz they knew our mom's when they were very pregnant together, and now we are very pregnant together! Later Saturday, Jamie stopped by. It was so nice to see her. She's so excited for us! She will be here again in July and we are both looking forward to spending some time together with the baby! Finally, Saturday night Mike and I went to Babies R Us to pick up a few things we didn't get off the registry. Next week I'm going to try and do a final sorting and decide what to keep and what to exchange. We are slowly but surely getting ready for all this!

34 weeks. 5/13 - 5/19Date: 05/19/2007
This was my first Mother's day! I have to admit, I think I will enjoy next year a little more...actually having the baby here to celebrate with...but it was nice none the less. I got many well wishes from friends and family. I was with my Mom Saturday (5/12) so, we spent the day with Mike's family. We had a really good lunch! Rich grilled for us and Karen made yummy food to go with it. Jon and Amber brought ice cream cake for dessert. I did have a really tiny piece and it was SO good. Didn't even mess up my blood sugar level. :) We spent the rest of the time talking and had fun spending the day together outside on the patio.I am noticing more and more discomfort over the weeks. All completely normal things...heartburn, sore back, sore hips, baby sucker punches and kicks, braxton hicks contractions and just plain ol' fatigue. I've slowed down quite a bit...but overall I still think I am doing well. I can't complain. I had a dr. appointment this week and all is well. Weight is on target, blood pressure is good and I'm measuring exactly as I should be. Baby's heart rate is 150 bpm and his head is down. The dr. said he is most likely to stay this way since he's running out of room. That is good news since it means less chance for a c-section (although that is just one of the many factors involved!). My next appt. will be at 36 weeks and then once a week until I deliver.My dr. was also pleased with all my blood sugar levels so now I can drop down to poking my finger 2 times a day instead of 4! That will be nice.Today (5/19) was our 6th Wedding Anniversary. We had a really nice day together. We spent some time doing yard work (really Mike did it all and probably didn't "enjoy" that part of it...but the weather was nice at least), then we went out to eat in Downtown Northville. We stopped at Starbucks afterward for an after dinner treat (sugar free for me!). Then we came home and had a fire outside in our patio fireplace with the dogs havin' fun outside. Tomorrow we will be going to Cafe Felix, a european style cafe in Ann Arbor that we have been going to every year since we got married on the Sunday of our Anniversary (it reminds us of our honeymoon). We really like it and it has become our own little tradition. I'm excited!

35 weeks. 5/20 - 5/26Date: 05/26/2007
Things are slowing down quite a bit for me. I just don't have the energy to do as much. It's probably a good thing...but it does tend to make me a little anxious. I'm just not used to "resting".We met the childbirth educator this week. She showed us around the hospital and the birthing center. As nervous as I have been off and on about the actual labor and delivery, I think we have decided to try going to the birthing center first. This is a much more natural approach and Mike and I both feel that we will be more comfortable there...at least to start with. They do offer some medications if I want them and should I decide I want an epidural, I can still get one...I just have to be moved out of the birthing center. I am much more comfortable with doing as little as possible in terms of medical interventions, and I feel that starting here will give us the best opportunity to begin that route. Believe me...if I end up needing the interventions...I WILL get them. :) Every labor and delivery is different, so we'll just have to wait and see.We learned a little bit about labor and delivery and were given some materials to go over. We will try to attend as many of the classes as we can (they start Monday June 4th and are 4 weeks long). I was set to have someone come to the house and do an all day class for us, but she had to cancel because of a family emergency...so now we're trying to fit in classes at the hospital. We feel good about it though, whatever info we can get will be helpful. Whatever we miss...I'm sure we'll figure it out. ;)We also saw Pirates of the Carribean - At World's End this week. I liked it a lot better than the second one...but the first one is still my favorite. This one did answer the questions I had after the second, which was good. It just took me awhile to figure everything out. By the end...I knew what was going on. ;) After the movie we went home and put together some more of the baby's things. Our pack and play, the swing, and the car seat/stroller. I also washed some of the baby bedding and the clothing that I will take to the hospital for the baby. Fun stuff!4 more weeks! I'll be working for one more week and then I'm done (May 31st is my last day). I'm hanging in there. I do get pretty uncomfortable from time to time. I have off and on swelling in my feet and ankles, I get heartburn everyday by about 3pm no matter what I eat, when I first get up from sitting or lying down it takes me a minute to get my legs to work right, and I feel like everything I do is as if I'm running a marathon. Mild annoyances that I can certainly tolerate for a little while longer.

