Fun at the E.R.

For the past few weeks I have had mild cramping, nothing major but enough to concern me.  I though as long as I am still vomiting and not bleeding everything is ok.  I also told myself that if it gets to the point it really hurts I would call the doctor.  Well, last night I was making dinner and I had to stop.  I crawled into a ball on the floor and just cried for a little while.  I was in a great deal of pain.  I asked one of my friends what she thought I should do and she said to go to the hospital.  Still no bleeding so I was not sure if I should or not.   I called the on call doctor and got her opinion, she said to go to the ER and have an ultrasound done just in case.  I felt that the worst thing that would happen is they will send me home with nothing wrong, but I would at least have a relaxed mind knowing the baby is ok.

I get to the E.R. check in, see a triage nurse who takes my vitals and enters my info into the computer.  I sit back down and wait.  A while later I was called by another nurse who collected a urine and blood sample.  She put me in a room told me to put a hospital gown on that the doctor would be in soon.  I sat and waited for an hour.  A male nurse comes in and pulls out some vials and needles.  He verified my name and then said he was going to take some blood and then give me an I.V. with fluids as well as some medicine for the pain.  That is when I stopped him.  I told him they already collected blood, and that I did not want any meds or I.V. until I knew my baby was ok.  At which point he said 'Oh you are pregnant?'  and then left the room.  There is NO WAY he looked at my chart.  He would have known I was pregnant.  Some time later a lady came in, told me to lay on the bed and she would take me for an ultrasound.  By this time I was balling my eyes out.  I was in a great deal of pain and wanted to know that my baby was ok.

The ultrasound tech comes in and gets everything set up for the ultrasound.  I was so anxious to see the screen.  I did not know whether to look or close my eyes.  Finally she turns the volume up and I hear that beautiful sound of a heart beat.  A huge weight was lifted.  She showed me a couple different angles to verify everything was ok with the baby.  She then showed me a side view and held it there for probably three minutes.  I just stared at my precious baby.  His heart beating perfectly and his little body shaking with hiccups.     After I was reassured the baby and placenta were both ok she started looking at other things to see what could be causing the pain.  She snapped what seemed like a hundred pictures.  She got quiet and didn't really look at me.  I knew she saw something.  Something was wrong and she said she was not allowed to tell me what.  She said the doctor would have to review the scans and talk to me about it.  The other lady takes me back to the ER room where I sit and wait for the doctor.  I was as scared as could be.  While I saw the baby was ok, I did not know if the problem that the tech saw, could cause a problem with my pregnancy.

A while later (seemed like forever) the doctor finally came in and explained what the tech saw.  He said it needed taken care of right away and that it was good I came in.  Because of the procedure that had to be done I am at a high risk for miscarriage.  I was put on strict bedrest, no lifting or exerting more than 10lbs.  until my next doctor appointment, which is February 5th.  I think that is going to be really hard to do, and I am going to try my best.

 Up until this point I have hated that we got a t.v. for Christmas.  That is all Owen talks about and he wants to constantly watch Cars 2.  However, I think for the next few weeks The t.v. is going to be a blessing.  It is in the playroom so Owen does not sit in front of it in a daze, he plays with his toys and the t.v. is more of a background noise.  It keeps him happy to have it on though and it is going to help me get the rest I need in the upcoming weeks.   Here is to hoping that everything works out, I heal properly, and baby stays healthy.

New diapers!!!

 I recently was given a bunch of Sunbaby cloth diapers, however they are all pink and purple.  I passed some of them on to one of my friends that has a little girl.  The rest I am holding onto until I find out the gender of baby #2.  I wanted to test them out however so I put one on Owen over night.  I must say, I am in love!  He does not leak with them! 

In addition to the Sunbaby (which I might not be keeping.)  I recently ordered some Kawaii Baby cloth diapers from http://www.sweetbottomsbaby.com/.  I was recommended these from Kristen at http://trialanderrorhomemaking.com/   I was a little surprised at how big they are (I will add pictures later)  I cannot wait to try them out.  One of the main reasons that drew me to these diapers is the lining of PUL around the stomach area.  Owen tends to leak out the stomach at night (which is why I like the SunBaby) So I am hoping these Kawaii will work just as well!  

I will post an update after they are washed.  :)  Become a follower so you don't miss a post!  

Philly Cheese steak stuffed peppers

I got the idea off Pinterest from http://peaceloveandlowcarb.blogspot.com/2012/06/philly-cheesesteak-stuffed-peppers.html#.UPIH5G9hRty  I didn't want to make this blog about recipes because I usually do not have many.  However I will share the occasional good recipe.  

