Integrated Screening

12 Weeks (1.29.2010)

This ultrasound was for the integrated screening.  They measured the fluid behind the neck and other areas.  The "Bean" is right on schedule for size/weight and is starting to look like a mini human... 

They drew my blood and I went back several weeks later to get it drawn again.  You know I don't mind getting my blood drawn, except for in the last couple of years my veins have have decided to go deeper and deeper.  I am usually luck if they only have to poke me a few times now a days.  They always put the tourniquet on and feel around forever on one arm, then they switch to the other arm and repeat.  They even try doing two tourniquets after that and usually end up finding one on the top of my hand {I always tell them to start there...but who listens to the patient ;o) }

Well enough rambling by me.  I got the results back and they look normal; good news for me because it leaves me one less thing to worry about and I know he is healthy as of this date. On to the ulrasound pictures :)

The "Bean"

Foot and Leg

HOLY CROW he must have his mama's long feet!

 

Arm and Fist

Mothers Day "Soon To Be"

First of all what a beautiful day we were blessed with, bright sun, blue sky, warm air and flowers in full bloom.  Perfect shorts and T-shirt weather to celebrate one of my greatest gifts, my mom.  My mom is one fabulous woman.  Always full of kind words, giving actions, and never ending compassion.  I hope to follow in her steps as I venture towards motherhood. 

Although, I may not have given birth to our little man...yet...I still consider myself a mother (I am carrying and caring for the little tyke already, aren't I? haha).  So, Colby being the fabulous man and husband that he is celebrated this holiday with me. 

To begin the day he made me breakfast. A german pancake (the kind that gets really big and then deflates) with strawberries, bacon and hashbrowns.

Breakfast (Yummy!)

Then he gave me a cute card and a lounge chair cover for the pool (I've been wanting one of these for forever)  I've deceided that as much as I think he dosen't pay attention to certain things, he actually really is listening.

Card & Towel

We ventured to costco to pick up food for dinner and Colby got me beautiful flowers.

Red-Orange Tulips and White Lilies

For dinner with the family I made chicken enchiladas and an old childhood dessert (see below)

Rhubarb

+

Strawberries

+

 Sugar

EQUALS

Delicious Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

(Sweet meets Tart)

To end the evening my mom made my sisters and me "Company Aprons" plus a matching hot pad.  Besides being a wonderful mother, my mom is the most talented seamstress I know (made my wedding dress)!  It was so kind of her to take the time to make these for us!

 

Overall, I had a wonderful Mothers Day filled with family, laughter, and love!

Thanks again Colby for a wonderful day and for being the love of my life!

XOXO

Babys First Picture

First Dr.'s Visit (1.22.2010)
I went to my NEW OBGYN for the first time to check out our little bug at 11 weeks.  I got a new doctor after I informed my previous one that I wanted to start a family and she said that I needed to lose a lot of weight and it just wasn't a good idea (stupid BMI).  I tossed the "B" and asked my sister who her doctor was, since she had just had Griffin my nephew.  So to Dr. Ponder I went.  She is young, hip, super nice and at IMC, what a change from my previous doctor.  The ultrasound was done by my doctor to check for multiples and to listen to the heartbeat.  The result is below.

Only one little person and the "bean" gave us a wave

Announcing...

The 1st Announcement-my family
December was a bit early for announcing our news but I thought it would be fun to spill the beans on Christmas morning.  So I decorated a frame with a picture of the two of us, recently taken at Temple Square under the Christmas lights, and wrote the following on the frame...

Dinner with Family: $30

Parking Downtown: $5

Gourmet Hot Chocolate: $7

Knowing there are really three people in this picture: PRICELESS

I had my mom open the wrapped frame, I was crying by that time (courtesy of my mothers genes), so I sort of gave it away but she got it...it took other family members (won't mention who) either a little while to get it or an explination was given.  Some were really looking for someone else in the photo...hahaha! 

My family members that were privy to the news that day were...

Mom & Dad

Amber & Andy (+kids)

Tarynn & Dan (+kids)

Trent & Beth

Dick & Joan (My moms parents got to find out then because they had joined us for brunch!)

