I'm Moving...OUT!

I’m teaming up with my sister in a new blogging endeavor.  We are going to have lots of fun things going on over there.  From schooling to crafting, cooking to photography, to faith and our family… real.simple.life is a mush-up (like that word?) of ideas from the both of us.  Hop on over and follow us!

Sidenote:  All of my blogging will happen over at real.simple.life from now on.  Go on and click on over!

My Readmission to the Hospital

When Amelia was 4 weeks old I got sick with what I thought was a kidney infection.  My back hurt and my urine was really dark (TMI I know, I'm sorry). I figured I would drink lots more water and it would pass on its own. That was on Monday.  On Thursday I was still hurting so I went to the doctor and they confirmed that I did indeed have a kidney infection and gave me an antibiotic. The pain I was in was unreal.  It hurt worse than the contractions I felt during labor...  On Friday I was in so much pain that I knew that I couldn't take care of Amelia alone so I asked my husband to take me to my grandmother's house before he went to work so she could help me...  shortly after I asked him I started throwing up...  I was still throwing up when I arrived at my grandmother's house, I even threw up on the way... luckily I grabbed some grocery bags to throw up in... When I got to my grandmother's my mom was there and not at work (my grandmother lives with my mom)...  so I got in the bed and tossed and turned and jumped up to run to the bathroom to throw up more times than I can count in the 45 minutes I was there.  I was laying in the bed crying because I hurt so bad and my mom talked me into going to the emergency room... So I threw up on the way there and got quickly called back and in a room all of this was about 9:30am.  Within the first minute I had a doctor in my room and he told me it sounded like my gall bladder...  So he ordered a CT scan and an ultrasound...  I had the most awesome nurse and he quickly got my IV going and gave me something for nausea and pain...  It took a while to get the CT scan and the ultrasound and luckily my husband arrived before I had to go for either of them...

It turns out that I had gall stones in my gall bladder and in my pancreas, I had pancreatitis, a kidney infection and jaundice. I met with a surgeon and a GI doctor and then I was admitted and was taken to my room about 1pm.  They decided not to remove my gall bladder until Monday because it was so inflamed so I had to deal with that pain all weekend...  luckily they gave me pain medicine and some muscle relaxers.  So on Monday I had my gall bladder removed and then on Tuesday I had an endoscopy (down my throat) to remove the gall stones from my pancreas and they put a stint in so that the bile from my liver would drain and my jaundice would go away... I was discharged on Wednesday, thankfully...  And I am now back to normal but that was definitely a scary time...  Luckily my sister came up from her house (5 hours away) to be with me and to keep Amelia for me so Zach could stay with me...

So that was about 6 weeks ago...  Amelia and I have been hanging out since then...  We did spend a week at my sister's house but that is about it...  Nothing interesting...

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!  Here is my baby girl and Santa!

October 13, 2010

I was scheduled to be induced for personal reasons so I had to be at the hospital at 6:00 that morning.  My doctor came in around 7:00 and checked me (I was 3 cm) and she went ahead and broke my water. 

Let me stop here to say that I had the best nurse in the world...  She was very attentive and kind.  She advised me at about 6:45 that if I needed to go to the restroom that I should probably head on because when Dr. Goolsby came in she would probably break my water and after that I would not be allowed to get up to go...  So I took her advice and I am so glad I did...

They started my pitocin at 7:00 as well and I started feeling what I thought was her under my ribs but was informed by my nurse that what I was feeling was actually contractions...  My doctor told me that whenever I was ready for the epidural that I could have it because I had to be at 4 cm to have it and by time I felt the contractions good I would be at 4 cm.  At about 10:30 I was at 6 cm and I was ready for my epidural. The doctor came in pretty quickly after I requested my epidural and boy did it hurt when he stuck me...

After the epidural started working we just sat around and rested... waiting on our sweet girl.  And then I started feeling contractions on my right side...  my epidural wasn't working on that side so they had my roll on to my right side and it numbed again, thankfully...  It did that one more time before I delivered...  (thankfully it didn't happen any more.)

At 2:46 I began pushing.  Zach was so into the pushing, he watched and kept telling me that he could see her head and that she had tons of hair!!!  52 minutes of pushing and at 3:38 Amelia Eleanor was born!

She weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 21 inches long.

After delivery we spent a little over an hour with her just the three of us...  loving on her was more amazing that I dreamed!

