3 Hours Later

Devin and I arrived a few minutes before 3:00 for our 3:15 appointment.  We didn't get called for the ultrasound until 3:45.  It was a long ultrasound, lasting until 4:15.  She took pictures of everything.  We were sent back to the waiting room to wait to talk to the doctor.  We waited there until 4:45 when we were sent to wait in another room until the doctor was ready to see us.  The doc finally called us in his office at 5:30.  All the nurses had gone home and we were told to exit out the back door when we were done with the doc because the office was all locked up.  We talked with the doc until about 6:00.  It was way too much waiting, but a relief to talk to the doctor.  Good thing Devin was there to keep me entertained with the giant box of tissues in the office.  He would actually love to have a box of tissues like this with his allergies!

After finding out a little bit about our background, the doctor started out with the scary stuff:  there is still a chance of miscarriage, the blood appears to be bigger than it was at my last ultrasound on Thursday, which means something still might be bleeding (but he didn't say how much bigger and he didn't seem too concerned about that).  Then, as I was getting really worried and about to lose it again, he said, "But the prognosis is good."  That didn't really make sense to me since all he had said so far was bad news.  He explained that since I was so active and healthy before getting pregnant, he has faith that my body can take care of this on its own.  He thinks the blood will either be absorbed or passed through and go away.  He said I just have to be careful and not do anything that could make it worse.  I was feeling so grateful that I kept my body healthy before so it could properly take care of the baby now.  He said it wouldn't go away quickly, it would probably take weeks.  So, he wants to do another ultrasound in two weeks to check the progress.  

As far as my activities, he said I didn't have to be chained to the bed.  But, I shouldn't lift my kids or do anything that might strain my core muscles.  He said I was okay to swim and walk but when I asked him if I could do laps and walk on the treadmill, he said, "No, let's take it slow and get it healed before you worry about exercise."  So, I can't really go swimming or do much walking.  But, at least I can be up to cook easy meals for he kids and clean the toilets.

I am really grateful for doctors who can help when something is wrong.  And I will be very careful because I don't want anything to happen to my little baby boy/girl...

We know what it is!  What's your guess?

BOY or GIRL???

PS  Thanks for all the sweet comments on the last post.  It's comforting to know I have friends who are willing to help me and my family:)

Don't Quit

Don’t you quit... You keep trying.  There is help and happiness ahead.  Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven.  But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.  It will be all right in the end.  Trust God and believe in good things to come.  

--Jeffery R. Holland

I love this.


And I needed the reminder.   I've been a little worried since Thursday.  Here's why:


I started out excited as Devin and I went in for an ultrasound hoping to find out if we were having a little brother or sister join our family.  The ultrasound tech said it was too early to tell the gender, but she kept asking questions about if I had any spotting.  I told her that I had, but it was a while ago towards the beginning of the month.  Then she seemed to be taking random pictures of my uterus, not the baby.  She didn't have any signs of concern in her voice, so I didn't get worried.  She showed us back to the waiting room and said the doc would call me back in a few minutes to go over the ultrasound.


They called me back and I waited for like 20 minutes in the little room wondering why it was taking so long.  When the doctor came in, she told me they found something strange in the ultrasound.  She said the baby is healthy and growing fine, but there is a "bleed" in my uterus and it was pretty big.  They didn't know why it was there because the placenta and uterus looked fine.  She even called another doctor and asked what they thought about it.  The ultrasound tech wanted to call it some kind of hernia, but typically, the blood would be behind the baby, where with me, it was in front of the baby.  She wanted to send a STAT referral to a perinatologist for a special ultrasound.  And until the perinatologist figured out what the problem was, I needed to be on strict bed rest.  That's when I lost it.  Bed rest?!  Are you kidding?  I have two kids, how can I be on bed rest?  I can't lift my kids or laundry, I can't vacuum or cook.  I thought only really sick pregnant women whose babies where in danger got put on bed rest.  Plus, lately I feel sick in the mornings and as long as I go walking at the Y, my nausea goes away.  But, if I skip the gym, I feel sick all day long.  Exercising helps me and I do not like feeling sick all day long!


