At my sonogram today, I found out that I have a "blighted ovum." For everyone who has no idea what that is (like me before 1:30 today), it's when the egg is fertilized but is genetically incapable of producing a fetus. In other words, your body thinks its pregnant and all the right equipment is in place, but there's no baby growing inside.
We are heartbroken. I have to admit that I was a little reluctant about this pregnancy in the beginning. Our little family is doing so good and I was scared to mess it up. Why tempt fate after Meela the Miracle Baby? But I know in my heart that this baby was exactly what we needed.
If you're concerned, thank you. Jay and I are doing ok. It was a shock, to say the least. When she did the first sonogram, I knew right away that something was wrong because there was only an empty black hole on the screen. I had Meela's first sonogram around the same time so I knew what to look for and it wasn't there. Then she did the second sonogram (which was a little more invasive if you catch my drift) and confirmed our fears. She also reassured us that there was nothing that we could have done. This pregnancy was doomed from the beginning. She also spotted a cyst on one of my ovaries so now it looks like I may have PCOS. Lovely.
It's really strange because I am stuck in limbo now. I know I am not pregnant but my body still has to catch up. It may take a few more weeks for everything to be back to "normal" again but it's weird to suddenly not be pregnant. I mean, I was nauseated, had heart burn, all the pregnancy symptoms because I was chemically pregnant. Now I have to come down from the hormone high and try to level out.
These last few months have definitely been a roller coaster of emotions.
Thank you to those who read my few entries. Who knows, maybe I'll be back to pregnant and craving again in no time.
Love,
Stacey Jo
Pregnant and Craving...again!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Whew!
What an exhausting past few weeks! A last minute trip to Missouri to visit my momma left me drained but it was worth the energy. Meela and I had some quality car time singing ABCs and munching on McDonalds! We drove through Joplin on our way home and that was a real shocker. I had seen footage on the news but seeing it in real life was overwhelming. I couldn't believe the destruction. The best part, to me, was this giant crane in the middle of downtown Joplin that was hanging a huge American Flag for Memorial Day. That was amazing because all of these people were dealing with loss of family, friends, property, pets, etc and still had the patriotism to honor our soldiers. Amazing!
On the preggo front...have I mentioned how many people I know who are pregnant at this exact moment? Good lord! I don't think I've even known this many pregnant people at one time! It's definitely in the water so drink up. I guess that's one way to deal with a depressed economy. Have babies and watch the Gerber, Fisher Price, Graco and Pampers stocks soar!
I am going to rant about one thing though. It is very different being pregnant this time around because we already have a beautiful baby girl and I wouldn't give her back for anything. However, she costs money. Sometimes a lot of money. And these expenses were not around the first time so I never had a problem getting my nails done, going out for dinner, buying maternity clothes, etc. This time, however, we have daycare and diapers, summer clothes, toys, toddler food and other things to worry about which puts a strain on the "Extras" line item in my budget. Now for the rant...have you see the price of maternity clothes lately???? OMG! I stopped in Motherhood Maternity on Sunday just to "look around" as I'm not at a point where I need these clothes yet. I can tell you, that was the fastest I have been in and out of any store in a long time! I priced one pair of capris at $49. What? So I can wear them for 3 months? Um, I don't even spend that for my good jeans! I checked the clearance rack just for kicks. Generally I don't buy anything that isn't on clearance or a really good sale. Nope. 20% does not constitute clearance pricing in my book. Oh, I forgot. They were having a sale. Buy one item and get the second item for 10% off. How generous of you. You can keep those clothes. Stacey is going thrift store shopping and praying for gift cards for her birthday! I do still have 2 pair of preggo pants that I may or may not still wear to work because they are most comfortable pants in the world so I guess that will hold me over for the next, um, 6 months!
Oh well. It is what it is I guess. It's funny because a lot of people think that big girls (which I am) can just wear bigger clothes when they are pregnant. Now, this is true to some extent. If I do buy clothes, I am buying tops with empire waists that will grow with me. But my butt doesn't tend to grow as quickly as my belly (thank god for that) so if I buy giant britches, they ain't gonna fit. And who really wants to wear mumus for the next 6 months? Well, ok, me. :) Actually, I did buy a really cute dress from Old Navy on Saturday for a swimsuit cover up but it has an elastic empire waist and I bought a 2x so we have room for the little one to stretch out.
