Thursday

I forget to visit this site now that the baby is here. Nothing really exciting to say today. Emberly is growing like a little weed! She weighs 10 lbs 10 oz and is 21 3/4" long. I think they measured her wrong when she was born because there is no way she has only grown 3/4" in the past 2 months!

But she is healthy and beautiful! I can't ask for much more than that.

Baby is here!

Emberly Raelyn Grimm was born on September 9, 2009 @ 1:08 am. She weighed 7 lbs and 21 inches long.

Insulin..............sucks

I started taking insulin for the diabetes yesterday. I have to give myself shots 3 times a day, plus keep checking my sugar levels 4 times a day! Can I say that I am so tired of being stuck and poked, it's not even funny!

I just want Emberly to be here. I want to hold her and kiss her and smell the "baby" smell on her!

19 more days and all of this will happen. I am nervous but at the same time very very excited!

Baby shower

The folks I work with are such awesome people. They threw me a baby shower yesterday and I was totally shocked! I had such a great time.

I had my perinatology and OB appt yesterday. My blood pressure was up so they sent me to the hospital to get some tests ran. I have to do a 24 hour urine collection today to see if I have preeclampsia. Dr. Hodor seemed to think that I won't last until September 21. That is fine with me, because I am ready for her to be here! She is weighing in at a whopping 6 lbs 1 oz! Woo-hoo!

26 more days and counting. I am really tired of being pregnant, but I also want her to be "cooked" all the way, so if she waits til Sept 21, then I have no choice but to wait! LOL

I already love her so much and can't wait to hold her.

Tired............

Went to the perinatolgist this morning. The baby is fine except she is still breech. Her head is under my placenta and her butt is on my cervix. Yes I am very uncomfortable now. I told the doc that I wanted her here now and he said to hold on a few more weeks. He keeps saying that! LOL

I start seeing him every week now............sucks because it's a $30 co-pay for each visit.

I get to stop the 17P shots which I am really excited about. They were starting to hurt.

Due date!

Emberly Raelyn Grimm will be born on 21 September 2009. Man it can't come soon enough!

Daycare

I'm so excited! I found daycare for Emberly! It's 2 ladies that are certified that run a daycare out of the home. I went to visit them yesterday and as soon as I walked in, I felt comfortable and at ease. They charge $180 a week, but that is actually cheaper than the daycare centers in my area. They are asking $250 a week and up!

I have to give them a deposit to hold my slot since I won't be needing them until November.

I have my OB appointment today and I get to schedule my c-section! Woo-hoo! I'm so excited!

Having diabetes is not an easy thing. I hate the diet that I'm on. I want candy so bad it's killing me!

Diabetes

The doctor's office just called and I have gestational diabetes. I have to see the doctor on Thursday. DAMN DAMN DAMN

Doc visit

I was able to see Dr. Hodor (perinatologist) yesterday at 2:30. He did an ultrasound and she was just a movin on the screen, but still couldn't feel her inside. He said it might be because there are many layers of tissue (fat) between me and the baby and it is making it hard to feel her.

But I heard her heartbeat and saw it acutally beat. I saw her breathing and her mouth was opening and closing! So cute. They tried to do a 3D picture but her arm kept blocking her face, like she was hiding!

Anyway, he wants to start seeing me every 2 weeks and I have one more fetal fibronectin test on Aug 4.

Please pray for Emberly.

Hospital

I made a visit to the hospital on Friday. I hadn't felt the baby move in about 4 days and I started to get worried. I called my OB and he told me to meet him at the hospital.

I got there and they hooked me up on a monitor. I heard the baby's heartbeat and could hear her moving, but couldn't feel her. The nurse and doctor was not sure why I couldn't feel her moving.

So they finally sent me home. I ran into my other OB (there are like 6 of them that I see) on Saturday at the store and she asked how I was doing. She told me to call the perinatologist on Monday and schedule an ultrasound.