36 weeks. 5/27 - 6/2Date: 06/02/2007
This was my last week at work. On Thursday I worked my last day, so I guess I am now officially a stay at home mom.Things have been about the same for most of this week. I have been slightly uncomfortable, a little swollen in my feet and ankles, and just pretty wiped out. At my appointment this week everything was great. My weight is on track, blood pressure is good, babies heart rate is good, and he's measuring right on target. This week I was tested for group B strep and will know next week what the results are. group B strep is harmless to me I guess, but If I am positive I just have to have antibiotics during delivery to prevent infection for the baby.The doctor did check my cervix this week, but I wasn't dialated much at all...not even 1 cm yet. I didn't really expect to be at 36 weeks, so no worries.Saturday, on two separate occasions I had a sharp shooting pain that then felt like it was burning in the front of my right thigh. It seemed to happen whenever I had been sitting and needed to stand up. I was a little worried at first, but it did go away so we've concluded (in our professional opinions) that I must have aggravated some nerve or something in my leg...maybe the baby was positioned in a funny way or something. Hopefully I won't have any more problems with that. Later we spent the evening with Mike's family. We went to dinner and then went miniature golfing. Aparently I haven't lost my touch even with swollen ankes and a big belly...I was the winner!!

37 weeks. 6/3 - 6/9Date: 06/09/2007
We had our first birth class this week. It was fairly informative. I think both of us were glad that we went.On Tuesday, I had my OB appt. My strep B test was negative, so that was good news. Everything is still going well (BP, Weight, baby's HR, measurements - all normal). She also checked my cervix again and I was dilated to 1cm and I'm 70% effaced. This still doesn't mean much...I'm pretty sure it could stay this way for weeks. She does want me to have an ultrasound next week to check the size of the baby. She said she doesn't really think he'll be big, but it is standard because of my having high blood sugar. So Thursday 6/14 we'll get to see the little guy (hopefully he's little anyway!).My first official week off work was nice, but I feel like I really just wasted a lot of time. Mostly because all I did was watch T.V. I know I need to rest, I have accepted that...even though my brain is still going a mile a minute with things I want to do and take care of...but I really don't want to just be a couch potato either. I have some goals for next week to do some other more meaningful but still restful activities. :)Friday, I had dinner with our small group. It was nice to get out of the house and have some social interaction. Mike had to work a lot this week so I didn't see him too much. We did get to go out on Saturday to Marianne's graduation party. We had a great time and the food was fabulous!Things have been about the same in terms of how I feel. Just the normal aches, pains and tiredness of the last few weeks. I didn't have that pain in my leg all week, but then Saturday it happened again! It wasn't as bad and it went away so I'm trying not to worry too much about it. Just playing the waiting game now!

