Yesterday's Adventure

We went into town, Springsure about 40 minutes away, to take Macaulay to the Dr.  Before we left she went to the doctor and they took a throat swab and were supposed to inform her of the results by Friday.  They called back on Saturday (we were already on our way to Australia) to say that the streap throat test had come back positive.  Well this could mean that you have it or you don't, but we wanted to get Macaulay better as soon as possible so we took her into the doctor.  It was your typical small town doctor like you see on TV, office out of a house.  The doctor said that it did not look like she had strep throat and more viral.  While we were there he informed us of how to overdose on Tylenol (interesting information).  He said that Tylenol is the least harmful of all the asprin, advil, etc, except when tripling the dosage, then it destroys your liver.  We have NO idea why we were given this little lesson, but anyway part of the story. We then went to the Chemist (what they call the pharmacy) to fulfill the prescription.  We dropped it off and headed down the street to the little grocery store.  There was an Australian pub on the way so we duct in to see what it looked like.  It was a typical European pub.  At the time we didnt realize it, but Jan noticed that the chemist was in the pub.  We continued onto the grovery store.  This would be our version of a 711 type store, but this is the small town not the big town of Emerald where they do most of their grocery shopping. After the grocery store we walked back to the Chemist to pick up the prescription.  The Chemist was there and was attempting to run mom's credit card.  He said, like all the places do over here, "Debit, Credit, Savings, or Checking."  Mom said "Credit" and he pushed the debit button.  It was taking a while to run through so he went ahed and flipped the card over and noticed that mom had not signed her card.  He told her she needed to sign it and she said "I dont sign my cards," and she took out her drivers license and he looked at it for several minutes.  Then a piece of paper printed out of the machine and he told mom "your card didnt work," mom saw the piece of paper and it said "modum not connected."  So mom informed him that it was NOT her card, but his connection.  He mosied on to the back of the store and then came back and said "oh, the phone was off the hook."  Time for ROUND 2.  He again asked mom Debit, Credit, Savings, or Checking."  and mom answerd the same.  He pressed DEBIT and then asked my mom "savings or checking," she said "It is a CREDIT card."  Right about that time the machine printed another piece of paper that said "account number not found."  By this point mom had steam coming out of her ears and I was about ready to take the machine from the old man. Mom made the comment that she had just used it next door at the doctors office so he decided to try it one more time.  FINALLY he pressed "credit" and it went through.  He turned moms card over AGAIN and then asked "Whose Claudia" and mom said I am.  He said you need to sign your card and again she said I dont do that.  He was like well I cant verify your signature.  She took out her drivers license AGAIN and he stared at it and then mom pointed to the signature and he said "well I guess it looks kinda the same, but I thought you were claudia (slur, slur)."  At the time we did not realize that he had been at the pub, but once Jan made that comment we were like OH that explains it he was DRUNK.   Luckily the drugs Macaulay needed were pre-packaged otherwise she might have been getting more than she bargained for. 

13 Weeks

 

Fetal development in pregnancy week 13:fetus in third month This is your final week in the first trimester and your little weed continues to grow and grow and grow. Of the three trimesters, this one has been the most important for your little one’s development. Assuming you’ve carefully adopted a healthy diet, continue to exercise and get ample rest, your little one is set up perfectly for even more growth and development in tri-two! Way to go! He or she now weighs about 2.5 ounces and is roughly 3.5 inches in length. Little hairs, known as lanugo, will start to cover their body this week, as their sense of taste and smell are further refined. Their cozy little amniotic sac is also increasing in size and mass as it continues to fill with more fluid.

And how's mom doing? Congratulations on a successful first trimester! A lot has happened (and there’s a lot more to come). You should be proud of your hard work and sacrifice. Giving up lattes, soda, and wine is not easy. Even if you snuck in a few of these goodies over the past 13 weeks, don’t dwell on it—there’s a lot The good news is some fashion designers are realizing that being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t look sharp, sexy, sporty, or whatever your particular style might be to look forward to! Besides, now is the perfect time to rededicate yourself if you have had a few lapses. Remember, every day and decision is an opportunity to improve your eating and exercise habits—your baby and your body will thank you in the long run.

If you’re the planning type, you can celebrate the beginning of your next trimester by purchasing some choice maternity clothing to fit your elegantly evolving new shape. The good news is some fashion designers are realizing that being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t look sharp, sexy, sporty, or whatever your particular style might be. Cruise the online stores for a preview of the range of fashion out there for pregnant women—even if the local shops are still stuck in the nineties, you can always hit up some chi-chi online store based out of NYC! If you’d rather wait a few more weeks (until you really start to show) before making any purchases, then get ready to dig out your sweat pants, over-sized t-shirts, and any other comfy loose fitting clothes you’ve got at your disposal. At the very least, just unbutton that top button on those pants that still “almost fit”. Come on, you’re pregnant! This is definitely not the time to suffer for fashion.

Surprise

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 WOW....I sure was surprised this afternoon.  My boss send me the following e-mail:

Monica,
I want to get a notion about cameras and audio recorders. Since you are going to be gone for some time, let's go to Best Buy about 11:20 so you can educate me. I will have you back here by noon so I won't cut in to your lunch.