So I'm off to bed and dreams of bargain hunting for preggo clothes that don't make me look like a whale. Eek...nightmares! :)
On the preggo front...have I mentioned how many people I know who are pregnant at this exact moment? Good lord! I don't think I've even known this many pregnant people at one time! It's definitely in the water so drink up. I guess that's one way to deal with a depressed economy. Have babies and watch the Gerber, Fisher Price, Graco and Pampers stocks soar!
I am going to rant about one thing though. It is very different being pregnant this time around because we already have a beautiful baby girl and I wouldn't give her back for anything. However, she costs money. Sometimes a lot of money. And these expenses were not around the first time so I never had a problem getting my nails done, going out for dinner, buying maternity clothes, etc. This time, however, we have daycare and diapers, summer clothes, toys, toddler food and other things to worry about which puts a strain on the "Extras" line item in my budget. Now for the rant...have you see the price of maternity clothes lately???? OMG! I stopped in Motherhood Maternity on Sunday just to "look around" as I'm not at a point where I need these clothes yet. I can tell you, that was the fastest I have been in and out of any store in a long time! I priced one pair of capris at $49. What? So I can wear them for 3 months? Um, I don't even spend that for my good jeans! I checked the clearance rack just for kicks. Generally I don't buy anything that isn't on clearance or a really good sale. Nope. 20% does not constitute clearance pricing in my book. Oh, I forgot. They were having a sale. Buy one item and get the second item for 10% off. How generous of you. You can keep those clothes. Stacey is going thrift store shopping and praying for gift cards for her birthday! I do still have 2 pair of preggo pants that I may or may not still wear to work because they are most comfortable pants in the world so I guess that will hold me over for the next, um, 6 months!
Oh well. It is what it is I guess. It's funny because a lot of people think that big girls (which I am) can just wear bigger clothes when they are pregnant. Now, this is true to some extent. If I do buy clothes, I am buying tops with empire waists that will grow with me. But my butt doesn't tend to grow as quickly as my belly (thank god for that) so if I buy giant britches, they ain't gonna fit. And who really wants to wear mumus for the next 6 months? Well, ok, me. :) Actually, I did buy a really cute dress from Old Navy on Saturday for a swimsuit cover up but it has an elastic empire waist and I bought a 2x so we have room for the little one to stretch out.
So I'm off to bed and dreams of bargain hunting for preggo clothes that don't make me look like a whale. Eek...nightmares! :)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
9 Weeks Going on 14? Huh?
Thursday's To Do List
I did get a bit of a scare, though. The nurse took all of my information before Dr. Finger came in and she calculated my due date at November 29th! That would put me at 13 weeks! I don't know why I was so rocked by this news, but it definitely affected me. Jay, of course, was all smug because we had just had a conversation about how he didn't want to follow the BabyCenter weekly updates until we knew for sure how far along I am. He thought there may be a chance that I was actually further along than I had calculated. So, you can imagine how elated he was to learn that he was right once again. The victory was short lived, however. When Dr. Finger came in, I expressed my surprise at learning that I was actually 13 weeks along. Dr. Finger recalculated the date and, in fact, I am 9 weeks and one day just like I thought! Just to make sure, she scheduled my first sonogram for next week! That was a little surprising. I guess it seems so soon because I started going to the doctor a little later this time. I've known for 4 weeks that I'm pregnant but it doesn't feel like 4 weeks have gone by already.
Maybe I'll scan the sonogram pics after our next appointment!
I hope you all have a safe and fun Memorial Day!
Until next time,
Stacey Jo
- Take Meela to Daycare: Check!
- Cancel Storage Unit: Check!
- LAUNDRY!: Check!
- Dishes: Check!
- 1st OB Appointment: Check!
I did get a bit of a scare, though. The nurse took all of my information before Dr. Finger came in and she calculated my due date at November 29th! That would put me at 13 weeks! I don't know why I was so rocked by this news, but it definitely affected me. Jay, of course, was all smug because we had just had a conversation about how he didn't want to follow the BabyCenter weekly updates until we knew for sure how far along I am. He thought there may be a chance that I was actually further along than I had calculated. So, you can imagine how elated he was to learn that he was right once again. The victory was short lived, however. When Dr. Finger came in, I expressed my surprise at learning that I was actually 13 weeks along. Dr. Finger recalculated the date and, in fact, I am 9 weeks and one day just like I thought! Just to make sure, she scheduled my first sonogram for next week! That was a little surprising. I guess it seems so soon because I started going to the doctor a little later this time. I've known for 4 weeks that I'm pregnant but it doesn't feel like 4 weeks have gone by already.
Maybe I'll scan the sonogram pics after our next appointment!
I hope you all have a safe and fun Memorial Day!
