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February 03,2008.
I am 12 weeks at the moment and I'm still craving salad and carrots. At times I feel dizzy but my nausea is not there anymore. I'm really excited at having a bigger stomach and also nervous with the future pregnancy pains.

February 7,2008.
Well, it's 9:39am and I'm sitting on my computer just looking at websites trying to find baby boy names. Granted I haven't found the sex of the baby yet but husband George and I have already found a girl's name we both love, Avriel Jade. But as for a boy's name we haven't decided yet but my husband keeps joking on calling him Stewie from the Family Guy show he's so hilarious. I just emailed my mother on any suggestion's and also asking my sister for help also. What I did this week was the old wive's tale theory I learned from my grandmother; on finding out the sex of your child by using a gold necklace and letting it stay perfectly still on your opened palm and wait till it moves. If the necklace does a circular motion its a girl if it moves side to side its a boy. Well I did it to me and my husband and it both came out circular which means a little girl but you never know.

February 22,2008.
Today I had my first appointment with my baby's doctor: Dr.Michael Ting, he seems very nice and smart. I heard the baby's heart beat for the first time it was so adorable it was sort of fast and fluttery he says the baby's heart beat sounded okay and normal. I believe the heart beat was 106 or 160 I wasn't sure because as I was hearing it I was laughing at the same time because I was so excited and I wasn't hearing the accurate heart rate from the doctor. I called my mother and she asked if the baby's heart beat was fast or slow (another one of those old wive's tale) fast-boy slow-girl I wasn't really sure it may have been not as fast as I expected so maybe it was slow but I'm not sure. I'm still craving salad but I also want to eat pasta with chicken paramasan.

February 27,2008.
It's my birthday!!!! And nothing is more precious then the gift I have in my stomach it's the greatest gift God could ever give me.I don't feel the baby kicking it's still to early I just feel like gas moving in my stomach. When I fall asleep my legs start to move on my own my mother says I maybe getting Charlie Horse. I'm not having weird cravings well not at the moment I hope I don't like eating dirt (ha-ha). But the baby does have a appetite because after I eat I'm still hungry again I mean it may have the father's big appetite.The names we are fond of for boy's are Joshua and Joseph.

March 2,2008.
I've been constantly having dreams about a boy and girl with same similarities like my husband and I. But last night seemed different, last night was more vivid and real. I first saw myself at the hospital with George and my mother by my side and I was in labor. Then in my arms was a little naked baby with dark hair and beautiful dark eyes just staring at me. It was a little girl and as the dream went on I saw that little girl grow and talking still in her early months but she was constantly in my husbands arms. In one moment as my husband was holding her he said something to her I could not quite hear and then she said "SHUB-UP" that's when we both laughed to say "OMG, her first words". Then I woke up looking around to see I was still 16 weeks and it was all a dream. I had a dream, long ago about thousands of tornadoes chasing my mother and I then getting safely. We entered a calm house with my husband sleeping near a baby girl. I don't know if it means anything my mother says dreams tend to say something. But honestly if March 31st comes and I find out that it was a boy, Would I feel disappointed? My honest answer is No.

March 8,2008.
I'm 17 weeks today and I still can't feel the baby but I have trouble sleeping from the pain in my stomach. My co-worker says that everything inside me is growing to have room for the baby, that's what I thought it just felt like gas pains. What's bothering at the moment is waitng for the day I find out the baby's sex. I mean since the day I found out that was months ago, now it just 2 weeks till the ultrasound. When it finally gets to just days and just meer hours to me it might feel like I'm waiting forever, I've been dreaming about this day for years. I'm such an impatient person that I wanted to find out the sex of my baby March 21st rather than August 16th. I want to be able to call he/she something instead of "hey baby" or "chunks" (I'll still call it chunks - lol ) I know finding out early won't be 100% but at least it's something. Probably that second I'm laying on that hospital chair and looking at the ultrasound monitor holding my breath until she tells me what it is, so I can shout to the worls "IT"S A BOY?GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!"

March 12,2008.
Well, today I'm not feeling 100% and it's been hard going to sleep. I start to move around not finding a comfortable position then I fall asleep while sitting up which is the most uncomfortable position but when I lay down my stomach starts to irritate me. So I've been resting and drinking alot of orange juice and it's been helping but about sleeping I gradually drift off but then I wake up again with my legs moving and having to go to the toliet. Basically I hear from people it's going to get worse and that doesn't really raise my spirits the only thing doing that knowing I'm going through all of this for my baby. So I have to suck it up = ( , but it's still a pain trying to go to sleep and you can't though.

March 19,2008.
Today was my doctor's appointment and everything turned out good they said from my last visit I had not gained a thing my weight stayed the same. They said that's a good thing especially the baby being so small in the future I should be gaining but gradually not so fast. I also told my doctor about my headaches mostly when I get out of work he said that may be the stresses of work so it's okay to take Tylenol and drink more water. I also told him about having a hard time sleeping and he said instead of laying there thinking about what's troubling write it down or talk about what bothering and also walk around doing something. I then heard my baby's heart beat I made sure I heard the doctor this time he said, "150." It showed at the very beginning that I had high blood pressure but when they checked again everything came out okay.