I felt her move some over the weekend but nothing like how she was moving a few weeks ago. I also know that the bigger she gets, the less room she runs out of to move, but I still should be feeling something.

That's all for now.....

Glucose

I had a 3 hour glucose test this morning. It wasn't too bad, just time seemed to go really slow!

Yesterday my co-workers threw me a birtday party! It was so fun and unexpected. They are a bunch of great people to work with.

Next OB appointment is July 28 and I will get to schedule my c-section! Woo-hoo!

Wednesday

I had my appointment with the perinatologist and OB yesterday. The most exciting part of the 1st appointment was that I got a 4D ultrasound! Emberly is soooooooo cute! She is breech and weighs 2 lb 14 oz! She is exactly 1 lb less than Jordyn when she was born and they are 1 month apart. My cervix shortened and they did another fetal fibronectin test. This time he sent the sample to the lab. The last time he did the test, he just threw it out because my cervix was still "long". I have to get one more test done in 4 weeks (Aug 4).

My OB appointment went okay too. Heard the baby's heart beat, he measure my tummy. I have to get another glucose test done on Friday because my sugar level was 138 and they want it below 139. So.............. They also have some other blood work they want done on that day too. My next appt with OB is July 28 and then I get to schedule my c-section! Woo-hoo!

Oh yeah, I gained 9 lbs in the past month...............boooooooohooooooooo!

Anxiety.............

I only have 95 more days left, actually 88 because I will have my c-section a week before the due date, but that wasn't my point. My point is that I am starting to panic a little.

I've been calling around for daycare costs and so far the YMCA has the cheapest, if you can call it cheap. They charge $250 a WEEK. A friend of mine's mom is willing to watch her, but I don't know what she will charge.

I guess it's getting down to the wire now and I don't have anything lined up for certain. I always have things planned out and this time I don't. It is driving me nuts. Luckily, Robin bought the carseat/stroller, so at least I don't have to worry about that part.

I'm just really nervous because it's been a long time since I had a baby that depends on me. Kinda scary.

So much pain.................

Saturday nite was the worst for me. My hips hurt so bad that I couldn't lay down. I couldn't sleep sitting up, so I stayed up until around 5:00am (Sunday), then I must have drifted off to sleep finally but got up around 8:30am.

I have never felt so much pain in my entire life. I think labor was easier than what I was feeling.

So I was praying that Sunday nite I would be able to get some rest. The pain wasn't as bad as the nite before, but it still hurt, so I tossed and turned and woke up around 5:30 am this morning.

Uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

Gifts

I am sooooo blessed. My friend Robin has spoiled Emberly beyond the imagination. She bought her so many clothes, socks, hats, etc. Then I come home from work yesterday and there sits in the middle of my living room a stroller/carseat combo! WOW! And she didn't forget Jordyn. She got Jordyn 2 outfits! Robin is so good to us.

The bassinet is from a friend of mine's friend. She just gave it to me to. It's like brand new!

Super excited!

I had my endocrinology and OB appointment this morning. My thryoid level is 1.0 so the doc was happy. I have to get tested one more time in August.

I gained 2 more pounds for a whopping total of 5 lbs! How is it that I gained over 50 lbs with Jordyn and so little with this one? Oh, I'm not complaining, not one bit!

My best friend Robin is here visiting and she went to the doc with me today. She got to hear the baby's heart beat.

I get to schedule my c-section when I'm 30 weeks (5 more weeks from now) for week 39 of my pregnancy. I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel! Woo-hoo! I am soooooo excited.

I did the glucose testing last month and my numbers came back 128. They like it to be 130 or under, so I'm right there. So I guess I am okay.

News

I know this picture is hard to see. I don't have a scanner at work so I had to do some magic to get it on here. Okay, it's a profile pic again, however this time her leg is up over her head. Her knee is in her nose! Wow what a flexible baby!


I had my appointment with the perinatologist yesterday. Emberly is weighing in around 1 1/2 lbs and is growing just right. I was a little concerned because I am not gaining weight with this pregnancy and wanted to make sure she was okay.