Until next time,
Stacey Jo
Monday, May 16, 2011
First OB Appointment
Well, I finally decided on a time for my first OB appointment. I decided to see the same doctor as last time, Dr. Laura Finger (leave the puns to yourself please). My first appointment is scheduled for May 26th at 3:20. I tried to put off my first appointment for a few reasons. First of all, if any of you have ever had a baby without health insurance, you know that it can be very expensive! So once the finances lined up, I could make the appointment and not worry about that part. I also decided to wait because my family has a history of miscarriages. Since I was only 5 weeks when I took that fateful test, I decided it was best to progress a few weeks before we get serious.
At this first appointment, I am looking forward to discussing my previous pregnancy issues and coming up with a game plan to combat these issues so we don't end up with the same result this time around. I'm also pretty excited to hear the heart beat - although I can't remember if this was at the first visit.
FYI - "morning" (yeah right) sickness sucks.
Hang in until next time!
Stacey Jo
At this first appointment, I am looking forward to discussing my previous pregnancy issues and coming up with a game plan to combat these issues so we don't end up with the same result this time around. I'm also pretty excited to hear the heart beat - although I can't remember if this was at the first visit.
FYI - "morning" (yeah right) sickness sucks.
Hang in until next time!
Stacey Jo
Thursday, May 12, 2011
7th Week Stretch
Week 7 already. Whew.
Just kidding. Could you imagine if I was already done with this? Ha! I would like to think I have more patience than that. If I don't, I'm in for a whole world of hurt with two kiddos to wrangle now.
But week 7 it is. The little thing is officially the size of a blueberry. Mmmmm.... :)
Supposedly this is the time frame when "morning" sickness rears its ugly head. I didn't find out about my first pregnancy until about this time and I didn't have nausea for a few more weeks. Hopefully (please Lord!) this time will not be as bad as the last time. Anyone that was around me last time knew to keep a trash can handy. Luckily, it only lasted for a few months! My mistake last time was not rehydrating myself after every vomit session. If I had kept myself hydrated, Meela may have curled up and held on a few weeks longer. Heck, I might have even eventually looked pregnant!
This time around, I am trying to be better. I have stocked up on Crystal Light Fruit Punch individual packets and the little tubs. 2 tubs work perfectly in a gallon jug so my goal is one jug per day. Peeing has never been more frequent! :)
For anyone not pregnant, 2 Crystal Light Fruit Punch tubs + one gallon of water + cherry flavored vodka = deliciousness! Seriously, try it. Low calorie and low sugar! Woohoo!
Speaking of low calorie and low sugar, what is the general consensus about dieting while pregnant? I'm not dieting but I am trying to watch what I eat. I'm not really restricting calories but I am trying to limit the carbs and sugar that I inhale. I guess I should ask for my OB/GYN's opinion at my first appointment. My concern is that according to BabyCenter, someone of my current weight and height should only gain 11 lbs during a pregnancy. Everyone knows I'm a big girl so I don't really mind that number. However, if I don't get the crazy nausea like I had last time it's going to be really hard to stay under that number and I can't afford to gain any more weight! I lost about 30 pounds when I was pregnant with Meela because of all of the puking. Of course, I don't want to do that again but I would like to stay between 10-15 (+/-) lbs of where I am now.
And I just found out that apparently now it's bad to have lunch meat, deli meat and hot dogs while your pregnant because of another bacteria that can kill you. Really? I've been eating warm ham and cheese sandwiches almost every day! I hope frozen chicken patties are ok because those are in the freezer now.
Gracious...so many things to avoid while pregnant. I also read an article that said pregnant women should avoid nail salons because of the fumes. Nope. Not gonna happen! That is one thing that I will splurge on while pregnant - PEDICURES! In fact, Jay and Meela gave me a gift certificate to my favorite salon for Mother's Day. I just might try it out today so I have beautiful feet for the Jeff Dunham show on Saturday night with Dan, Colleen, Lee and Sandra. Nothing like pampering yourself a little, right? I mean, you're growing a human inside of you! You deserve a little pampering!
Until next time,
Stacey Jo
Just kidding. Could you imagine if I was already done with this? Ha! I would like to think I have more patience than that. If I don't, I'm in for a whole world of hurt with two kiddos to wrangle now.