Unlike the blog post at peaceloveandlowcarb, I used shaved steak instead of the roast beef.   Here is how I made it:

1 cup Onions
1/4 cup Mushrooms (approx two mushrooms)
1lb Shaved steak
Salt
Pepper
2 large Green bell peppers
2 cups Mozzarella Cheese

Cut peppers in half and clean.  Boil peppers until soft but not to the point they are falling apart, this serves as your bowl.  Meanwhile slice onions and mushrooms.  I used about a cup of onions and 1/4 cup of mushrooms.  Saute.  Brown the shaved steak, add salt and pepper to taste.  Combine meat and onions and mushrooms.   Place the softened bell peppers on a foil lined cookie sheet (makes for easy clean up)  sprinkle mozzarella cheese in the bottom of the pepper.  Add meat mixture on top of that.  Cover with mozzarella cheese.   Place in over and broil until cheese is melted.    Serve hot, refrigerate left overs.

Serves 4.

**Notes:   All measurements are to taste.  I like a lot of onions and cheese but not many mushrooms.
Both DH and I loved this, however there are a couple changes I will make for next time.  Next time I am going to try boiling the peppers in au jus sauce to add more flavor, as well as add some to the meat mixture.   Any remaining would be great to pour over the pepper on your plate.

Washing cloth diapers

It is equally as important to know your washer as it is to have a good wash routine.  There are many different types of washing machines, you have your old school top loading with agitator, High efficiency top loading with no agitator, and front loading.  Each washer no matter the style has different wash options.  I personally have a h/e top loader with no agitator.  My wash routine before I would just dump all the pre-rinsed diapers into the wash, pour the detergent over top of them and then set it to a 'normal' wash cycle.  However, I pulled out my owners manual and read it.  I STRONGLY recommend reading your manual!  I learned that I am not supposed to add the detergent into the wash and I am instead supposed to put it in the detergent dispenser (which I do with liquid detergent but did not know I could do it with powder)  Apparently the wash cycle first wets/rinses first then distributes the detergent.  So before essentially all the detergent was getting washed off because it was added too early.  After reading my manual I have decided to wash the cloth diapers on the 'whitest whites' setting.  It adds an extra rinse and a soak.  Which with cloth diapers is good to have, means it will wash more of the remaining soap off at the end.   This will come in handy when I have newborn dirty diapers.

What to Expect when you are Expecting

This is a list of my 'What to Expects when you are Expecting'.   As new things develop in my pregnancy I will continue to add to the list.

1. Do not expect this pregnancy to be anything like the previous pregnancies!  (although the vomiting has been a constant for me)  
2. Your food likes and dislikes will be different with each pregnancy.

Food Differences Between Pregnancies

It is amazing how different things are with each pregnancy.  When I was pregnant with Owen there were certain foods I HATED and would make me sick just looking at it or smelling it.  Things I hated while pregnant with Owen, I am suddenly craving with this pregnancy.

Also, I was ADDICTED to Pepsi before I became pregnant with Owen.  I was drinking almost a two liter in one day.   My body was so used to the constant flow of caffeine and the affects it had on my body, that when I stopped drinking it my body went into shock and caused me to pass out.  My doctor recommended I cut a little out but not to stop drinking it completely.    When we were ttc I stopped drinking Pepsi.  I switched to Root Beer so that I still had the dark soda and carbonation without the caffeine.  Since becoming pregnant all I am able to drink is water and juice (particularly orange or pineapple).  

When I was pregnant with Owen all I craved were powdered donuts with chocolate filling, which I never once did eat.  This pregnancy, I crave tuna, sauerkraut, and mac and cheese.  Not all together of course.  (although I have combined tuna and mac and cheese)

We will see how my food needs change throughout the trimesters.

Is it over?

I brought in the new year hugging the toilet.  As many people do.  Luckily I did not wake up with a hangover, but instead I am pregnant.   BTW  I LOVE saying that.  I Am Pregnant!!!!   Today I have not thrown up at all.  The past couple days I have, but not nearly as much as last week.  I think as my first trimester comes to an end so is the all day morning sickness.   I sent out some pregnancy announcements to close family and over the next few weeks will begin telling everyone else.  However, I did tell my Dad.  I had to, he knew something was up.  We talk daily and it was getting very hard not to tell him.      Now I just can't wait until the end of next month to find out the gender!  Hurry up January and February, go by fast.


P.S.  If I find out it is a girl I am going to go crazy buying adorable girl cloth diapers!


Edit 1/12/13:  Nope, it's not over yet.  I have still been sick pretty much every single day.  Here is to hoping it gets better soon.

Ultrasound update

Good morning!  Happy New Year everyone!  This morning I had my ultrasound.  I was expecting to see a little blob, a yolk sack and a faint heart beat.  However, what I saw was much different.  I saw a baby!  With arms and a strong heart beat.  If everything went as planned with the fertility meds I would be about 7-8 weeks right now.  BUT apparently I became pregnant BEFORE I started taking the fertility meds.  Which would probably explain the lack of period after the provera as well as the constant positive ovulation test.  The quick positive on the pregnancy test also explains that I was pregnant before the provera.   I am completely confused as to when I would have gotten pregnant.  I mean with the given dates, it was around Halloween but I have not had a period since I lost the twins.    I will upload pictures of the ultrasound a little later.   As of right now I am measuring at 12 weeks with a due date of July 25, FOUR days after Owen's!!!  I feel bad they are so close but it is still exciting!