38 weeks. 6/10 - 6/16Date: 06/16/2007
This week I felt much better about how I spent my time! I think I watched less than 1 hour of television per day and some days I didn't watch it at all! I did devotions, read a book, spent time in the gorgeous weather, caught up on my photography class and got a few naps in here and there. :) It was a good week. Mike unexpectedly got 2 days off this week (because he worked last weekend) so we got to spend extra time together. It was really nice.At my appointment Tuesday everything was looking good. She checked my cervix and I am now 1 - 2 cm dilated and still 70% effaced. Again, this is not terribly significant...it could stay this way for weeks...or progress very slowly. But, it is still fun to hear that I've made SOME progress. :)On Thursday we had a late ultrasound to check the size of the baby. It was really amazing to see him at this stage in the game. (I put a few pics up so you can check them out). Anyway, the tech said that everything looks great. He does appear to be a bit chubby (at least his face), but I think that is cute. They do estimate his size to be about 8 lbs 4 oz. Which is interesting because then she told us that ultrasounds can be 1 lb off either way. So basically he is between 7 - 9 lbs. The main thing is they can tell he is not excessively big, so that was good news.I guess I have some extra fluid, which is common for mom's with blood sugar issues. She said it was not excessive either and nothing to worry about. She just explained that is why I feel so "full". Like my stomach couldn't possibly stretch any more at all.Any day now!!!

39 weeks. Introducing Isaac Alan GreggDate: 06/19/2007
Okay, this is going to be LONG…believe me, I wish it was a much shorter story…but it is what it is…At 12 am on Father's Day I began to have mild contractions. Throughout the night they were just strong enough and consistent enough to keep me awake the entire night. Around 5 am I told Mike that I was pretty sure I had started labor so we called my Dr. and I was told to come to the hospital. We arrived around 7 am at the hospital birth center and after they checked me, they decided to keep me there since I had progressed slightly since my last OB appointment. I continued to progress very slowly (to 3 cm) until about 6 pm when my contractions became irregular and they decided to send me home. I was devastated, I guess I assumed once things got started there was no turning back. However, it did seem to be the best option at the time. As soon as I got home, the contractions became more regular again. The nurse told Mike to get me some Tylenol PM to help take the edge off and help me to sleep. I was skeptical, but it really did help. I managed to sleep Sunday night and woke up Monday still in "early" labor.We didn't want to make the same mistake twice, so I stayed home most of the day Monday as my contractions became more intense. By about 6 pm we decided they were close enough and intense enough to call the Dr. again. We were told to come in, so we made our way to the hospital and arrived around 8 pm. I was checked at this point and had progressed to 4 – 5 cm. We had made the decision to start the labor and delivery process naturally, with no medication. Not because I was dead set against it, but just because I wanted to minimize any side effects for me or the baby. I didn't want to be pumped with medication any sooner than was necessary. So we started "active" labor using all natural comfort measures. The birth ball, massage & breathing techniques, the shower…all of which seemed to get me through (somewhat to my surprise). After being in the shower for awhile it seemed that my contractions were getting more and more intense so they did another check around 11 pm and I had progressed to 7 – 8 cm. It seemed that things were really moving now and I would soon be in "transition" so, we decided to call our families and a few close friends to let them know it could be any time now.To manage this next stage of labor they recommended the Jacuzzi tub. It was actually quite helpful. I spent a while in the tub and when things seemed more intense they got me out to check me. Still 8 cm. Waited a little while longer…still 8 cm. Sometime the next morning…still 8 cm. This is where things start to get a little foggy for me…maybe Mike will write a blog and fill in some of the details. Sometime on Tuesday morning I decided to take some pain medication. They gave me staidol to help take the edge off the contractions and to give me some rest. It was supposed to work for about 2 – 3 hours, but after about 45 mintues, my pain was intense. Mike got the nurse and she said perhaps this was a good sign, maybe I had progressed so the staidol wasn't strong enough to work now. Another check…still 8 cm. This was when the nurse realized that my I.V. was not hooked up to saline drip, so I had not received the full dose of staidol. Apparently the saline drip helps to give a slow release of the medication so it works longer. Since I hadn't gotten the full dose she flushed the I.V. I got the rest of the dose all