This is my amazing nurse Amy...

My wonderful doctor, Dr. Goolsby.

We had a HUGE room and I am glad we did because we had a TON of visitors...  and my favorite by far was my niece, she was so excited to meet Amelia!

We were discharged on Friday and Amelia wore the dress that I wore home from the hospital...  it was so special to see her in it.

That's all for now...  I will post again soon with her first few weeks at home including me being readmitted to the hospital when Amelia was 4 weeks old...

Hello Again Blogging World...

I'm thinking of making a comeback! Not that I had that many readers but I want to start back for me...  to document my little girl's first year...

As soon as my new camera cable is delivered (it has somehow disappeared) I will upload pictures and begin posting all about our sweet girl and the goings on in our life...

And just to hold you over until then, here is a picture from my cell phone of her the day she was born...

Introducing..........

Amelia Eleanor

10/13/10

3:38 pm

21 inches long

7 pounds 14 ounces

Quick update

I had my monthly appointment this past Thursday. Everything looks great. She is still a girl! I had my glucose test, won't know anything on it until next week. She had a name but I have decided not to post it.

Sorry for the lack of blogging my heart just isn't in it these days. I don't think I will continue blogging. I will keep this same address and maybe one day start back but right now my focus is on my sweet baby and my family. I hope you all understand.

Happy fourth of July!


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we are having a sweet baby...

GIRL!!!

Boy or Girl?

Today is the day we will (hopefully) find out!  My appointment is at 3 this afternoon...  I am already anxious to go and it is only 9:00...

We can't wait to see our little Jellybean today!!!

20 weeks and 1 day

I am still feeling great!  I can't believe how fast the first 20 weeks went by!!!  It is all down hill from here!

I found out this morning that Zach leaves for his annual training with the Army Reserves earlier than we thought...  He is leaving almost a week early to help set things up at their location...  And guess what day that falls on?  Yep, our BIG ultrasound day!  He has to be at his unit on June 7 at 6:30 am to leave and my appointment is June 7 at 2:00 pm.  So I am in the process of trying to change it because I really want Zach there...

My appointment was originally supposed to be this week but the ultrasound technician for my doctor's office is off all this week so they scheduled me for the 7th...  So I may be going to a different part of the hospital to have my ultrasound (instead of my doctor's office) so that Zach can be there with me.  He hasn't been able to go to a doctor's appointment with me since we found out we were going to have a baby and had our first ultrasound at our specialist's office, that was about 14 weeks ago...  I really want him to be at this one so we can find out together if we will have a boy or a girl...

I'm praying that my nurse can work her magic and get me an appointment this week...  I will let you know!

*Edit: I heard from my nurse and we are scheduled to have the ultrasound on Thursday the 3rd at 3 and see my doctor immediately afterwards!  So good news, thank goodness because I really want to share that experience with my husband!

19 weeks

I'm 19 weeks pregnant today...  I'm still feeling awesome!  I have a baby belly now, so I don't just look fat!

We go two weeks from today for our next ultrasound!!!

Nothing new to report on right now, I hope you all have a great day!

sorry, sorry, sorry

I am so sorry for my lack of posting the last few weeks...  I just really have no motivation to do so...

Everything with me and Jellybean is fine...  Just trying to spend as much time with my hubby as I can before the baby comes...

I am 18 weeks today...  Everything seems to be going great still...

I am still on high blood pressure medicine...  We go back on June 7 for our 20 weeks ultrasound but I will actually be 21 weeks on that day...  Hopefully Jellybean will cooperate...

I hope all of you are doing well...

Sorry for not posting

Sorry friends for not posting my weekly update last week. It was and emotionally draining week.

I had my monthly doctors appointment on Thursday. Everything is great with Jellybean! His or her heartrate was in the 160s. Unfortunately my blood pressure was higher this month than last month so I am now on blood pressure medicine... And I lost 4 pounds since my last appointment. Which my doctor said was fine since I was a little over weight when I got pregnant. That brings me to a total of 6 pounds lost.

We go back on June 7 to do our big ultrasound!!! We are so excited!!! I'm praying now that Jellybean cooperates!

That is all I hav time for eight now. I will post weekly update on Monday for you guys!


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One year later...