When I had bled at the beginning of the month I am almost positive it was from lifting weights at the YMCA.  It was the only day I did weights and it was the only day I bled.  It makes sense.  So, my motherly instinct says that things will be all right as long as I don't do anymore weight lifting, but I bed rest isn't necessary.  But, I am still panicking at the thought of something I did may have endangered my baby.


So, I saw my doctor on Thursday afternoon and she said she would send the referral over first thing in the morning because their office had already closed for that day.  On Friday morning I was able to set an appointment for Monday.  It was a bummer to wait over the weekend, but relieved that the appointment was as soon as Monday.  (Patience it not one of my best qualities.)


On Monday morning I got a call from the perinatologist's office saying they weren't contracted with my insurance so I would be responsible for the $680 ultrasound plus the price of the doctor consultation, which could range from $181-$1,000, depending on how long we met with him.  (Seriously???  That is just so ridiculously overpriced!!!)  I called my doctor and asked them to send the referral to an office that accepted my insurance.  After waiting a full day for them to do that I was able to get appointment for Tuesday afternoon.  Then, this morning (Tuesday), I got a call saying my insurance has an "inactive" status.  Are you kidding?!  I went through this yesterday!  I just want to know what is going on with my baby and all of this insurance garbage is going to make me have a stress meltdown!!!


I called my insurance and Donna told me she was working on my case today but wasn't sure yet if I was approved because she didn't quite understand Devin's income situation.  Here it is:  He's a teacher, but he is not working because school is out for the summer.  But, he has another job at a place called Mathnasium where he works part time.  I don't know why that was confusing, but it was creating issues with proving correct income.  So, more waiting and stress while Donna called the school district to see what was going on with Devin's income.  She figured it out and just called to say I am approved!!!  What a relief!!!


And, Devin has been a champ with everything.  He has helped so much with the house and kids and gets upset if I try to do anything besides rest.  He's the best!


I know I am a dramatized pregnant lady, but this has been so stressful!  Now, a little stress is relieved because the insurance issues are straightened out, but now what about my baby???....  I just pray they can figure it out today and be confident that bed rest isn't necessary as long as I don't lift weights!

Sports Withdrawals

I think Devin is having sports withdrawals since the playoffs are over and football hasn't started yet.  Yesterday morning at 8 am he turned on the tv to watch the World Cup.  Seriously?  (Haha!  It made me think of an alcoholic who starts drinking before lunch.)  He never watches soccer!  Not one single time in five and a half years of marriage has he ever watched soccer!  I asked why he was watching it and he said because the US was playing and if they lost they were out.  That didn't really change it for me.  I still thought, "Who cares?"

Father's Day 2010

Father's Day was a really fun day.  After church we went over to my parents where my grandpa and all of my dad's siblings got together.  All the dads were blindfolded and given 6 different brands of vanilla ice cream to rate and pick their favorite.  The dads had fun eating and the girls had fun watching and listening to their comments.  Blue Bunny & Private Selection tied for the most liked brands.  But, of course, Devin picked Bluebell right away.  He wouldn't even finish his spoonful of Kroger brand.  He gave me back the spoon without finishing his little taste.

Getting blindfolds on...Uncle Jonny, Devin, Uncle Derek, Aunt Brenda

Danny, Grandpa, Uncle Justen

My Dad

Tasting and commenting (The spouses took notes for each brand so the dads could remember what they liked about each one.)

Dad tasting and Alisa taking Danny's notes

Removing the blindfolds to see the ice creams

There were some surprises in favorites

The best part of the day was when Devin was playing around prodding Jaxon to say, "Happy Fathers Day."  This is how it went down...

D: "Jaxon what day is today?"