Since Jason and I spent an hour and a half at Best Buy yesterday picking out a camera for ourselves, I figured I would just give her the research.  I still had the price comparison sheets in my purse!  [O.K. so I decided what was the harm in getting the video camera a few months before the baby arrives so I could take it to Australia AND learn how to use it of course! ]

I showed her all of this and explained it and she still wanted to go to Best Buy so I figured she just wanted to get out of the office and chat.  So we go to Best Buy look at the Camera's (that takes about 15 minutes) and then she wants to look at the digital voice records and then palm pilots, etc.  I was getting a little suspicious at this point, but a surprise didn’t really cross my mind, just that this was kinda strange.  

On the way back from best buy Jason called and asked if I wanted to go to lunch so I said sure, I will be there in about 7 minutes.  When I got to the office he was upstairs so I figured I would go upstairs and go to the bathroom and then we would head out.  I look in my office and NO Jason and then Kathy said "I think he's in here," I walk into the kitchen and SUPRISE there are the faculty members hosting a surprise congratulations party for me!  What was great was the that pregnant information had not filtered through the office like I thought it would and I had been talking to Jessica about how I was going to reveal the news and this took care of that.  

Jessica sent the following e-mail on Tuesday:

We will have a surprise send-off for Monica on Friday at 12:00 in the kitchen!  Shhh!  If you have class then, we will save some cake for you!

 

She is leaving for a much-deserved vacation in Australia. It’s hard to imagine two weeks without her, so let’s send her off with good memories and a sweet taste in her mouth.  ;)

What was so great about this is the faculty thought it was a send off party so they got a surprise Monica is pregnant as well.  As soon as I get a picture of the cake I will put it up because it was too cute.

Today has been a GREAT day!

First Major sign on pregnancy - not for the weak stomach

I had a business council meeting this morning and they always have kolache's so I figured I would wait to eat till the meeting at 8:30......BIG mistake. I usually eat right when I get up.  Around 7:40 I started to feel bad (not nauseous just ready to eat) so I headed to the cabinet where there was a box of Oats and Honey bars.  I cant get my hand in the box so I rip the side and then NOTHING, empty box..THANK YOU Jason for leaving an empty box in the pantry.  So my next move was towards the fridge for a yogurt.  I got the yogurt out and then gaggged..next thing I know I am throwing up in the sink, not much cause my stomach was empty.  I yell "Jason, I need you," he jumps out of the bed like the good husband he is and is immediately at my side.  Once I ate the yogurt I was fine.  I sure hope that this was just a crazy fluke and a lesson to eat right away when hungry and NOT a sign of morning sickness kicking in especially since I am supposed to be past that stage!  Here's hoping!  

SUCCESS 26.2 and still Standing!

 For those of you that are wondering, YES I am alive and I successfully completed the Marathon!  I was worried the day of the marathon because lets face it 26.2 miles is a VERY long way, but I made it and I even felt good afterwards.  Now I have to pack and get ready for my fabulous 3 week vacation in Australia. 

Week 12

Fetal development in pregnancy week 12:fetus in third month Even though your little Einstein’s body is still growing quite rapidly 2 inches long right now, the overall super-speedy growth of their amazing brain continues to leave the head proportionately larger than the body— and is actually slightly more than one third of their total body mass! The head and neck are still straightening at this point as can be seen by their little chin lifting off of the chest. Your baby is also actively rehearsing “breathing” by using amniotic fluid to prepare the lungs for future air respiration.

The big news: your little pooper is now officially going to need diapers! Although a majority of the waste produced is transferred to the mother’s system for discharge (to avoid having it linger in the amniotic sac), some urine is released to the amniotic fluid and your baby will actually breathe it in before it passing it on to your for discharge. Not to worry, urine--in this particular form, is completely harmless to your baby.

Today is Friday which is usually a great thing cause that means the weekend is right around the corner.  Since this weekend marks the day of the Marathon I am getting nervous that it is already Friday and there are only 2 days between me and a 26.2 mile run.  I have slowed down significantly as the hormones that loosen your tendons have certainly kicked in.  I may be running it slow, but Jason claims I can divide my time in half since I am running for two and how many 12 weeks (in the womb) babies can claim they ran a marathon???   Look back on Monday as I am sure I will give a rundown of the marathon. 

12 Week Appointment

Fetal development in pregnancy week 12:fetus in third month Even though your little Einstein’s body is still growing quite rapidly 2 inches long right now, the overall super-speedy growth of their amazing brain continues to leave the head proportionately larger than the body— and is actually slightly more than one third of their total body mass! The head and neck are still straightening at this point as can be seen by their little chin lifting off of the chest. Your baby is also actively rehearsing “breathing” by using amniotic fluid to prepare the lungs for future air respiration.

The big news: your little pooper is now officially going to need diapers! Although a majority of the waste produced is transferred to the mother’s system for discharge (to avoid having it linger in the amniotic sac), some urine is released to the amniotic fluid and your baby will actually breathe it in before it passing it on to your for discharge. Not to worry, urine--in this particular form, is completely harmless to your baby.

