Amaya Papaya Playdate

Click here to view these pictures larger

Trip to Sarasota

This past weekend we went to Sarasota to visit my family and here are some pictures from our weekend.  We went to the county Fair and had a great time!  Thomas had a blast seeing the animals, playing in the sandbox with dried corn and eating snow cones :)

reading at lunch

Daddy, Thomas and Grandpa JG

Pony Rides at the Fair

getting a kiss from the cow

sandbox filled with dried corn

snow cones

looking at the pigs

31 weeks!

How far along? 31 weeks!  Moving in the right direction...
Total weight gain/loss: 19
Stretch marks? nothing new as of late, skin is really starting to stretch so hopefully it remains this way.
Sleep: Pretty decent!  NO complaints as I can still get comfy and am only waking up a 1-3 times a night to use the bathroom.  Fingers crossed it stays this way till the end ;)
Best moment this week: Successfully taking my first trip to Sarasota, getting to see my parents, Grandparents, sister and brother.  We had a great weekend it was good to get my mind off of everything that's been going on with my health.  It was a great distraction! 
Movement: Yep!  I wonder if baby flipped as I've been feeling him/her in different places.
Food cravings: Not so much this week...
Gender: We are waiting till the Baby's Birthday to find out!  
Labor Signs: only Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? OUT
What I miss: Being able to walk around without wanting to sit down every 20-30 minutes and having lots of pressure in my lower half.
What I am looking forward to: The fun full week Thomas and I have planned!  We have a Fire Station tour, an indoor play area called Amaya Papaya, a Birthday party at MyGym and dinner with friends at Maggianos!  
Weekly Wisdom: If you need to rest, do so, otherwise you pay for it later!  That being said, don't let being tired and uncomfortable slow you down.
Milestones: Starting this week baby is gaining about a 1/2 pound a week till delivery.  Yikes!

WEEK 31

picture from NaNa

With all of my health issues and Dr.'s appointments Jason's Mom, Thomas' NaNa has been watching him a few times a week for me.  Shout out to NaNa for making all of this possible otherwise I'd have to drag Thomas with me to all of these appointments which wouldn't be very fun.  Getting a 17 month old active boy to sit for more than 5 minutes is very challenging!

This morning I had my 3 hour glucose test so I had to be at the lab pretty early this morning.  Thomas was just waking up when NaNa walked through the door and I had to leave so the spent they morning in his PJs and she got this cute picture of him.  I love this sleeper and it cracks me up how the first thing he wants to do in the morning is drink his milk and play with his trucks/heavy equipment toys.  Such a ham :)

Fun afternoon with the Bell Family

On Sunday J, Thomas and I met up with our friends the Bell Family for an outside festival for kids.  We went to see Mr. Richard play and there was also bounce houses, pony rides, playgrounds and other fun stuff.  It was just nice to be outside and enjoying the beautiful weather with the kiddos!

Here is Thomas on his first pony ride.  He LOVED it!  I was so impressed because we wasn't scared at all and even held on by himself even though Jason walked by his side.  So cute!



Thomas and Piper had a blast together.  She was so cute trying to hold his hand and give him hugs.  They are almost exactly 1 year apart so it was fun seeing the interaction between the two.

watching Mr. Richard perform

rmounting the pony

Piper on her pony ride

My little man being so big and brave riding the pony by himself

Piper, Thomas and Jason

"Thomas, let me hold your hand!"

wait, let me give you a hug

7:30 a & p

In case you were wondering what I do everyday at 7:30am and 7:30pm for about 45 minutes it's this....

Looking HOT while attached to my IV drip...aren't you jealous!?! 

Animal Kingdom Lodge

This Sunday we went to Animal Kingdom Lodge for breakfast, walked around, looked at the animals and played on the playgrounds with Nana and Grandpa Lou.  It was a great morning and the food was oh so yummy!  I think Thomas ate about 2 scrambled eggs!

with Daddy looking at the animals

looking at the flamingos 

if I could, I would put my head through this fence to get closer!

30 weeks!