J: "Sunday."

D: "Yes, it is Sunday, but it's another special day too.  Do you know what it is?"

J: "It's Fathers Day!"

D: "Yeah, Fathers Day.  So...what should you tell Daddy?"

J: "I don't know..."

D: "How about 'Happy...'"

J: "Happy.........OLD MAN'S DAY!!!"

We laughed and laughed that he came up with that all on his own!

The pumpkins... They are from my parents garden.  My dad just tossed their rotting Halloween pumpkins in the garden to mulch and when they planted the rest of the garden and started watering it, pumpkin plants grew!  Those on the counter are the first 2 big ones!

Bad Choice

"I'm going to go potty and not have an accident.  That is a good choice.  Lamen and Lemuel make bad choices so that means they pee in their shorts."

Good observation, Jax.


On our way home from church he told me, "Mommy, you made a bad choice by putting pants on me today.  It's hot."  Then I explained that boys always wear pants to church, even when it's hot.  "Okay." he said.

15 Pound Legs & Shaving

Devin and I watched the premier of Last Comic Standing.  Kirk Fox made me laugh the most.  Check out this clip.  You'll laugh for sure.  I love comedy that is so true.  Putting my leg over Devin is the most comfy position for me to fall asleep in, so he could totally relate.  Hopefully, my unshaven legs aren't that harmful...

Here's Jaxon shaving with his little razor at Granny's house.  He said, "Only Daddy has a sharp razor.  When I grow up to in a daddy, I will have a sharp razor."

"Garlic" Bread

So the other night I really wanted my most favorite salad in the whole world.  The delicious Italian Antipasto Salad from RigaTony's.  But, we weren't able to go out that night, so Devin made me a delicious salad at home.  To go with the salad I wanted garlic bread.  We don't buy the frozen loaf, we just butter some slices of bread and sprinkle garlic salt and put it under the broiler for a few minutes.

Well, when I tasted it, something about the flavor just didn't seem quite right.  Since I'm pregnant,  my taste buds aren't really trustworthy because sometimes they taste strange flavors that have nothing to do with the food I'm eating.  I asked Devin, "What did you put on this?"  His response was, "Butter and garlic salt.  Why?  Do they taste bad?  They should just taste like regular garlic toast."  I told him I didn't know why, but they just didn't taste right and that it was probably just my taste buds.  He figured I was just crazy and we went on with dinner.

We went on with dinner and he got up to get something from the spice cupboard.  As he was rearranging the spices to look for what he needed, he saw that the onion powder was at the front.  Hm...He realized he had put the onion powder on the "garlic" toast by mistake.  Ha!  I am not a totally crazy pregnant lady!!!  He pulled it out and showed me with a guilty little smile on his face.  Lucky for him, he was so cute so I forgave him for making "garlic" toast with ONION powder and then calling me crazy for thinking it tasted funny.

Alcohol Budget

I love me some Bachelor/Bachelorette.  I try not to get sucked in, but I like watching it!  But, I really wonder what the budget for alcohol on the show is.  They are ALWAYS drinking!!!  I wouldn't want to be drunk when there are cameras all over the place and can put anything on national television they catch on film...

Tongues & Toys

As we were leaving church yesterday, the primary music director stopped Devin and me and told us that Jaxon was starting to sing.  I was surprised because he always sings the primary songs at home, but I guess he didn't sing them at church...  Anyway, she was excited he was singing and said he was so cute.  Then she went on to tell us that during one of the songs she was looking at Jaxon and saw this:  He held his Book of Mormon in front of his face, stuck his tongue out, and licked it with one swipe from the bottom to the top!  It was so funny!  Where would he get the idea to lick his Book of Mormon?  She said everyone got a good laugh and that he was so cute!