So they tested (fetal fibronectin test fFN) me to see if I was in labor and going to give birth early. They took a swab from my cervix then did a intravaginal ultrasound to see if my cervix had shortened. It was 43mm (I think they use mm) and it was 44mm last month. The doc wants to test me again at my next appointment in 4 weeks.

My blood pressure was a little up, but that might have been because it was hot as HELL out yesterday! LOL

The lady I work with gave me her crib mattress on Monday and some bedding. As soon as I got home, I put everything together and now the crib is ready for Emberly to sleep in. I am so excited!

3D ultrasound

Hey all! This is my little sister's 3D ultrasound! Isn't this just too cool? By the way his name is DeShawyne Stewart! Can't wait for him to get here! She's due on August 19th, so not much longer! Woo-hoo!

New baby!

My friend Robyn had a baby boy on June 2 @ 4:17pm. He was 6 pounds 14 ounces and 19.5 inches long! I got to hold him yesterday. He smelled so good...........the newborn smell! LOL

He was just too cute for words. I haven't held a baby since Jordyn was born! So I was a little nervous about holding him. I didn't want to "break" him! ha ha ha ha

Anyway, just wanted to share that!

Monday

Nothing new and exciting. I feel her kick alot now, guess she finally woke up and realized where she was! LOL

Still giving myself the 17P injections. No fun, but I'm getting used to it.

I have my appointment with the perinatologist next Tuesday. They will run some tests to see if I will give birth prematurely. I didn't realize that they could do that. Pretty neat.

Have a blessed week.

I felt something..............

I felt the baby move yesterday! She was moving alot! Woo-hoo. Finally.

The baby is okay...........

Here is Emberly! In case you can't tell what you are looking at, it is a profile picture of her. She is laying on her back and her hand is up by her mouth. Yeah, I know, it's hard to tell. Sorry. Hopefully I can get a better one at my next visit.

I had my OB and perinatal appointment yesterday. I got to see her on the ultrasound and she was moving around so now I can rest a little easier. The doctor said that I should start feeling movement in a few weeks.

My cervix is still long, which is good. My blood pressure is good. And I've only gained 3 lbs since the beginning of the pregnancy.

The next appointment with the perinatal doc, they will test me to see if I will give birth prematurely. I didn't know they could test for that, but it seems they can. Technology is amazing.

A lady I work with is giving me her crib mattress, and another lady at work bought me a highchair. So things are coming together well. My other friend Gerrie and her mom are buying the stroller and carseat. My friend Mori is buying all kinds of clothes. I'm sure Emberly will be the best dressed baby in daycare! LOL

I am truely blessed with such great people in my life.

Monday...........

It's Monday again...... Maybe I am just being paranoid, but I haven't felt the baby move and I am 21 weeks now. Other than my belly being big, I don't feel like I'm pregnant.

I have 2 appointments tomorrow (OB and perinatologist). I will get another sonogram, and hopefully I will see her moving then.

Boy this pregnancy is going soooooooooooooooo SLOW!

So tired.............

This picture is me at 20 weeks and 3 days.


I am so tired. It usually hits me around 2:00 pm at work. I can barely keep my eyes open. Maybe I could just shut my office door and take a quick nap? LOL

Oh yeah, I got a crib for $30 off www.craigslist.com! It was definitely used, but seemed to be in good condition. Jordyn and I tried to put it together yesterday, but got stuck. There are some left over pieces that I'm not sure where they go. Guess I will go to Target or Walmart and look at the cribs that are put together and see if I can figure it out!

Other than that, I am doing okay. I still fit my regular clothes (can't fasten my pants), but still need to start looking at maternity pants here real soon.

God Bless.

Cloth diapers

A friend of mine and his wife use cloth diapers and they said in the long run, it will save them money. So I am thinking about going that route.

I will do some research and see what I can find.

Friday

I gave myself the 17P shot this morning and for some reason it hurt! It's hard to see a needle going in and your the one that is making it happen!

