Today was a wonderful day! We got to see our child and hear his or her little heart beating for the first time. There are not words to describe how beautiful that sound is. We are so relieved that the doctor saw nothing but good things as he looked at measurements and shapes and all of that. He said the heartbeat sounded excellent (145 bpm), the yolk sac measured perfectly (.4!) and the measurement of the baby compared with the estimated due date matches almost exactly which is also very good! He said he has no reason for concern at all and seeing this ultrasound "blows your history out of the water." He doesn't even need to see us for FOUR weeks. He takes the approach that unless there is a concern, he doesn't need to do another ultrasound before the 12th week and since there is no concern I should just relax and enjoy this! And he said everything he saw today gives him every confidence that there should be no surprises. So we will return for our first external ultrasound just after Easter and right before we leave for Tina's wedding.
Interestingly enough I have lost FIVE pounds since my last visit 2 1/2 weeks ago. There's the nauseau for ya. (But I was so nervous my blood pressure was through the roof!)
Thank you Jesus, Mary and Joseph for your constant prayers and love and St. Philomena for the strength to endure this waiting and for protecting our child from harm. And thank you to all of YOU for praying for our child and for us. This is so wonderful and we are very blessed!
And now...
Have you ever heard anything sweeter?
Baby Sounds
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
wait...I'm feeling good! Is that bad?
So tonight and last night I actually WENT OUT. Yes, people! I put on make up, real clothes (that don't resemble pajamas) and even earrings! Last night was the Liturgical Music discussion at the University and tonight was the inital discussion regarding the University's budget-sigh.
Tuesday's panel discussion was almost 3 hours long and I was on the edge of my seat! I loved it! And tonight was at least a couple hours as well.
I am starting to worry that with all of this change in my energy level and limited nauseau...that something is wrong. Can I please be nauseous, Lord, please?
I did notice both nights when I returned home (after pretty much not eating all day or eating tiny amounts and drinking gallons of water) that I was RAVENOUS and inhaling food before we sat down for our evening Rosary (usually around 11:00pm). So I think it is just a combination of having something to take my mind of off it and finally cracking the code to this nauseau thing:
1. Mornings are really hard. I am most nauseous then. Gary convinces me to eat something. It is very hard.
2. Midmorning I start to actually feel like I could eat some lunch. My standard is about 10-15 saltines with sliced cheese. (best meal ever right now!)
3. By dinner I am reaping the benefits of the full "meal" i had at lunch and feel even better so I am inspired to eat dinner even though I don't want to. So the last two nights (that I was able to go out and attend these talks) I had a HUGE healthy salad with tons of fresh vegetables from the Oakes Farms Market we love to go to. (We stock up every few weekends)...
and of course it's gone quickly:
4. So that's it people, really. Saltines and salad. My justification is that I'm getting some protein in the cheese and vegetables in the salad. That's better than nothing. The "book" that I keep reading tells me to just eat whatever you can keep down....so amazingly enough...I came up with a small list for Gary to get at the Ave Publix...
*lemon sorbet
*chocolate chip ice cream (but has to be the kind with shredded chocolate pieces b/c the big chunks-that used to be my favorite-now make me sick!)
*saltines
*ginger ale (diet)
*Cranberry/veggie juice
I LOVE being pregnant!!!!!!! Thank you, God. St. Philomena, pray for us! Please, if you don't know about her READ the book: St. Philomena the wonder worker and get the novena and start praying!
Tuesday's panel discussion was almost 3 hours long and I was on the edge of my seat! I loved it! And tonight was at least a couple hours as well.
I am starting to worry that with all of this change in my energy level and limited nauseau...that something is wrong. Can I please be nauseous, Lord, please?
I did notice both nights when I returned home (after pretty much not eating all day or eating tiny amounts and drinking gallons of water) that I was RAVENOUS and inhaling food before we sat down for our evening Rosary (usually around 11:00pm). So I think it is just a combination of having something to take my mind of off it and finally cracking the code to this nauseau thing:
1. Mornings are really hard. I am most nauseous then. Gary convinces me to eat something. It is very hard.
2. Midmorning I start to actually feel like I could eat some lunch. My standard is about 10-15 saltines with sliced cheese. (best meal ever right now!)