I got the Toy Story 3 book to read to the boys.  In the beginning, it talks about how Andy is grown up and doesn't have time to play with his toys any more.  I read it to Jaxon for the first time tonight and when I read that part he looked at me with sad eyes and a quivering lip and said, "When I grow up to in a man, I still want to play with my toys."  It was so cute.  I told him that he could and it was okay.  He believed me and wanted me to read the rest of the story.  I love my sweet Jaxon!

Menu

After church today, in our kitchen the following were prepared by my most handsome husband:

--fettuccine noodles with alfredo sauce
--salad with special dressing
--red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting

Every food item listed was totally homemade from scratch.  He even washed every single dish.  He spoils me:)

Sundays have become my favorite day of the week.  When I was in high school, I liked Fridays and Saturdays because I would go out with friends and do things like see movies and go shopping.  Then when I was first married I still favored those days because I wouldn't have work or school.  Now, I love Sundays for a few reasons:

--I get to go to church.  I love going to church.  I always feel welcome  and enjoy seeing the people I call my ward family.  Plus, and my testimony of my Savior is strengthened every week.
--Neither Devin and I have to work.  Devin and I both work 2 jobs (mine are from home, but still stressful and time consuming) and Devin is taking classes for his masters (hallelujah) so we are both extremely busy.
--Since we follow the commandment, "Keep the Sabbath Day Holy" we don't do any shopping or go out anywhere where people are working.
--We just spend the day together.  If it's just our family or we see extended family, we always have a great time.  We love being together and Sunday is the perfect day for family activities.

I'll Race Ya

For Father's Day my mom came up with a fabulous idea to treat my dad, Devin, and my brother to a race at an indoor race track.  

Picking out helmets

Getting in the carts

After the race

Joshua, Mom, Dad, Devin with the goofy "sanitary skull caps"

After racing, we went to the Phoenician Cafe in Tempe

Action shots of my dad

and Devin

I didn't race because of the baby, but it was really fun to watch.  

Elisha was kind enough to watch Jaxon and Henry so we could go on our adventure.  The boys had a great time.  When Jaxon was saying his prayers before bed he said, "Thanks that Elisha could come."  It was so sweet.

Play Dough Caterpillar

Jaxon made this caterpillar all by himself yesterday.  He made all the little pieces and put it together without any help.  I was pretty impressed!

I've Never...

I've never eaten ice cream out of the carton at 11:30 am while sitting in front of the tv... Except, now I have.

I did that yesterday.

I don't know why, but I was starving and nothing sounded good.  Jaxon was at a friend's house and Henry was sleeping, so I could have done anything I wanted.  I chose to eat ice cream and watch tv.  I had some guilty feelings, but after I pushed them aside, I thoroughly enjoyed my ice cream!

Ward Camp Out minus the camping

This weekend was our ward camp out.  The camp site was 10 minutes away from our family cabin so we were really excited about being able to spend time with friends, but then going to sleep in a bed instead of in a tent.  

The boys got some suckers and ring pops to keep them busy while I packed.  This is what I got when I asked Henry to say cheese...

Jaxon and his ring pop.

The yummy veggies for our tin foil dinners.

Henry playing in the dirt at the camp site.

Saturday morning, Devin and Jaxon got up early (like 4:30) and went fishing.  They caught one fish.  It was with Jaxon's Spiderman fishing pole:)

Preparing the fish to grill it.

Jaxon wanted to cut the fish by himself.  Of course, Daddy helped.

Here is Jaxon's "Hiccup knife."

Henry eating Cheerios with a fork while they worked on the fish.

After cleaning up from the fishing adventure, we headed over to see the ward again.  It was so fun to spend time visiting with them.  All the kids were filthy because the campsite was SO dusty!  Henry is a little Indian warrior!

On our way home, we stopped at Nana & Papa's.  Henry was being so adorable I had to get a few pictures.

Henry is Daddy's little buddy.  He cries every morning when Devin goes to work and loves being at his side every moment he's home.