How far along? 30 weeks!  Thank goodness, I really feel like we are going places now!!
Total weight gain/loss: 18.5
Stretch marks? Nothing new, crossing my fingers it stays this way!
Sleep: Going to bed about 9pm and waking up around 7 but not without waking up 2-3 times a night to use to restroom.  Thomas is still adjusting to the time change so I've been waking up before him most days which has made me feel more rested.
Best moment this week: Going to my new urologist and feeling like my care is being taken more seriously.  He is already ordering more cultures and I felt listened to me and gave me more options with more explanation.  Even though it confuses me more, at least now I have more information to make what Jason and I feel is the best decision for our baby and my health.
Movement: Lots of pokes, jabs, and uncomfortable punches!  Loving feeling the hiccups, he/she is getting them like 3-5 times a day!
Food cravings: Not so much this week except for on Wednesday I HAD to have cinnamon melts from McDonald's!  They were AWESOME :)
Gender: We are waiting till the Baby's Birthday to find out!  90% have been saying Girl but Daddy thinks Boy.  Mommy changes her mind every day!
Labor Signs: only Braxton Hicks 
Belly Button in or out? OUT
What I miss: Being able to sleep through the night without having to get up but I know this will no be a part of my vocabulary for another year or so.  Pregnancy is so weird that way.  You will feel soooo exhausted but you can't sleep, makes no sense....
What I am looking forward to: Maternity pictures!  They are still a few weeks away but I'm getting excited about them!!  My good friend Abby is going to take them, here is her blog
Weekly Wisdom: "We are never given more than we can handle; only enough to remind us of how strong we truly are."
Milestones: I'm at the point where I feel HUGE!!!  That's a definite milestone....

WEEK 30

Afternoon in the Park

One of our favorite rituals has become biking around the neighborhood and then playing in the park.  Thomas and I do this during the week by our selves and then we have been doing it every weekend for the past month or so with Daddy.  It is definitely easier on Mommy when Daddy goes with us because then he can help chase the little man around and climb on the playground with him.  Being 7 months pregnant and having 2 tubes coming out of your body makes keeping up with a 17 month old on a playground pretty challenging.  Even if we are only there for 5 minutes, depending on how long Mommy can hang for, it's still a good time and Thomas LOVES it!

Here are a few pictures and a video from our Saturday afternoon trip to the park....

Thomas loves Heavy Equipment!

The past few weeks in our neighborhood there has been construction going on with the drains.  They are ripping up all first sections of our driveways and fixing some water lines or who knows what.  We aren't too sure what they are doing but all I do know is watching the trucks and the heavy equipment has become a part of our daily routine.  Thomas hears the machines outside and points to the door and eventually I break down and we go outside to watch the trucks, heavy equipment, jack hammers, etc.

As soon as the garage door opens he runs out into the driveway and starts pointing and waving to the guys working.  He will stand there point, wave, talk, laugh and dance about the heavy equipment for about 20-30 minutes.  Even though it's not my favorite past time, he LOVES it and it has served as a great activity when Mommy doesn't feel like going anywhere.  So, when we get a little stir crazy I ask him if he wants to go outside and look at the trucks and he instantly b-lines for the door.  Needless to say I had to take a video of our little man and his new love, Heavy Equipment.  Oh Grandpa will be proud!

Here are a few pictures:

pointing at the trucks!

look mom!

pointing again...LOL!

would you like a survey flag?!?

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!!

3rd Wedding Anniversary

Jason and I celebrated our 3rd Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday night, on the actual day, March 15th!  Even though 3 years isn't too long in the marriage department I can't believe we've been married for 3 years.  Guess time flies when you're having fun!

Here is a picture of us, taken with Jason's phone so not too great but at least it is documented, enjoying our dinner at the Melting Pot.  We had the big night out and you could have rolled us both out of there after our 4 course dinner!  Spinach and artichoke cheese fondue, salad, main course of steak, chicken, duck, shrimp and veggies and all finished with a creme brule white chocolate fondue for dessert.  YUMMMMMY!!!

29 weeks!