3. By dinner I am reaping the benefits of the full "meal" i had at lunch and feel even better so I am inspired to eat dinner even though I don't want to. So the last two nights (that I was able to go out and attend these talks) I had a HUGE healthy salad with tons of fresh vegetables from the Oakes Farms Market we love to go to. (We stock up every few weekends)...
and of course it's gone quickly:
4. So that's it people, really. Saltines and salad. My justification is that I'm getting some protein in the cheese and vegetables in the salad. That's better than nothing. The "book" that I keep reading tells me to just eat whatever you can keep down....so amazingly enough...I came up with a small list for Gary to get at the Ave Publix...
*lemon sorbet
*chocolate chip ice cream (but has to be the kind with shredded chocolate pieces b/c the big chunks-that used to be my favorite-now make me sick!)
*saltines
*ginger ale (diet)
*Cranberry/veggie juice
I LOVE being pregnant!!!!!!! Thank you, God. St. Philomena, pray for us! Please, if you don't know about her READ the book: St. Philomena the wonder worker and get the novena and start praying!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
So what prompts my tummy to turn?
Well today it was clean laundry! Honestly the smell of the dryer sheets on a clean blanket that I love to use while I'm reading or watching a show...almost made me throw up! I even asked Gary to smell it and he thought it smelled great!
Other culprits:
ANY meat
chocolate (okay i MUST be pregnant b/c i usually LOVE chocolate)
the thought of any leftovers with meat
peanut butter and its smell (another thing I used to LOVE)
did i mention meat?
quite a strategy for weight loss though :)
I HAVE managed to eat two incredibly huge salads full of fresh veggies: green pepper, red pepper, tomato, onion, celery, and even avocado!
Other culprits:
ANY meat
chocolate (okay i MUST be pregnant b/c i usually LOVE chocolate)
the thought of any leftovers with meat
peanut butter and its smell (another thing I used to LOVE)
did i mention meat?
quite a strategy for weight loss though :)
I HAVE managed to eat two incredibly huge salads full of fresh veggies: green pepper, red pepper, tomato, onion, celery, and even avocado!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Taking turns...
Right now: either I'm nauseous, exhausted, have a migraine or have a dull all-over kind of headache. Of course I accept all sufferings for the sake of this child. I am trying to offer up my sufferings for someone else's redemption and make my suffering productive. It's so cute b/c at various times throughout the day Gary will ask: "How are you feeling?" and he takes joy in my answer of the ususal: "Not very good. I feel so sick!" He and I both know that is probably an indication of a very healthy pregnancy! We are so thankful for these (painful) symptoms.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Readying your room...
Now that I am starting to feel nauseous pretty much all day every day...I am feeling more and more confident in this pregnancy. When I do get a moment of relief I love to start planning for this little one!
Today I started looking at bedding options online as we want to find something boyish and girlish to go with yellow (the color of your room!) I really like the more subtle solids than all the detail and characters that most beddings come with. My first choice would be a simple blue or pink with some pretty details of course. But it may be more cost effective to go with a neutral so that someday your siblings can use it too! We have so much to do in your nursery to get ready for you. Right now I still have teaching things in there (books, charts, baskets) even though I got rid of 90% of it when I quit teaching. I am also going to box up most of the children's books since that will be at least 1 year off. If I remember correctly, Gianna started "reading" books around 15 months or so.
So I took most of the children's books that I had on this shelf:
and began packing them...
And then I took most everything that had to do with teaching that I still wanted to keep (gotten rid of most of it) and put it in the last bin I could find:
It's all ready to go into the garage :) Thankfully it has wheels, because it sure is heavy!
Soon we will ask the current residents of this nursery to move out :(
They don't mind, as there is a cozy tree by the window in their new room :)
As we get your room more cleaned out and organized we can make room for baby stuff. Right now there's a very large white armoire in there that takes up a LOT of space. After we put a crib and a changing table in there, I'm not sure there will be much space left for even a rocking chair. And I'm not sure you will be able to see any of the actual (yellow) walls. This room is small, but God gave it to us and it's perfect!
