Ice, Ice Baby

We're HOME!  Chris and I are getting settled in to our new home and are loving every minute of it.  Baxter is still a little unsure of the change, but he'll get used to it...he always does.

Tuesday, 2 missionaries from the Fort helped Chris load all of our belongings into the biggest U-Haul you can get and strapped everything down.  That night we stayed with Jon and Emily and watched American Idol and ate yummy BBQ from Whole Hog.  We even got in a game of Dutch Blitz!  I love that game!

Wednesday morning we headed out after dropping off our keys and putting my car on the car hauler.  We arrived in Little Rock safe and sound and met 4 missionaries and my little brother, James, to unload the U-Haul here.  They were lightning fast - getting everything unloaded in under an hour!  It was amazazing! :)  Then our wonderful friends Jennifer and Joe and their precious kiddos came over to help clean and to cook a yummy meal for us.  We love that we're back and can see them anytime our little hearts desire!  Jennifer made Asian Wonton Salad and Homemade Eggrolls.   Yummm-ohhhhh.  It was dewishus (as Brock, Jennifer's son, would say)!  Jennifer was awesome wiping out cabinets and our bathtub since I'm on bed rest and not allowed to.  Joe helped Chris and even pitched in on some of the cleaning....THANK YOU BOTH!

Thursday we ran a few errands, like replenishing our food supply and buying a microwave.  You know, the necessities.  Thursday night we went to Jon and Kricia's for dinner and again...yummm-ohhhh.  We loved seeing our nephews and can't wait till they get to come over and play at Uncle Chris and Uncle Clare's new house (Aunt is lost in translation).

Friday we woke up to, wait for it, ICE!  Yep, we got sleet and more sleet, so we stayed in and Chris worked really hard in getting things unpacked and cleaned up.  I even got a chance to nest and get Luke's room in some sort of order.  BTW, his room is so cute and I can't wait to finish it and post some pictures!  We have been blessed not to have lost power so we've been staying nice and toasty with the heater rather than the gas fireplace because we have no idea how to work the fireplace.  Details.  Anywho, here are some pics of our house in the ice!

Ice on the deck

Looking out past the deck

The front yard

My car...admire the icicles

Baxter contemplating whether he should come outside or stay put inside :)

Now if we can get Pam and Micha to move back, we'll be set!

Roller coasters make me sick

I've never been a fan of roller coasters.  To be quite honest, I think I've been on maybe 2 or 3 my entire life.  The last one was at Silver Dollar City while I was still in college at the U of A.  I was convinced by Jon, Emily, and Chris that this roller coaster wouldn't be so bad...especially because you had the option of sitting facing forward or backwards.  They all thought it would be a great experience if I sat backwards, that way I couldn't see what was going to happen next.  They were wrong.  I hated every moment of that stupid roller coaster and vowed to never step foot near one again.  And so far, I have kept that promise to myself.

And then many years later, Chris and I decided to start our family and after 6 months of trying (which I realize isn't long at all), found out that we were pregnant, and unbeknownst to me, I was creating my very own 9 month long roller coaster.  Finding out we were preggo was one of the happiest days of my life and I have loved every moment of being pregnant.  But recently, as you know, things kind of changed and my blood pressure started rising and there was protein in my urine and my blood became a commodity of the lab world.  I've been to the doctor more in the past 3 weeks than I ever have my entire life.  Everything has been pretty stable, my BP stays around 144/91, there have been just a trace to 1+ amount of protein in my urine, and my blood just hovers around that abnormal line, threatening to jump over at any moment.

So to make a long story short, today we had another doctors appointment and my BP was just the same.  My weight is stable.  I have no swelling.  And there's 2+ pushing 3+ protein in my urine.  So once again, I went back to those blood sucking girls in the lab and provided them with more of my blood.  I'll know the results tomorrow.  We move Wednesday.  I have my first appointment with my new doctor Friday, unless things go way out of control.  And because of this new turn of events, Luke could definitely come sooner than later.