How far along? 29 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 17.5
Stretch marks? nothing new as of late, crossing my fingers it stays that way!!
Sleep: Since coming home from the hospital I've slept like a baby!  I get up once or twice to use the bathroom and then fall right back to sleep!  It has been AWESOME!  It's been hard not to take afternoon naps but I would rather go to bed earlier and sleep through the night then nap and be wide awake at 3am.
Best moment this week: This whole week has been great and a lesson in just being thankful for everyday normal life that doesn't consist of being admitted to a hospital!
Movement: Yep!  Oh and definitely feeling hiccups all the time now, have been since about 27 weeks.  Other people can feel the hiccups too!
Food cravings: Not so much this week....
Gender: We are waiting till the Baby's Birthday to find out!  Waiting to find out has been a lot more difficult this go around because of all my health issues.  I really wanted a third child but with everything going on it looks like this may be our last baby.  Only time will tell...
Labor Signs: only Braxton Hicks and have been having a lot more of these lately.  Thursday I had a lot!
Belly Button in or out? OUT - starting to poke through tight t-shirts 
What I miss: Being able to tie my shoes without a struggle 
What I am looking forward to: getting set up with a new Urologist on Friday, getting to know my Infectious Disease Dr.'s better and hopefully learning I can now get my nephrostomy tube replaced less often.  Also this week is Jason and I's 3rd Wedding Anniversary!
Weekly Wisdom: The bigger my belly gets the smaller my butt looks!  (although I know that last word should be "appears" because we KNOW it's getting bigger, not smaller)
Milestones: This is our last week in the 20s!!  Getting closer...

WEEK 29

(the orange looking stuff around my dressing cover is the sterile soap they use at the 

hospital since I had my tube replaced the night we took this picture)

Fun outside

We met some friends, took the doggies and let them all run around outside to burn off some energy.  Our good friend Abby is a wonderful photographer and she took these cute pictures of Thomas!  Love them :)

First Haircut!

Today we took Thomas for his first haircut, at days shy of turning 17 months, after he slept from 1:30-5!!  OMG!!  Guess he's catching up since he's been taking 2 hour naps most of the week and staying up late in his crib :)

He did awesome!  I thought he would cry or be very concerned, nope, he could care less.  He was giving Moon the barber high fives, sat pretty still on Daddy's lap and was very patient.  When Moon tried to take the clippers to the sides of his ears he wasn't having any part of that so we stuck with the scissors so we could call the first experience a success!  Happy baby = Happy Mommy & Daddy!

Here are a few pictures and the videos are to come even though we have nothing eventful to report, thankfully :)

Home SWEET HOME

HOME!!  Oh how I LOVE you!!  

Since getting home on Monday night around 7pm I have never been more thankful for you.  I know that I take advantage of you on a daily basis.  I try to keep you clean and pretty but even if you were looking your worst when I came home on Monday nigh,t I would have welcomed you with open arms!  Thank you home for always being here, protecting our family and for being nice to use lately.  We've lived here for 5 years at the end of this month.  Wow!  I never thought we'd be here this long but you've treated us well.  

So this a shout out to you HOME!  Fist pump :)

28 weeks!

How far along? 28 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 16 - hospital food wasn't so great and I lost about 2 pounds, not worried because I know I'll gain it back ;)
Stretch marks? nothing new as of late
Sleep: Was good till I had to go to the hospital on Friday at 27w 4d.  Those people wake you up every few hours and that bed is so uncomfortable!
Best moment this week: Seeing the baby on the 3d ultrasound.  I thought I didn't want to do that but while we were at the hospital the tech did it for us and it was amazing!  
Movement: Yep!
Food cravings: Anything that's not hospital food!  Still wanting something sweet everyday and have been enjoying yogurt burst cherrios.
Gender: We are waiting till the Baby's Birthday to find out!
Labor Signs: only Braxton Hicks 
Belly Button in or out? OUT
What I miss: Without being too negative, just feeling normal and not like there is always something wrong with me.  This pregnancy has been challenging both physically and emotionally even though I know it will all be worth it in the end!
What I am looking forward to: My OB apt on Friday where hopefully the Dr. and I can discuss a more definite plan of attack for the rest of this pregnancy.  Then Jason and I are going to celebrate our 3rd Wedding anniversary this weekend as its on March 15th.
Weekly Wisdom: Be your own advocate, pay attention to your body and go with your gut!  My Dr.'s never would have caught my infection until I started to have bad symptoms.  Luckily I was persistent in my own care and was able to not get sick with symptoms over this kidney infection.
Milestones: HELLLLLLO 3RD & FINAL TRIMESTER :)