Your Grandma and I went shopping at Babies r Us this week. She had a gift to buy for a friend of hers and we started looking around at cribs and bedding. It was so much fun! I even got to park in the stork spots labeled: This parking reserved for expectant mothers!
We also shopped for a long time at Penneys to find a dress or two to "grow with me" as I get larger. I needed to find something for Easter and Tina's wedding, but I think I can wear it for several months after that. I want to be a glowing pregnant Momma!!!! It was a great day :)
Today I started looking at bedding options online as we want to find something boyish and girlish to go with yellow (the color of your room!) I really like the more subtle solids than all the detail and characters that most beddings come with. My first choice would be a simple blue or pink with some pretty details of course. But it may be more cost effective to go with a neutral so that someday your siblings can use it too! We have so much to do in your nursery to get ready for you. Right now I still have teaching things in there (books, charts, baskets) even though I got rid of 90% of it when I quit teaching. I am also going to box up most of the children's books since that will be at least 1 year off. If I remember correctly, Gianna started "reading" books around 15 months or so.
So I took most of the children's books that I had on this shelf:
and began packing them...
And then I took most everything that had to do with teaching that I still wanted to keep (gotten rid of most of it) and put it in the last bin I could find:
It's all ready to go into the garage :) Thankfully it has wheels, because it sure is heavy!
Soon we will ask the current residents of this nursery to move out :(
They don't mind, as there is a cozy tree by the window in their new room :)
As we get your room more cleaned out and organized we can make room for baby stuff. Right now there's a very large white armoire in there that takes up a LOT of space. After we put a crib and a changing table in there, I'm not sure there will be much space left for even a rocking chair. And I'm not sure you will be able to see any of the actual (yellow) walls. This room is small, but God gave it to us and it's perfect!
Your Grandma and I went shopping at Babies r Us this week. She had a gift to buy for a friend of hers and we started looking around at cribs and bedding. It was so much fun! I even got to park in the stork spots labeled: This parking reserved for expectant mothers!
We also shopped for a long time at Penneys to find a dress or two to "grow with me" as I get larger. I needed to find something for Easter and Tina's wedding, but I think I can wear it for several months after that. I want to be a glowing pregnant Momma!!!! It was a great day :)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Nauseous!
Papa and I are so excited that I am so sick :) We are just thrilled that after cooking wonderful meals like pot roast, chili and roasted chicken...just yesterday and today, I can hardly eat! This hopefully means I'm very pregnant and beginning to feel more of the symptoms.
So what am I craving?
Saltines and ginger ale!
So what am I craving?
Saltines and ginger ale!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
who could ask for anything more?
So today is my birthday, and I truly feel I have it all! I am a stay-at-home wife (and mother!), I have a wonderful husband, loving family, and a CHILD! What more could I possibly want?
Well the deal was that we aren't spending money on gifts these days as we are trying to be thrifty. So of course Gary made me the most romantic gift. He was in the garage for days working on his "secret project." And here it is:
As you can see, there is a letter for each member of our family so far and of course we will be adding letters. ('M' is for our first daughter, Mary, who is in Heaven!) I love the stain color that he chose as it suits the yellow room so nicely. He's so crafty!! Thank you, Honey. I'm thinking of handing some decorative pieces on the knobs.
Of course we celebrated at the Cheesecake Factory with the Speniks and Aunt Julie. Later we hung out with Ann and had a great time. And for my special day...we splurged and got Publix subs and then L'Appetito's pepperoni pizza for dinner! What a treat!
It was a great birthday. I am blessed.
Well the deal was that we aren't spending money on gifts these days as we are trying to be thrifty. So of course Gary made me the most romantic gift. He was in the garage for days working on his "secret project." And here it is:
As you can see, there is a letter for each member of our family so far and of course we will be adding letters. ('M' is for our first daughter, Mary, who is in Heaven!) I love the stain color that he chose as it suits the yellow room so nicely. He's so crafty!! Thank you, Honey. I'm thinking of handing some decorative pieces on the knobs.