The weekend was so great.  We just spent time together without the tv, computer, or any other distractions.  Everything we did, we did together and it was so much fun.  The kids got along and behaved, which made the time even better.  I love my little family and we are so blessed to have another sweet little spirit coming to join us soon!

Plans

We are gonna to have a fun weekend!  There will be fresh air involved, possibly some fishing poles, and definitely lots of relaxing!  Update to come...

Swimming

I haven't really worked out much this pregnancy.  I've walked quite a bit, but now it's too hot, even early in the morning, so I renewed our membership at the YMCA so I can exercise indoors.  Well, I decided to try swimming again.  I haven't really swam since the triathlon in October so I thought it would be really hard.  But, it wasn't even hard at all!  I thought I would have to stop to catch my breath after every lap, or more, but I made it through quite a few before I needed to stop.  It felt so good!  I'm not really good at it, but I sure do love it!  I'm really glad a pushed myself to try something new because I never would have known how much I love it unless I tried it!

Left-Brained or Right-Brained

This little quiz was in my Real Simple magazine and I thought it was interesting to see the results from a married couple, so I had Devin do it too...

1. When I'm finished using an item, I put it away immediately. --R
If only Devin did this too...

2. I love being surrounded by vibrant colors.

3. Whether I'm looking at a work of art or a room, I tend to prefer symmetrical design. --R, D

4. I like to move around my furniture a few times a year rather than stick with the same arrangement.

5. I'm the go-to party planner for friends and family.

6. Keeping current projects where I can see them is a must.
No!  Put your stuff away!

7. I love having a designated spot for each item in my closet or drawers. --R
Yep, when something seems to be lost, I don't even know where to look because if it's not in the "designated spot" I can't think of anywhere else it might be!

8. On my computer, I often have multiple windows open at once. --D
Nope, close it if I'm not using it.

9. I have a specific morning routine that I always follow to a T. --D
I would have picked this one too, but there are always surprises with the kiddos in the morning that keep me from having a strict routine.  But, we do have a schedule, it just has to be flexible.

10. When making major purchases, I usually follow my instincts rather then do research.
We both do lots of research before making big purchases.

11. I often wear the same jewelry everyday. --R, D
Wedding rings, small stud earrings unless it's date night, then I'll put on some fancy stuff.

12. If I have to explain directions to someone, I'll draw them a map instead of telling them verbally. --D
I can't stand a map!  I want sentences with directions and street names!

13. When I find a great dish at a restaurant, I order it every time I go there. --D
I like to try new things.

14. I often drive with the Empty light flashing.
Way too scary!

15. I always bring a shopping list to the grocery store. --R, D
We have to or else we forget stuff!

16. I have a lot of knickknacks around the house.
We both don't like clutter.

17. My books and CDs are in order, so I can always find what I'm looking for. --R

18. My desk is filled with piles of papers, sticky notes, and business cards. --D
Oh his desk at work drives me crazy!  I wouldn't be able to get anything done there!

19. I feel guilty if I don't follow the rules while playing board games. --R
I totally can't ever cheat because I feel bad!

20. I'm fine with other people making last-minute changes to plans.
Usually, it's not a big deal, but with kids, it's hard to make different arrangements at the last minute if we need to.

Ruthann:  1, 3, 7, 11, 15, 17, 19 -- 7 left, 0 right
Devin: 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18 -- 5 left, 3 right

Left brained:  "Think in words (list makers), do a lot of advance planning, and approach challenges in a rational, linear way.

Right brained: "Visually oriented.  They tend to think in images rather than words, focus on the big picture rather than the details, and go through life in a somewhat seat-of-the-pants (a.k.a. scattered) way.

--Real Simple, June 2010, page 198

It's interesting to me because he and I picked a lot of the same ones, but I think he seems way more right brained than me.  He is pretty good at picking up after himself.  It might not be the thing he would naturally do, but he knows I like him to do it, so he does.  What a great man!