I was supposed to go to Henderson NV for work the week after next, but I think I may stay put. With this swine flu going around, I don't know if I want to chance it. Am I being too scared?

IT IS A GIRL!

Okay, I am definitely having a girl! Woo-hoo! I had my appointment with the perinatologist today and they did ultrasound today to check to make sure she has all her parts! So far so good. They couldn't get a good look at the heart because she wasn't in a good position. I have to go back in 3 weeks and the doc said he should see it then with no problem.

My cervix is still "long" which is a good thing. The doc explained it to Jordyn like this: the cervix is the door that keeps the baby in! LOL

My blood pressure is great, my thyroid levels are great and I am still losing weight. Not sure what that is about. But I will say that I definitely don't need the extra weight, I am already overweight.

So I am super excited because it finally looks like my pregnancy is going in the up direction. Let's keep praying and I know God will make sure my baby girl comes out healthy!

2nd 17P shot

I gave myself the 17P shot this morning! I didn't think I could stick a needle in my butt, but I did it! Woo-hoo!

So that is all the news I have for today. Happy Friday!

Gifts!

I got my first baby gifts yesterday! My friend Laretta from Arizona sent me the First Years Close and Secure Sleeper, American Red Cross Health and Grooming Kit and First Years Sure Comfort Newborn-to-Toddler Tub!

Now I'm really getting excited about the baby coming!

I'm throwing a baby shower for a friend of mine on Saturday. Hope it goes okay.

1st 17P injection

I went to the perinatal office in Rockville to learn how to give myself the 17P injections. I need 3 hands to do it! LOL Anyway, I got my first shot today, then every Friday I will need to have one. I will see if Jordyn can be my helper! She might think that is fun! ha ha ha

Anyway these stupid shots will have to be given until I am 37 weeks. Wow that sounds like forever!

Group Strep B

I had my monthly OB appointment today. I got some disturbing news. I seem to have group strep b and I got it because I had a urinary tract infection about a month ago. According to the internet "When you are pregnant and have group B strep, your baby could get the germs from you during delivery and get sick. Infected babies need treatment. Your baby will be kept in the hospital some extra days for close watching (observation) if your doctor thinks the baby is infected with strep. Blood tests will be done to see if your baby has group B strep. If your baby has this germ, the doctor will give the baby antibiotics."


So, this appointment was not a very positive one for me. However I did hear her heartbeat. The doc said it was about 140 beats per minute.

I feel like I'm such a bad mom. My poor baby has to literally fight for her life because I have so many things wrong with me. So not fair to her.

Please pray for my baby. I want her to be born healthy and strong. I love her.

Thankful

I just want to say that I am thankful for this baby. I wasn't at first because I honestly didn't want more children after Jordyn, but I see that she is definitely a gift from God and I need to treat her as such.

Easter Weekend

Jordyn and I decided that we needed to get away for a day or so, so we drove to Hershey PA and went to the Hershey's Chocolate World and Zoo America. The weather was terrible as we drove there...........raining all the way, then it finally cleared up and was very nice out. We stayed the nite and drove back to Frederick on Sunday.

It felt so good to just get away if only for a day. I really don't like it here in MD, but I do have a good job, so I guess I need to stick it out awhile longer. If I could move my job to Arizona, then I would be too happy. I definitely need a change of pace and soon!

It's a girl...............I think!

I had my appointment with the Perinatal doctor yesterday. They measured the baby's spine, legs, arms, head, etc and now my due date is September 27 instead of September 28. The baby is growing right on target!

They checked my cervix and it measured 4 cm which is good and it is closed which is even better! My blood pressure was 137/72 which is a little higher than usual, but he wasn't worried.

The doctor wants me to start weekly progesterone shots to try and prevent preterm labor. The nurse is supposed to call me today and let me know when those will start. If I had this kind of doctor when I was pregnant with Jordyn, she might not have been born 2 months early.