Of course we celebrated at the Cheesecake Factory with the Speniks and Aunt Julie. Later we hung out with Ann and had a great time. And for my special day...we splurged and got Publix subs and then L'Appetito's pepperoni pizza for dinner! What a treat!
It was a great birthday. I am blessed.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
42!
Today we heard from Dr. Foley's office with the results of my progesterone and HCG level. I am so thankful to God for a progesterone level of 42 (FORTY TWO!!) and the HCG was 1669. Praise the Lord. And now we wait two more weeks to see and hear your little heart beating. It's so hard to wait! :) We love you!!!
Monday, March 14, 2011
First Doctor's Visit
Today we nervously saw Dr. Foley for our first prenatal visit. Since I am just 5 weeks (but who's counting?!) today, it's a bit too early to do an ultrasound, so instead he is drawing my blood to get an idea of my progesterone and HCG levels.
What an incredible visit. The doctor spent an hour with us helping us to understand his approach. Regarding pregnant women who have a known progesterone deficiency (me) and given my history of a recent miscarriage, he was content with just placing me on progesterone without testing my blood. I didn't understand this and became frustrated. After all, I didn't want him to just be guessing. But now I understand that testing my blood isn't accurate for measuring progesterone levels. So regardless, we will continue supplementing daily with progesterone until the 12th or 13th week. We are so thankful for some of the misunderstandings he cleared up for us. And while we don't understand it all, we both left with a peace in our hearts that as parents, we were now seeing the right doctor. To be able to trust your doctor-what a RELIEF!! He encouraged us to just relax and try to be patient as worrying and testing can often (definitely with me) create more angst....let alone driving nearly an hour each time! This doctor answered all of our questions and addressed our concerns and gave such thorough and compassionate answers. I didn't once feel rushed or nervous. Thank you to all of my wonderful girlfriends, for recommending him!
And so we are content with prayer for our child...constant prayer. Less wory, less labs and more prayer.
Today Gary came home for his dinner break around 5:00 and was carrying publix grocery bags. He had a huge smile on his face and I could tell...that doctor's appointment was very good for him. It gave him some peace and confidence. He boldly proclaimed: "I've got groceries for my pregnant wife!!!!"
Of course the bags were oozing with nutritious goodies like blueberries and orange juice. Thank you, honey, for thinking of me. You make the best "pregnancy smoothies!" and I love you!
We look forward to our next visit, when Dr. Foley will do our first ultrasound where we will see and hear the heartbeat! We go on Thursday, March 31, which is 2 1/2 weeks from today...so I will be 7 1/2 weeks by then. Oh boy!!!(or girl!)
What an incredible visit. The doctor spent an hour with us helping us to understand his approach. Regarding pregnant women who have a known progesterone deficiency (me) and given my history of a recent miscarriage, he was content with just placing me on progesterone without testing my blood. I didn't understand this and became frustrated. After all, I didn't want him to just be guessing. But now I understand that testing my blood isn't accurate for measuring progesterone levels. So regardless, we will continue supplementing daily with progesterone until the 12th or 13th week. We are so thankful for some of the misunderstandings he cleared up for us. And while we don't understand it all, we both left with a peace in our hearts that as parents, we were now seeing the right doctor. To be able to trust your doctor-what a RELIEF!! He encouraged us to just relax and try to be patient as worrying and testing can often (definitely with me) create more angst....let alone driving nearly an hour each time! This doctor answered all of our questions and addressed our concerns and gave such thorough and compassionate answers. I didn't once feel rushed or nervous. Thank you to all of my wonderful girlfriends, for recommending him!
And so we are content with prayer for our child...constant prayer. Less wory, less labs and more prayer.
Today Gary came home for his dinner break around 5:00 and was carrying publix grocery bags. He had a huge smile on his face and I could tell...that doctor's appointment was very good for him. It gave him some peace and confidence. He boldly proclaimed: "I've got groceries for my pregnant wife!!!!"
Of course the bags were oozing with nutritious goodies like blueberries and orange juice. Thank you, honey, for thinking of me. You make the best "pregnancy smoothies!" and I love you!