But week 7 it is. The little thing is officially the size of a blueberry. Mmmmm.... :)
Supposedly this is the time frame when "morning" sickness rears its ugly head. I didn't find out about my first pregnancy until about this time and I didn't have nausea for a few more weeks. Hopefully (please Lord!) this time will not be as bad as the last time. Anyone that was around me last time knew to keep a trash can handy. Luckily, it only lasted for a few months! My mistake last time was not rehydrating myself after every vomit session. If I had kept myself hydrated, Meela may have curled up and held on a few weeks longer. Heck, I might have even eventually looked pregnant!
This time around, I am trying to be better. I have stocked up on Crystal Light Fruit Punch individual packets and the little tubs. 2 tubs work perfectly in a gallon jug so my goal is one jug per day. Peeing has never been more frequent! :)
For anyone not pregnant, 2 Crystal Light Fruit Punch tubs + one gallon of water + cherry flavored vodka = deliciousness! Seriously, try it. Low calorie and low sugar! Woohoo!
Speaking of low calorie and low sugar, what is the general consensus about dieting while pregnant? I'm not dieting but I am trying to watch what I eat. I'm not really restricting calories but I am trying to limit the carbs and sugar that I inhale. I guess I should ask for my OB/GYN's opinion at my first appointment. My concern is that according to BabyCenter, someone of my current weight and height should only gain 11 lbs during a pregnancy. Everyone knows I'm a big girl so I don't really mind that number. However, if I don't get the crazy nausea like I had last time it's going to be really hard to stay under that number and I can't afford to gain any more weight! I lost about 30 pounds when I was pregnant with Meela because of all of the puking. Of course, I don't want to do that again but I would like to stay between 10-15 (+/-) lbs of where I am now.
And I just found out that apparently now it's bad to have lunch meat, deli meat and hot dogs while your pregnant because of another bacteria that can kill you. Really? I've been eating warm ham and cheese sandwiches almost every day! I hope frozen chicken patties are ok because those are in the freezer now.
Gracious...so many things to avoid while pregnant. I also read an article that said pregnant women should avoid nail salons because of the fumes. Nope. Not gonna happen! That is one thing that I will splurge on while pregnant - PEDICURES! In fact, Jay and Meela gave me a gift certificate to my favorite salon for Mother's Day. I just might try it out today so I have beautiful feet for the Jeff Dunham show on Saturday night with Dan, Colleen, Lee and Sandra. Nothing like pampering yourself a little, right? I mean, you're growing a human inside of you! You deserve a little pampering!
Until next time,
Stacey Jo
Thursday, May 5, 2011
6 Weeks
Good afternoon!
Today I am 6 weeks along according to BabyCenter.com (which is an awesome site for any type of mother). Here's the link to this weeks progress:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-6-weeks_1095.bc
On a more personal note, I haven't experienced the nausea yet but my sleep habits are changing. I am SO tired, but the slightest thing wakes me up and then I CAN NOT go back to sleep. Anyone who joined me on Facebook this morning can attest to that.
The moodiness is in full swing and tends to "swing" several times per day. I feel very sorry for my boss, coworkers, family, friends and anyone else who has the unfortunate path that crosses mine.
No real cravings at this point (despite the title). In fact, food the thought of food kind of makes me not want to eat it. I was going through my cookbook collection for our garage sale this weekend and saw a picture of Fettuccine Alfredo. Under any normal circumstance, my tummy would have been growlin' all the way to the grocery store. This time however, left me thinking that if I ever ate pasta again it would be too soon. Not nauseated, just not interested.
Speaking of garage sales, Colleen told us about the Denton County Garage Sale being held this weekend and the North Texas Fair Grounds. Anyone can get a booth and sell your junk! In my current fit of procrastination, I didn't look up the information until this morning and the last day to register was 04/29/2011. Poop. So now we are having a garage sale in the driveway! I was hoping for more foot traffic (and a little shopping myself while Jay held down the booth) and an excuse to stop at Goodwill on the way home to donate the unsold treasures. Well, I guess we can still load it up and take it in. Just not as convenient!
We've tried to go through everything for the garage sale. Since Jay is currently building me a laundry room (I'll save the details for a future post), we had to clean out the garage. Now we have a carport FILLED with stuff that we surely do not need. The goal is to combine everything that was in the garage, in the carport and in the storage unit (gasp! I know - we had more that wasn't even on site!) into a nicely labeled, organized and accessible space that fits in the front half of our garage. So far so good! I never realized how addicted I am to holiday decorations. Seriously, I have a problem. I will not admit how many stockings I had in my possession before this project. I will also not admit how many items (cringe) still had tags attached.
Sigh...
The things we do on impulse.
(moment to reflect here)
Ok, totally over it.
So we are hoping to get some extra cash and get rid of some extra junk! Hopefully we can do both.