And finally, I asked the doc if it was too early to tell the sex of the baby and immediately he found out it was a GIRL! He said he was 70/30 sure but I do have another appointment on April 28th and then will find out for sure (or as sure as possible) if in fact I'm having a girl! I like the name Emberly Danielle Grimm.

I'm just so thankful that the baby seems to be developing good and seems to be healthy! Thank you Jesus!

15 weeks!

I'm 15 weeks today and wishing it was 40 weeks! I am so ready to give birth. I just want the little critter to be here! I am excited to see what he/she is gonna look like. Will he/she look like me? Jordyn? Or the father? I hate surprises! LOL

I see the Perinatologist tomorrow at 2:30. I'm gonna ask if they can tell what the sex is or if it's too early. I am just too excited to find out. I am hoping for a girl, but will probably get a boy. I have come up with 2 boy names and 1 girl name. I was trying to make sure he/she had my initials: EDG...............(boy) Elias Dominic Grimm or Cameron Dominic Grimm...............(girl) Emberly Danielle Grimm. What do think?

I really wanted to go to Ohio to visit family for Easter but I just don't feel like making that 8 hr drive one way. So instead I might take Jordyn to Hershey Park on Saturday. Hopefully the weather will hold up.

Baby furniture

All I have to say is God is good. A friend of mine that I worked with at NIH is giving me her crib and changing table! God knows that I am broke and can't afford to buy the "big" baby stuff, so he sent Yuliya to me! She sent me an email yesterday saying that she is giving me the changing table and some baby clothes. I wrote back and told her thank you because I was trying to figure out how I was gonna buy those things and she said I could have the crib too!

There are still good hearted people out there!

Monday

I went to see my VA doctor today and I have lost 8 lbs since Jan 26th and my blood pressure has gone down tremendously! My doctor was so happy!!!!

They did an EKG on me this morning and it came back normal so that is good news too.

Baby boy!

I found out yesterday that my little sister (age 22) is having a baby boy (Deshawyne Aaron Stewart)! She is due August 15-19! She wanted a boy so I am happy that is what she is getting!

25 March 09

I went to the doctor this morning and she increased my synthroid from 175 mg to 200 mg. She is hopeful this will do it. I have to see her again on April 28th, then only a few more times during the pregnancy.

The baby could come out with a thyroid problem as well, so that is why she is trying to get me straight now.

Nothing else going on, just ready for the weather to get warm!

24 March 09

The endocrinologist called me yesterday to let me know that my thyroid levels are still out of wack. I have to go see her tomorrow at 9:15. I'm guessing they will increase my medication again.

I actually got a compliment today from a co-worker. She said she couldn't even tell I was pregnant! Woo-hoo. I guess losing weight makes it hard to tell if I'm pregnant or not. All I know is that I put on a pair of pants today for work that I couldn't fit before I got pregnant, and they fit now! Strange, very strange.

19 March 09

Good morning! I am feeling so much better. The vomitting is GONE and the nausea is down to a minimum. Woo-hoo. I actually feel like a normal person again.

I had my monthly OB visit yesterday. I saw a new doc (Dr. Bienkowski). He was pretty cool. He looked through my file and made fun of it because it is already big and I'm only 12 weeks into the pregnancy! lol But anyway, this visit was boring cause all we did was listen to the baby's heart beat. Not that that isn't cool, but I hear the heart beat when I go see the Perinatalogist. He wants me back in 4 weeks.

Oh yeah, he wants me to get an EKG. I think it's because of my high blood pressure. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

IT'S THE WEEKEND.....................

17 March 09

I went to see the Perinatalogist yesterday. The purpose of this visit was to see if the baby has specific chromosomal abnormalities including Down's Syndrome Trisomy-21 and Trisomy-18. The good news is that it is 99% probable that the baby doesn't. I still have a 1 in 240 chance though.