The 1st Announcement-Colbys family

His mom lives in Florida so we had to do something different for her.  In her Christmas package we sent  chocolates from Belgium and a pair of newborn socks with a card telling her a new stocking would be needed next year.  She was so excited she didn't even see the rest of the gift until after she called Christmas morning and we infomed her they were in the bottom of the box.  Too funny.  This will be her first grandbaby!

Terry, Colbys dad was also given newborn socks with a card indicating that a new stocking would need to be hung next year.  He soooo didn't get it, I think he said something to the effect of these are cute.  Clayton, Carter and Khristina were also present when he opened it.  Lets just say the smartest cookie in the bunch was Khristina (female intuition), I think she said something to the effect of "are you serious?"  Then...the boys caught on.

The 2nd Announcement

Once I hit 12 weeks it was time to spill the beans to everyone. So my moms side of the family was informed at our Girls Night Out at the cabin.  My dads side of the family was informed extensively through the grape vine, once I told my grandpararents!  Friends were either called, emailed, or saw the announcement on Facebook.  As for Colbys extended family, his grandparents had already been informed and sworn to secrecy.  So when we had family dinner at a Chilis on the 30th of January, we told everyone we wanted a group picture.  We all leaned in and were instructed to say "Cheese", Colby took the picture and then told us it was blurry.  So we all leaned into the table again and this time he instructed us all to say "We're Expecting!" and took the picture.  Checkout the results...Karlys face cracks me up!

So that was how we announced our thrilling news.  I had to be sort of creative, you only get once to be a first time mom!

The Time Is Now

I don't know how well I will do at this whole blogging thing (I really dislike writing), obviously the date of my last post indicates how awesome I have been at it! But...I have decided that since I don't keep a journal or scrapbook and I am beginning a new journey in life "the time is now".

So backtracking to the start of our "beginning a family" discussion

Beginning (late Summer of '09)

-We went to a couples retreat held by the Multiple Sclerosis Society at the Provo Marriot and spent an evening and the following afternoon discussing communication. Colby and I have been good at communicating for the most part but this conference encouraged us to "LISTEN" to the other person and to build a safe and trusting environment. Before we went to our rooms for the evening we were encouraged to bring up an uncomfortable/unspoken question or concern to discuss privately.

-Well, I asked Colby how he felt about kids and when he might want to start a family. To my suprise he was very ready! It took me by shock to say the least, but I had been thinking about it myself, especially since my diagnosis in February. Could we, should we start a family? These questions were on my mind. I was being plagued by thoughts of, will I have enough energy, will I be a good mom, will my MS get worse, will I only be able to care for just one, etc... There is nothing quite as scary as being diagnosed with a chronic illness, when you have been so healthy in the past, and no one knowing what course your illness will take. So, when Colby said he was ready I felt it was the right time for us to start a family.

Preparations (early Fall of '09)

-Looking at our "life" schedules; school, work, age etc. and when I wanted our child to be born we decided on a starting point. I knew I wasn't getting any younger and by the time we would have a child born in the fall I would be 27, it was time to get cracking. Knowing that I may only be able to handle one child (depending on the course that my illness might take in the future) instead of the four we are hoping for, I wanted to try my hardest for a little girl. I had always dreamed of doing silly things like doing her hair, having girl chats, arts and crafts, dancing, and planning her wedding. Looking at the odds; Colby comes from a family of all boys as does his dad and I even think his grandpa (he might be an only child though), and looking at my own family I had one niece, three nephews and one more nephew on the way, I was dying to even the odds, fulfill my fairytale and try anything.

-So to have our little one born in the fall we decided we would need to start trying in November, giving us a little wiggle room for unsucessful tries. So off the birthcontrol I went! I started to monitor my basal body temperature so that I would know my cycle and be prepared to try the "scientific method" of trying for a girl. After reading books and articles to understand the scientific process of "baby making" and thoughts about the X vs. Y sperm, a plan was devised!

Conception (November '09)

November came...we tried the tricks/hints and suggestions for a girl...then December came with no sign of Aunt Flow. Had we succeeded? OMG! I couldn't believe it when the second pink line showed up! I was so not prepared for that after the first try. I know my sisters had always commented about being "Fertile Myrtles", I had never really believed it. Until then.