We look forward to our next visit, when Dr. Foley will do our first ultrasound where we will see and hear the heartbeat! We go on Thursday, March 31, which is 2 1/2 weeks from today...so I will be 7 1/2 weeks by then. Oh boy!!!(or girl!)
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Grandma-again
This morning we visited Grandma (Mom Spenik) at Panera for a cozy breakfast. She thought we were just meeting to spend time together and enjoy each other's company, but little did she know we had some "news."
We started off with a delicious breakfast and coffee and quickly started catching up on life. We wanted her feedback and opinion about several aspects of our business including a new coffee table book, new business cards, and new flyers with business card holders that we planned to post throughout the Naples area (starting with the three Naples Paneras!)
Mom loved it all. We also chatted about work, the weather, home improvement projects, and finally...Novenas :) Mom had started a 54-day Rosary Novena after I had shared that we had found so much peace and clarity (and answered prayers) through this Novena. I knew she was praying for us to become pregnant again, if it was God's will. I also knew she was praying to discern what to do about retiring or continue working. I *also* knew that she would know and feel confident about retiring once I told her I was going to have a baby in November and would love her full-time help and companionship!
Sooo...we started talking about Novenas and how they have helped us, how other AMU students, friends, and neighbors that we know have begun the novena as well and how it's changed their lives. We told her recently we had begun our second novena since our first 54 days were completed. And then we revealed....(Gary and I had been rehearsing this as we knew this was going to be our way to "reveal our news!")
It went like this: "It's just been amazing. I mean, since we started praying this novena we've received so many answers! We prayed for blessings upon our marriage and we got that, we asked for healing from the miscarriage-we got that, we asked for clarity with our finances-we got that...and then Gary jumped in and said..."and we asked to get pregnant right away again-and we got that!"
And then-we waited.
We waited a little more.
Mom reviewed her last conversation she'd had with me (her wonderful and "honest" daughter) who had just told her a few days ago that she had received a "no" this month with her "monthly gift." And Mom believed me. So she gasped and she smiled and said..."I thought you got your period?!?!?! And I smiled and quickly shouted-"I lied!"
And she was ecstatic. All over again. So happy. And as I talk to her daily she tells me she still has to pinch herself and whenever she thinks of it all, she prays a Hail Mary.
We had a lovely day shopping, getting our hands on the just-released iPad2 at the Apple Store. And we met up with Julie for a wonderful lunch at Silverspoon at the Waterside Shops. We shared our news with her and she was delighted for us. She began her Rosary Novena that week after hearing our praises!
Of course Mom told Dad once she got home and he was so happy for us too.
And that's it. We haven't told anyone else yet, because we figure we can wait until the time is right and it was so hard to let them down last time. We have tremendous peace about this and know that God will do His perfect will in us, as long as we allow Him. We're Ready!!!
We started off with a delicious breakfast and coffee and quickly started catching up on life. We wanted her feedback and opinion about several aspects of our business including a new coffee table book, new business cards, and new flyers with business card holders that we planned to post throughout the Naples area (starting with the three Naples Paneras!)
Mom loved it all. We also chatted about work, the weather, home improvement projects, and finally...Novenas :) Mom had started a 54-day Rosary Novena after I had shared that we had found so much peace and clarity (and answered prayers) through this Novena. I knew she was praying for us to become pregnant again, if it was God's will. I also knew she was praying to discern what to do about retiring or continue working. I *also* knew that she would know and feel confident about retiring once I told her I was going to have a baby in November and would love her full-time help and companionship!
Sooo...we started talking about Novenas and how they have helped us, how other AMU students, friends, and neighbors that we know have begun the novena as well and how it's changed their lives. We told her recently we had begun our second novena since our first 54 days were completed. And then we revealed....(Gary and I had been rehearsing this as we knew this was going to be our way to "reveal our news!")
It went like this: "It's just been amazing. I mean, since we started praying this novena we've received so many answers! We prayed for blessings upon our marriage and we got that, we asked for healing from the miscarriage-we got that, we asked for clarity with our finances-we got that...and then Gary jumped in and said..."and we asked to get pregnant right away again-and we got that!"