Here's hoping the next few days go smoothly, because I won't be able to handle it if it doesn't.

Welcome Home

Chris and I started looking for a home in December and made an offer on one on December 20th.  The offer was immediately accepted by the next day and we were on our way!  Through lots of correspondence and paperwork, everything came to an end today when Chris went to sign the papers to close!  I was unable to go because I'm on bed rest and had to sign Power of Attorney over to Chris, but he took care of everything today and we are officially home owners!

We can't wait to start our new life with Luke there and are so very blessed to have the support of family!  Chris and I even picked out the paint colors for Luke's nursery and dining room so that it will all be painted by the time we move next week.  Chris, my dad, and our awesome friends Joe and Jennifer are going to get the painting done and some stuff unloaded that Chris took down in a U-Haul today...and maybe the fridge ordered??  Either way, thanks to everyone for being so awesome during this process!

OUR HOME!

It's a good thing this bed is comfy

Yesterday I had another doctor's appointment.  It was the first time the words 'bed rest' came out of my doctors' mouth.  The previous 3 appointments we've just said 'take it easy', but then those 2 dreaded words were spoken.  To make a long story short, I have mild pre-eclampsia.  Well, at least I'm going to say it's mild.  My blood pressure is still high, there's still some protein in my urine, although it seems to fluctuate from being trace amounts to 1+ and my blood work is hovering around the normal/abnormal line.

Last week I had to collect my urine for 24 hours.  I tell you what, you don't know what freedom is until you decide to leave the house and then remember that you cannot use a public restroom and must turn around and head back home so you can follow doctors orders.  They tested it for protein and it came back around the normal/abnormal line.  Abnormal being a count (of what, I'm not sure) of 300 or more.  Mine was 295.  Too close for comfort...just like my blood.

The weird thing is that I feel great!  I'm not swollen like you might typically expect for someone with pre-eclampsia, I don't have headaches, blurred vision, dizziness...I feel fine.  So for now we're just keeping a very close eye on it.

I have to go in for an ultrasound today to make sure Luke has enough fluid around him and to have my BP checked again.  They took more blood yesterday and will have those results for tomorrow's appointment.  Yes...I get to go 3 days in a row.  Lucky me!

And if things stay the same, I'll continue to be on bed rest and possibly have this baby sooner than later.

And to make things a little more stressful: We close on the house on Friday but still don't know if I'll be allowed to travel, so it may take being FedEx'd to us and Chris going down to get the keys and paint Luke's room.  I have the urge to nest, but nowhere to do it because I'm not allowed to.  If this baby comes early, where am I going to have him?  My doctor here knows my history, but all my follow up care will be done in Little Rock.  Do I really want to have him here and then drive to Little Rock?  Or do I want to drive to Little Rock, have the baby, and be done.  Also, all my prenatal classes are scheduled for February.  All. Of. Them.  Breastfeeding, Preparing for Labor, Infant CPR, etc.  And they are all in Little Rock.

So excuse me while I go bang my head on something sharp...

Our First Baby Shower!

Yesterday afternoon my sister in law Emily hosted a baby shower for me and Luke (and Chris...although he was bowling with his dad and brother) and I had such a great time!  Luke got some really cute outfits, an awesome handmade quilt, and a Boppy Newborn Lounger...yep!  a lounger!  We were so blessed to have my Mom and Grandma make the trip up from Hot Springs, and even though they came for the shower, they were thrilled to have a new town to shop in before and after the shower :).  Jim and Jerl Dean were so generous, getting Luke some awesome baby gear like his car seat, stroller, and pack and play!  They also found a cute punch recipe complete with rubber duckies!  Jon and Emily went all out with the shower and instead of playing the typical games, the guests painted onesies for Luke and they turned out so stinkin' cute!  What a wonderful day!  Luke is going to have so many people who love him...what a lucky kid!

A cupcake umbrella!  So cute and it tasted so yummy!

One of the onesies...this one by Aunt Emily!

The rubber ducky punch!