Today is Friday which is usually a great thing cause that means the weekend is right around the corner.  Since this weekend marks the day of the Marathon I am getting nervous that it is already Friday and there are only 2 days between me and a 26.2 mile run.  I have slowed down significantly as the hormones that loosen your tendons have certainly kicked in.  I may be running it slow, but Jason claims I can divide my time in half since I am running for two and how many 12 weeks (in the womb) babies can claim they ran a marathon???   Look back on Monday as I am sure I will give a rundown of the marathon. 

Cloth Diapers

p>I know what you are all thinking...a burp rag and a safety pin, well think again because cloth diapers have been revolutionized!  


They look like diapers, they are so soft and SO cute!  Not to mention that they are significantly cheaper and better for the enviornment than disposable diapers.  When you first look at them you are thinking $15.95 for 1 diaper, that is crazy.  But when you think about the fact that you will need 24 diaper TOTAL from newborn to potty training and these will work for ALL your kids you quickly see that $382.80 is a tiny cost compared to the $50.00 a month you would spend on disposable diapers. 

Week 11

Fetal development in pregnancy week 11:fetus in third month Maybe you’ve noticed… your baby is a super-duper grower! Your lil' fetus will be gaining a substantial amount of weight this week and has already achieved fruit-size-status comparable to a plum. What's more, your little scientist is already starting to explore their body, focusing most intently on touching their head, and especially their face and mouth. Their mouth in particular will provide them with hours of entertainment. This happens not only because your baby is gaining coordination, and is therefore able to move a hand on command, but also because their palms have gained sensation and can actually “feel” what it touches.They're also developing their swallow reflex this week. And lastly, your baby's smelling and other olfactory senses will begin developing this week, which when combined with the maturing taste buds, will provide your baby with their first experiences of taste and smell.

Hum, it says that the baby will gain a substantial amount of weight this week, I wonder if that will be the same for me?  I am amazed that the baby inside me can already move their limbs around and exlore their face.  Our next sonogram isnt until 18 weeks so we will have to wait another 7 weeks to see the baby in action!  

My  cold is finally showing signs on leaving.  I was able to sleep from 9-5 last night and this morning my throat feels great and now it just all in my noise.  I hope it is almost out the window tomorrow for PreCana. 

Still SICK

Today marks day 6 of this nasty cold.  I was supposed to have another 6 months before the sleepless nights kicked in, but the last 6 days night have given me a taste.  I am lucky if I can sleep for 4 hours in a row.  Since all medication is out I have resorted to the old remedies (gargling with salt water, salt up the noise).  The most entertaining has been learning to use the Nasal teapot and Nasaline.  .  The instructions show a girl in front of the mirror smiling while "flushing out her noise."  Clearly this chick is not really in the act of flushing out her noise because there is nothing to smile about.  It is the same feeling you get when you get water up your nose in the swimming pool.  Not to mention that it is incredibly difficult to tilt your face just right so that the water goes in one nostril and out the other.  It is NOT difficult to get the water to go in one nostril and down your throat (YUCK).  Needless to say it did clear my nose up for a decent amount of time and it was helpful enough that I got up at midnight and used it again.  Thank you Grammy (Becky) for the Nasal Cleaning Pot.  



Apparently Jason has no problem using the nasal cleansing pot.....see below!

Sick

 I have been sick all weekend with a cold.  During the day its not bad, but at night as soon as I lay down I start hacking so I can't sleep so then I am tired and cranky during the day.  I called the nurse on call and she said that the only think approved to take is Tylenol so I guess I just suck it up and hope it runs its course quickly. 

10 Weeks

 

Fetal development in pregnancy week 10:fetus in third month Your astonishingly tiny baby has been hard at work growing as fast as possible—almost doubling in size in the past three weeks! Amazingly, you’re in for a repeat size doubling performance within the next three weeks! Your tiny champion still weighs less than a quarter of an ounce but has already completed the most critical stage of their development. Using Doppler technology, your doctor or gynecologist can let you hear their tiny rapid fetal heartbeats this week (145-165 beats per minute!). Chances for miscarriage are greatly reduced when the heartbeat can be detected, so take a sigh of relief if you’ve been needing one—it hasn’t been an easy ten weeks! What’s more, they’re getting ready to make their first baby poop! Your little one’s major organ systems are developing, including a functioning digestive tract capable of moving food all the way through their bowels. The final shiny gold star on their fetal behavior chart for the week: your little scrapper has already developed defense mechanisms to protect them on reflex!

And how's mom doing? More good news for mom: the placenta has grown substantially in size and function and is now beginning to manage some of your child’s hormones, finally taking some of the hormonal burden off of you! Since the placenta has gradually taken over the hormone production for your baby, start to notice that much-awaited decrease in morning sickness symptoms.......HAVENT HAD THEM YET......  I am still exhausted.  Been going to bed at 9pm and waking up at 7am and I am thinking I might beed to up my bed time again.  

We still have a good week before our next appointment (Feb. 11), but hopefully we will get to hear the babies heart beat and take the sigh of relief that the above paragraph talks about.