On this day last year, I took my last birth control pill!  We were officially on our way to starting a family.  I never thought that we wouldn't get pregnant right away...  But 9 months later and after many trips to see my specialist we found out that we were expecting.  No, 9 months isn't a long time to try for a baby and there are some women who try for years before they conceive...  but those 9 months felt like an eternity to me!

This week also happens to be National Infertility Awareness Week...  I pray for the friends that I have met along this journey that are still trying for their baby...  I have faith that each of you will be a mommy some day!

Feedback on Insurance

I'm not sure how many of you guys that read that have TRICARE insurance but in the event that some of you do can you tell me your thoughts on it?

My husband is in the Army Reserves.  We are trying to work things out where I can quit work when Jellybean is born and the only insurance he can get is through TRICARE, he isn't eligible for insurance with his work...  I know his work situation can change between now and then and he could become eligible but I would still like to know your opinions on TRICARE.

Some may say that this is too early to be worrying about this but I would rather have all of our bases covered in the event that something happens and I have to leave work or if baby comes early.

15 Weeks (a day late, sorry)

How far along: 15 weeks and 1 day


Maternity clothes: Mostly dresses but I am wearing maternity pants.

Sleep: I have been getting up 1-2 times a night to use the restroom.

Best moment last week: Not pregnancy related, but visiting my sister and her husband and my niece!

Symptoms: A few headaches, but I think my allergies are the culprit.

Food cravings: Vegetables. Orange Juice.

Gender: Not sure yet. But I am thinking a boy. And if Jellybean is a boy he already has a name...

What I am looking forward to: My next appointment on May 6... AND My appointment in June, that is when we should find out if Jellybean is a boy or a girl!

From The Bump:

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.

My newest craving

I have been craving orange juice for the last few days!  I have never liked real orange juice, just Sunny Delight...  But I have not been able to stop thinking about real orange juice.  While visiting my sister this past weekend I had some and I am hooked!  Thank you Jellybean for making Mommy want it because now I actually like it and I've had at least one glass every day since I had it at Karmen's!

14 Weeks

How far along: 14 weeks


Maternity clothes: Mostly dresses but I am wearing maternity pants.

Sleep: I have been getting up 1-2 times a night to use the restroom.

Best moment last week: Not pregnancy related, but visiting my sister and her husband and my niece!

Symptoms: None.

Food cravings: Vegetables.

Gender: Not sure yet. But I am thinking a boy.

What I am looking forward to: My next appointment on May 6...  AND My appointment in June, that is when we should find out if Jellybean is a boy or a girl!

From The Bump:

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

13 weeks

How far along: 13 weeks. Officially in the second trimester!!!


Maternity clothes: My pants are snug so I have been wearing more dresses lately...

Sleep: I have been getting up 1-2 times a night to use the restroom.

Best moment last week: Going to the doctor and hearing my sweet Jellybean's heartbeat!

Symptoms: None. If I didn't know that I was pregnant I wouldn't know that I am because I haven't really had any symptoms.

Food cravings: Nothing really.

Gender: Not sure yet. But I am thinking a boy.

What I am looking forward to: My appointment in June, that is when we should find out if Jellybean is a boy or a girl!

From The Bump:

Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)

12 Weeks Appointment

My appointment went well yesterday.  I've lost two pounds since last month but my doctor said that was fine.  My blood pressure was a little high but yesterday was a stressful day at work...  I was able to listen to Jellybean's heart beat.  It was in the 160s. 

Jellybean is a mover my doctor said.  Everytime we would find the heartbeat her or she would move and we would have to find it again.  We finally got a good reading...

So everything is good...  I go back on May 6!  Please pray that my blood pressure is better then...

Thought for the day...

I was pregnant when this picture was taken, I just didn't know it yet...  I was looking through pictures tonight and saw this one...  I was completely oblivious to my little Jellybean on this trip!

12 Weeks

How far along: 12 weeks.


Maternity clothes: My pants are a little snug so I have been wearing more dresses lately...

Sleep: Sleep is going exceptionally well right now so I am enjoying it while it lasts!

Best moment last week: Spending time with family for Easter...

Symptoms: None. If I didn't know that I was pregnant I wouldn't know that I am because I haven't really had any symptoms.

Food cravings: Nothing really.

Gender: Not sure yet.

What I am looking forward to: My next appointment on Thursday!

From The Bump:

Baby's now the size of a plum!

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of her systems are fully formed.