I didn't sleep but just a few hours the night before the shower, and dreamt that I slept through the shower.  I was so worried all day that I was going to fall asleep and miss it, I'm so glad that didn't happen!  I would've missed out on all the awesomeness!

32 Weeks

Today I had my doctors appointment, we are now 32 weeks and 1 day.  As usual, they required a urine sample and took my blood pressure.  My blood pressure is always normal and there's never any problem with my urine, but today my BP was 150/91 and there was protein in my urine.  The nurse had me lay on my side and retook my BP and it went back to normal.  I also had to give another urine sample so they could send it to the lab, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke.  But I had to give enough urine to fill up 2 vials, but all I could produce was enough for 1.  So Chris and I waited until I felt like I needed to go again, but there just wasn't anything to produce, so we went down and bought a Sprite (the water was all sold out) and walked around for 20 minutes or so before I felt the urge to go again.  Finally, after 1 1/2 hours at the doctor, I could produce enough to fill up the other vial.  And wouldn't you know, by the time I got home, I thought I was going to wet my pants I had to potty so bad.  So lesson from today: I cannot pee when it's required of me.  But get me in the car and away from a restroom and it will hit me like a ton of bricks.

But what does all this mean?  We'll find out more Monday when everything returns from the lab, but essentially, if there really is protein in my urine and my BP stays high, then they'll put me on bed rest.  Which I am NOT happy about, so please pray for us that this won't happen and everything will be fine.  If I have to go on bed rest, I can't work, I can't pack, I can't do anything required to move us.  It will all be on Chris' shoulders and we really will have to have a moving party, because it's just too much to handle on your own.

That's all I know for now, I'll let you know more when I know more...

What I Know

1. 2010 is starting off as the year to hemorrhage money.  Guess that goes with the house buying territory.

2. Being on hold sucks.  Especially when you have 14 other people to call and you know they will put you on hold, too.

3.  The Vaccine Book is much to boring to read.  Please give me your advice on vaccination schedules.  We've been debating a delayed schedule.  Can't hurt, right?

4.  I know now that there are 1 too many prenatal classes.  Who knew there was so much to know??

5.  I am not making any resolutions this year.  There are too many variables in making and keeping a resolution, so for me it's not on my radar.  I do applaud those who follow through with their resolutions, though.

6.  I take that back.  I am going to make ONE resolution, and that's to make it through the next several weeks with patience and to survive labor and delivery of our little ninja baby commonly known as Luke.

7.  Family is oh so important.  The end of 2009 would have been miserable without the support of our families, and 2010 is going to be awesome because of them.

8.  Paperwork was invented by a) communists or b) bored government staff.  Or possibly both.  Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.

9.  I'm hungry All.  The.  Time.  Chalk it up to pregnancy or super fast metabolism.  I'll leave it to you.

10.  And lastly, I know we're going to have a packing/unpacking party.  Pizza to your hearts content and all the packing tape and box cutters you could ever dream of.  Sounds like fun, right?  I'll keep you updated on the details :)

Hello 2010, Goodbye 2009!

We spent New Year's Eve with Jon and Emily and some friends and had a great time!  We played games, ate yummy food, and watched the daredevil stunt.  Chris and I made it until right after 11 and headed home where we fell asleep shortly before midnight, but was then awaken by the fireworks and Baxter freaking out from the noise.  2009 was good, but we know 2010 is going to rock!

A little recap on 2009:
Celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary
Graduated with my doctorate from Lamar University
Completed my residency
Accepted a job
Moved
Vacation to Big Cedar Lodge (can't wait to go back!)
Found out we were PREGNANT!!
Released from job
Started new job
Made an offer on a house (which was accepted, more details to come)
Fell in love even more with my awesome husband.

Thank you 2009 for all the ups and downs, but now I'm quite ready to see what 2010 will bring...like a baby!!

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

We had a little impromptu photo shoot with Santa before Christmas with Beaty Photography right before Christmas.  We had so much fun stuffing bellies and just being silly.  Here are the results!