Have a great evening! Go have a margarita for me in honor of Cinco de Mayo!
Stacey Jo
Today I am 6 weeks along according to BabyCenter.com (which is an awesome site for any type of mother). Here's the link to this weeks progress:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-6-weeks_1095.bc
On a more personal note, I haven't experienced the nausea yet but my sleep habits are changing. I am SO tired, but the slightest thing wakes me up and then I CAN NOT go back to sleep. Anyone who joined me on Facebook this morning can attest to that.
The moodiness is in full swing and tends to "swing" several times per day. I feel very sorry for my boss, coworkers, family, friends and anyone else who has the unfortunate path that crosses mine.
No real cravings at this point (despite the title). In fact, food the thought of food kind of makes me not want to eat it. I was going through my cookbook collection for our garage sale this weekend and saw a picture of Fettuccine Alfredo. Under any normal circumstance, my tummy would have been growlin' all the way to the grocery store. This time however, left me thinking that if I ever ate pasta again it would be too soon. Not nauseated, just not interested.
Speaking of garage sales, Colleen told us about the Denton County Garage Sale being held this weekend and the North Texas Fair Grounds. Anyone can get a booth and sell your junk! In my current fit of procrastination, I didn't look up the information until this morning and the last day to register was 04/29/2011. Poop. So now we are having a garage sale in the driveway! I was hoping for more foot traffic (and a little shopping myself while Jay held down the booth) and an excuse to stop at Goodwill on the way home to donate the unsold treasures. Well, I guess we can still load it up and take it in. Just not as convenient!
We've tried to go through everything for the garage sale. Since Jay is currently building me a laundry room (I'll save the details for a future post), we had to clean out the garage. Now we have a carport FILLED with stuff that we surely do not need. The goal is to combine everything that was in the garage, in the carport and in the storage unit (gasp! I know - we had more that wasn't even on site!) into a nicely labeled, organized and accessible space that fits in the front half of our garage. So far so good! I never realized how addicted I am to holiday decorations. Seriously, I have a problem. I will not admit how many stockings I had in my possession before this project. I will also not admit how many items (cringe) still had tags attached.
Sigh...
The things we do on impulse.
(moment to reflect here)
Ok, totally over it.
So we are hoping to get some extra cash and get rid of some extra junk! Hopefully we can do both.
Have a great evening! Go have a margarita for me in honor of Cinco de Mayo!
Stacey Jo
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Welcome!
Good morning! What better time to start a blog than 5:19AM on a Sunday morning? This was especially therapeutic on this particular morning because I was already awake thanks to a basset hound that is afraid of thunderstorms.
I have wanted to start a blog for a long time now. Eventually, I would like to start my own craft/DIY blog in a tribute to all of those that I read on a weekly basis! However, at this point in my life, I am more of a creator (if you will) and less of a doer. I have notebooks brimming with potential projects and a storage unit half filled with the best of intentions.
So in honor of being a creator, I am starting this blog today and centering the focus on something that many of us can relate to: Pregnancy!!
That's right! We're expecting!
I found out last week and believe me, it was a total SHOCKER! I normally keep a supply of pregnancy tests on hand to regulate other parts of my life that need a little encouragement from time to time. Imagine my surprise when the test comes back +positive+ for a new bundle of joy! All I wanted was a period!
Coworkers, family, and friends were elated, naturally. The hubby, however, requested physical proof as soon as I made it home from work. This skepticism stemmed from an awful trick that I may or may not have played on him many years ago involving another infamous +positive+ test "borrowed" from a friend. (cue evil laugh...muh-hua-hua) It was, without a doubt, the worst trick that you can play on an 18 year old man straight out of high school. However, for my own reconfirmation, I was happy to oblige. No matter if it's a planned pregnancy or not, there is a complete sense of euphoria running through your veins when you see that test come back with 2 lines!
So there we have it. I'm knocked up. As glamorous as I may describe it, I know what this entails. This ain't my first rodeo and we are all praying that this time I can hold on for the full 8 seconds.
So why should you keep reading this blog? I mean, who wants to hear about another pregnant women fighting morning sickness and back pain??? If anything, maybe you can commiserate and offer some friendly advice or words of encouragement on those days that I'm pretty sure I have an alien inside of me! Just kidding...
All in all, I hope this blog to be a place where I can vent, rejoice, unwind, and overcome a few obstacles that are unavoidable along this stretch of the road. I'm guaranteeing drama, laughter, and, of course, hormonal pregnancy tears.
Enjoy the ride!
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