WEEK 28

**Man I'm a hot mess these days, pee bag on leg, tube coming out of right of my back and tube coming out of left arm.  When did I turn 75?!?  LOL!**

IV antibiotics and trip to the hospital for Mommy

A few weeks ago at my routine urologist visit they ran a culture after I asked for it, mentioning I think that I may have an infection.  The nurse took the sample from my bag, not from the tube, first mistake.  Then when they called me a week later with the results they said that I had an infection, that was this past Tuesday.  I mentioned to the nurse where the sample had been taken from and she said she wanted to re do the culture from the tube site.  I went to a hospital lab about an hour later and on Thursday afternoon they called me with the preliminary results saying that I did have an infection.  They had to wait for the full results to come back but that I would have to change antibiotics.  Easy enough, ya, not so much.

Needless to say I didn't sleep much on Thursday night because they had mentioned I may have to have iv antibiotics which meant this was pretty serious.  Sure enough on Friday afternoon after having my nephrostomy tube replaced at the hospital via an outpatient procedure, they were able to look up my results and said I had pseudomonas.  I had no clue what this meant and I called my OBGYN's office, left a message for the Dr. since now of course it's Friday at 1pm and their office is closed.  Dr. Fritz called me back, we went over what had happened and she ensured me that I did the right thing, that she would call my urologist and get this figured out.  So I went home, ate some lunch and got a call from Dr. Lopez, my urologist. 

Dr. Lopez explained to me that I have pseudomonas, which is a very bad bacterial infection in my bladder.  He says that now he and Dr. Fritz were are on the same page and that they have to admit me to the hospital for 24-72 hours for iv antibiotics.  FUN TIMES!  I instantly start crying, even though I had a feeling this is what was going to happen to me.  My first thoughts are what are going to happen to the baby growing inside of me?!  He insures me that the baby will be fine and that the infection posses a greater risk to the baby and myself if it goes on vs. the use of the iv antibiotics.  I understand that but it just is all so much to handle when you are pregnant, just had a procedure, don't feel like yourself and are emotional anyways!  I compose myself, Dr. Fritz calls me and explains what she is going to do and to head to the hospital sooner than later.  

Thankfully my Mom was in town for a race that she thought her and Jason were going to be doing the next day, ya, not so much.  I call my mother in law, Sharon and she heads over to take care of Thomas so Mom and I can head to the hospital where Jason will meet us.  

Winnie Palmer was great, got me right in and moments after arriving in my room I was seen by a wonderful nurse, Sasha, infectious disease Dr.s, high risk OB Dr.s and Dr. Fritz.  Everyone was very patient with explaining everything to me and as made my time here as comfortable as possible.  They had me on a monitor for the baby to measure his/her heart rate and contractions for 18 hours and everything has been perfect.  Now I only have to have NST tests, which is the same monitor but for 20 minutes a few times a day, iv antibiotics every 8 hours and constant vital checking :)  I've had an ultrasound of the baby to make sure that my fluid levels were good, get a good growth estimate of the baby and just to make sure all is well with the bun baking in the oven.  Last night around 11pm I had an ultrasound of my kidneys and bladder, not sure of the results of that just yet.

Now after having been here for almost two days I'm getting a little anxious to get home.  Just want to lay in my own bed, eat my own food and be with my family.  Unfortunately it doesn't look like I'm going to get out of here today because now I've starting having an itching reaction to the antibiotic on my lower back and stomach.  It seems to be getting a little worse after each antibiotic dose which has been three times now.  Also this afternoon a nurse Jeannie placed a midline which will allow me to have my iv antibiotics administered at home.  She was great, veryyy patient and informative.  She really helped ease my mind through the whole procedure and I was very thankful for her.  

So in the mean time I as well as lots of other family and friends are praying for no reaction to the new iv antibiotics and for getting discharged tomorrow.  Even though I've had a great experience here I'm ready to go HOME!!  It's experiences like this in life that make you even more thankful for your family, friends and the comfort of your own home :)

Here are some pictures of our little peanut who measured at 3 pounds 3 ounces and looks perfectly healthy.  So nice to not have to worry, at least not too much, about baby Amadori #2 growing inside.  Just so happy that all of the issues have been Mommy issues and not baby issues.  Now to hope it remains that way!  12 weeks, 1 day and counting till D DAY!!!