The doc wants me to come back in 3 weeks to check my cervix and make sure it isn't "shortening". Instead of performing a cervical cerclage (sewing the cervix shut), they just want to monitor it. That's fine by me! lol

And of course they did another ultrasound. I got to see the baby's stomach and bladder. How cool! Now I know this picture looks freaky, but it's my baby's profile (forehead, nose, mouth, chin)

16 Mar 09

Nothing exciting to report. The weather here in Frederick sucks! It's been raining and cold.

The good news is that I am 12 weeks (3 months) now and I'm super excited because it seems the nausea and vomitting are calming down ALOT! Woo-hoo!!!!!!

I have a doc appt with the Perinatologist tomorrow. I think they are checking for genetic abnormalities. That is kinda scary because what if they find something? Being pregnant is stressful enough, but knowing that your unborn child has something genetically wrong is even more stressful.

I will make sure I pray before I go to bed tonite. I would appreciate if whoever reads this, that you pray for my baby too.

9 Mar 09

The weather was just perfect this past weekend! It was in the 70's and felt good to be outside in it. Jordyn's girl scout cookie sales went great on Saturday. We made over $300 in only 3 hours! Woo-hoo. Here is a picture of her troop. (Kayle, Imani, JORDYN, Alexis and Sammie)




Other than my continous vomitting, nothing else to report about the pregnancy.

6 Mar 09

Nothing exciting to report. I was doing pretty good with keeping food down until last nite. But I am feeling better, so I am thankful for that.

The weather is getting warmer and it is supposed to be in the 70's tomorrow! Woo-hoo. My girl scout troop is selling cookies tomorrow, so that should be fun!

2 March 09

It is snowing something fierce out! Schools are closed and I barely made it to work.

I had an appointment with an endocrinologist. She increased my medication and also informed me that hypthyroidism could affect the baby. That's not good.

So not only do I have to see my OB each month, I have to see the perinatologist and endocrinologist each month! What is going on? I've heard of high risk, but gosh!

26 Feb 09

I had another doc appt yesterday and finally saw a doctor that listened to my concerns! Dr. Thomas is the bomb! I explained about my severe vomitting and not being able to eat or drink. She looked through my file and saw that my thryoid levels were out of this world! She immediately wanted to put me in the hospital yesterday evening, but I didn't have anyone to watch Jordyn, so I told her no.

So she is going to contact an endocrinologist in Frederick to see how we can get my thryoid under control. She said that is probably why I am vomitting so much! Finally an answer. I knew something was wrong, but Dr. Lee said it was a part of being pregnant! Yeah right.

Was able to eat a salad for dinner and it actually stayed down! Woo-hoo!

23 Feb 09

I had to see a Perinatologist yesterday because my pregnancy is considered "high risk". So Dr. Roth is supposed to be one of the best Perinatologists around this area! He was really laid back and very nice. They did an intravaginal sonogram and I saw the baby move! I was so overtaken by emotions that I busted up crying! According to technician, the baby is just the right size for 9 weeks, and the heart beat sounded great!

Now, Dr. Roth says that I may need to cerclage (cervix is sewn shut during pregnancy) to prevent pre-term labor. I think this is what happened with Jordyn. I will also have to have weekly progesterone shots to prevent premature birth.

My next OB appointment is March 19th and to see Dr. Roth again is March 17th.

20 Feb 09

I had my "first OB" appointment today. The first half was talking to a nurse and telling her my family medical history. She gave me a book to read, kinda like the "what to expect" book. The second half was with the actual OB. Dr. Lee is a great doctor, but his bed-side manner is TERRIBLE! Fortunately, there are 7 OB's in the practice I go to, so I will be seeing a different doctor next time.

19 Feb 09

Okay, so I tried eating dinner last nite and only got about 3 bites down before it all came up again. I had my head in the toilet and Jordyn was rubbing my back saying "it's okay mommy". She's such a little trooper.

Please let this be over soon...............PLEASE!

18 Feb 09

I feel a little better today, although I just figured out that the baby does NOT like fresh fruit. Vomitting is sooooo gross! LOL

16 Feb 09

Why is this baby doing this to me? I've thrown up 10 times in one day! I can't keep anything down, including water.