right…but not slow release! It instantly knocked me out. I felt horrible! I was dizzy and incoherent. Shortly afterward I began to vomit and once that was all over I was a zombie for the next few hours.By this point I had been in labor for over 48 hours. I was sick, tired, shaking uncontrollably and incoherent for the most part (Mike has some funny stories about this time period). Sometime around 4pm I was checked again and still no progress. My Dr. started to speculate that the baby was not in an ideal position. She said he wasn't posterior, and it seemed that he was not quite transverse, but he was not completely head on either. Her recommendation was to put me on an epidural and give me pitocin to relax me and strengthen my contractions. She thought this would help the baby drop into the proper position.I can't say why, but I was terrified of the epidural. You would think after all this time I would welcome it with open arms, but I was really, really upset. It was probably somewhat due to my tired over drugged state. Still unable to control my shaking, I was terrified that I would move too much and things would go horribly awry. But there was no way I was going to be able to continue in my current state, so it had to be done.Around 5 pm I was transferred out of the Birth Center to Labor and Delivery. The epidural went very smoothly and the anesthesiologist was SO nice me. He and all the nurses really helped to calm me down (although I was still shaking) and within minutes I was feeling no pain. Then they started the pitocin. I felt much better, and I was like a different person. Mike said he could actually have a conversation with me now. The plan was to stay on the epidural and pitocin until I progressed to where I could push. We all thought this would be very soon. I did feel a lot better, but for some reason I began to vomit again (we think maybe the pitocin). I was checked in about an hour and I started to progress to 9 cm, but only on one side. This was because of the baby's position. He was only dilating one side of my cervix. My Dr. wanted to wait a while longer to see if he would move, but she said if he didn't I would have to have a C-Section.So, after I received this news…more vomiting (they had also turned up the pitocin so that could've been it too). I was once again in a state of terror. I have never had surgery of any kind and I was just in disbelief that this birth experience was SO far from what I had expected. The nurse that was with me was SO sweet and really helped to relax me about the whole experience. As I waited, I knew that even if the baby moved and I had the option to push that my body just wouldn't be able to tolerate it. I was exhausted! And more than that…just ready to meet my baby.So, they started prep for surgery. I had to drink this stuff to neutralize my stomach and I'm sure you can guess what happened…more vomiting. When that subsided they took me to the OR still shaking uncontrollably. The idea of them cutting me open in this state was somewhat scary, but everything went really well and at 10:32 pm on Tuesday, June 19th, little Isaac was born. After he was out, I started to feel some pain. It was hard to describe, I mean the epidural was working fine…I didn't feel the cut or any pain during the delivery, but afterward…while they were working…it was just really sore. One of the nurses noticed my discomfort and was concerned. She started asking me what I was feeling, but all I could say was "I'm just sore". I guess she was worried that I was feeling too much pain cuz next thing I knew I had a shot of morphine in my arm! Again, I was instantly incoherent and when I got back to recovery…you guessed it…vomiting.Finally, in recovery things began to settle down. I got to meet my little guy and just like everyone said…all was forgotten, and all was well. I do want to say that I was SO happy with everyone at the hospital. I was so impressed with the care and attention that I was given by everyone. Also, I had my waiting crew…Mike's parents, my cousin Heather, Stacy Holmes and her mom Vicky Lang (Stewart was there for awhile too, but he had to leave to take care of Rayna). They all came to the hospital and stuck with us through the whole experience…I felt bad that they were just waiting and getting updates from Mike, but knowing they were there for me and so excited for me really meant SO much to me. Most of all, I was so amazed by my husband. He was absolutely perfect through the whole experience. I couldn't have asked for anything more, he did it all! Not only was he part of the "team"…he literally carried me through most parts of this experience. He instantly fell in love with Isaac and was his main caregiver for the first few hours (since I was stuck in recovery). They really had a chance to bond and I am SO thankful for that. I feel a lot closer to Mike now and hopefully he feels the same way.Well, there it is…our birth story. Thank you to all who shared this entire journey with us from infertility through pregnancy to birth. It truly is a miracle and we thank God for all of our blessings!