And then-we waited.
We waited a little more.
Mom reviewed her last conversation she'd had with me (her wonderful and "honest" daughter) who had just told her a few days ago that she had received a "no" this month with her "monthly gift." And Mom believed me. So she gasped and she smiled and said..."I thought you got your period?!?!?! And I smiled and quickly shouted-"I lied!"
And she was ecstatic. All over again. So happy. And as I talk to her daily she tells me she still has to pinch herself and whenever she thinks of it all, she prays a Hail Mary.
We had a lovely day shopping, getting our hands on the just-released iPad2 at the Apple Store. And we met up with Julie for a wonderful lunch at Silverspoon at the Waterside Shops. We shared our news with her and she was delighted for us. She began her Rosary Novena that week after hearing our praises!
Of course Mom told Dad once she got home and he was so happy for us too.
And that's it. We haven't told anyone else yet, because we figure we can wait until the time is right and it was so hard to let them down last time. We have tremendous peace about this and know that God will do His perfect will in us, as long as we allow Him. We're Ready!!!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
New Life!
Today is Ash Wednesday. And as I've suspected for a few days now, God has answered our prayers, again! We are PREGNANT! (You are here!!!!)
We hesitated to celebrate after such a recent and difficult letting go of our first child, Mary Bridget. But we stand unafraid and willing to accept whatever God has for us. And it's clear on the home pregnancy stick-God has another child(ren?) for us! We love you already and are so thankful to Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Gerard, St. Gianna and St. Philomena for interceding on our behalf to become parents again.
Of course I called the doctor right away due to my low progesterone and to get established as a new patient too. We took the first appointment we could get (after some convincing....they didn't want to see us for 8 weeks, but at 4 1/2 I insisted I wanted my progesterone and HCG levels checked). We are all set to see Dr. Foley on March 14th!
Dear God,
We praise you and we thank you for this most beautiful blessing you have given us again, a child(ren)! We beg of your graces as we strive to be holy and good parents. We rely solely on your protection, your love and we know with you, all things are possible. Please Lord, calm our fears, fill our hearts with peace, and give our child(ren) all the health and protection inside of my womb that they need to grow strong and be born into our loving family.
Jesus, Mary & Joseph, help us!
While Gary was surprised I was more confirmed in joy as I had asked St. Philomena nearly two weeks before today to intercede for me through the powerful novena to St. Philomena. For my intention I prayed: "to conceive children this month and carry them to term without miscarriage."
Time will tell...but we are so happy. We want to tell the world, but we also want to "ponder it in our hearts" as our beautiful Blessed Mother did.
Life is good :) (truly)
We hesitated to celebrate after such a recent and difficult letting go of our first child, Mary Bridget. But we stand unafraid and willing to accept whatever God has for us. And it's clear on the home pregnancy stick-God has another child(ren?) for us! We love you already and are so thankful to Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Gerard, St. Gianna and St. Philomena for interceding on our behalf to become parents again.
Of course I called the doctor right away due to my low progesterone and to get established as a new patient too. We took the first appointment we could get (after some convincing....they didn't want to see us for 8 weeks, but at 4 1/2 I insisted I wanted my progesterone and HCG levels checked). We are all set to see Dr. Foley on March 14th!
Dear God,
We praise you and we thank you for this most beautiful blessing you have given us again, a child(ren)! We beg of your graces as we strive to be holy and good parents. We rely solely on your protection, your love and we know with you, all things are possible. Please Lord, calm our fears, fill our hearts with peace, and give our child(ren) all the health and protection inside of my womb that they need to grow strong and be born into our loving family.
Jesus, Mary & Joseph, help us!
While Gary was surprised I was more confirmed in joy as I had asked St. Philomena nearly two weeks before today to intercede for me through the powerful novena to St. Philomena. For my intention I prayed: "to conceive children this month and carry them to term without miscarriage."
Time will tell...but we are so happy. We want to tell the world, but we also want to "ponder it in our hearts" as our beautiful Blessed Mother did.
Life is good :) (truly)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Baby Background