March 22,2008.
Well, I've been doing what the doctor said about when I can't sleep do something so it has helped alot. I think what was bothering is the anticipation of finding out the sex of the baby and since finding out recently my co-worker out in her 2 weeks finding a better job. I feel happy for her but things have gotten worse my supervisor knowing I'll be stuck alone doing a 5 person job did not find help for me yesterday on the busiest days in the Record Room. Thank God someone saw me all by myself and decided to come help me most of the day my supervisor called saying that the reason why I was alone was because of my co-worker who's leaving fault. Everyday at work seem like a long stressful day and everyday someone is getting the boot because of the company not receiving enough money from the government since we are a nonprofit agency. I don't mean to go on and on about my job I'll stick to the baby that's whos important. Well, like I said earlier about the anticipation of finding out the sex of the baby well it's not far off, "JUST 1 MORE WEEK". I am so excited I can't wait to see his or her little body on the screen with my husband as soon I'm going right back home and the first person I'm calling is my mom. I don't know what my reaction will be will I laugh or will I cry or will it hit me later I don't know these are the things I think about all the time.

March 31,2008.
IT'S A GIRL! Today was my ultrasound and I'm so excited I just found out it's a girl. We saw the little feet,heart,legs, you name it. I know it's not 100% even my husband asked the TECH that was doing the ultrasound how accurate is the finding otu the gender and she even says it's 95% accurate but it can always be wrong. The ultrasound pics that I will be putting on this page are showing the spine and the baby staring straight at the us on the screen (so it may look alien). But everything looks alright I do have another appoint with Dr.Ting about stress issues I've been having at work,especially since I threw up my breakfast I'm kind of worried. I've been feeling something moving inside alot which feels uncomfortable now. From what I got from the ultrasound by the tech saying, "I can't get an accurate shot of the heart because she's keeps moving around," she's going to be a handful. Heartrate was 161.

April 1,2008.
Well, I met with Dr. Ting about saying I'm still receiving stress at work but wanted to know if it was affecting the baby. So he had a look at the ultrasound telling me everything was fine and also my bloodwork everything look fine and nothing seemed to be wrong. But he still wanted me to pursue with finding a counselor about my stress and if I needed a a couple of days or a week from work. But about my hurling in the morning especially after I drink orange juice he said I may have acid reflux disease which is common in pregnant woman who are either overweight or large chested. He asked if I have a bad taste in my mouth even after I brush my teeth I said I do, he told me what causes it is that waking up you build up so much acid in your chest and from the extra weight from your chest pressing against it it builds up in your mouth. So adding more acid like orange juice will cause it to comeback up from my stomach. So he told me there's medication I can take that he can prescribe or take over the counter pepcid. Also to drink only water in the morning and then I can take orange juice later once it's settled in my stomach. But at work I just hurled my lunch and I ate a cheese sandwich so i'm going to get pepcid and crackers to bring to work. But if this continues I'll tell my doctor and he can prescribe me the medication as a last resort.

April 12,2008.
Well, I've been feeling little movements here and there no hard kicks yet. But Avriel loves to move on my lower right side of my bottom stomach and it's always in the afternoon. It feels like when you eat too much food and your swimming in the water and you get this cramp that won't go away well that's how it feels and she loves to stay in teh one spot and I have to put a little pressure and tell her "Avriel move for mommy it hurts." She'll move like after 10 minutes of staying there and she love to move around alot especially to music and to daddy's voice. Today is Saturday and last week on thursday and Friday I couldn't go to work because I caught a sickness that gives me a soar throat but after many cough drops, drinking decaffinated tea, and Chicken soup with potatoes and onions (yummy) it has gotten better. I mean Frday I couldn't even talk that well I sounded like a 80 year old smoker. I talked to the nurse pratictioner at the Obgyn where I see my Doctor and she said taking cough drops, Robitussin, and if nasal problems Sudafed and benedryl, but if it gets worse see my primary doctor (Which I don't have yet - oops). I'm still debating on seeing a counselor I mean at work has been fine but I'm still waiting on what they plain on doing with heavy charts, I mean they say starting May1st no more pulling charts but we still have to put them in another binder format so we can take them out of that heavy draw. But if it starts to hurt I'm not going to do it any longer and speak to my supervisor about another alternative.

April 24,2008.
I'm always feeling little butterfly kicks now in the morning, and in the middle of the night. I recently saw my doctor on April 18,2008 baby's heart beat 150. I was there to tell him about my problems with my feet if I stand up too long and I'm always on my feet at my job. So he told me to get those to high stockings that go all the way past the knee to help with swelling. He also said even though I'm not putting salt in my food I may be eating food with high salt in them and not even knowing it. So now I'm watching my salt intake and trying to eat right. Not only am i feeling kicks but some mornings I will feel pain on my abdomen from it stretching and since I only feel comfortable laying on my side my hands are going numb especially my left hand. My left hand always goes numb no matter what side I sleep on, and then when I stretch each morning I get these bad charlie horses that hurt so bad I have to lay down for the pain to go away or I just move my toes backwards all the way and that usually helps the pain go away. I am looking forward to the weeks to come but am I look forward to more pains 'not really' and this is just the beginning.

May 7,2008.
Today I had a Work Med appointment because I injured my left arm with the heavy machine in the record room that houses the charts. The NP (Nurse Practioner) says that pregnancy was not the cause of my injury it's just making the injury worse. He thinks it will heal in 3 weeks if I keep icing it 3 times a day for 20 minutes and wear the arm splint that they gave me, but do to me being pregnant 3 weeks might change to longer because of my body changing during these months. So he will take a step at a time right now he wants me to see a massage therapist to massage my arm to make it feel better and check with him again next week. Other then that I'm fine and the baby is fine, she keeps kicking me now I can actually see my stomach move up and down and also feel the kicks when I touch my stomach. But it's not the hard kicks yet and I can't actually see the legs sticking out of my stomach like an alien.

May 11,2008.
100th ANNIVERSARY FOR MOTHER'S DAY!! I'm so excited and can't believe I'm going to be a mother. I do at times worry that if I'm going to be a good mother am I going to be able to handle things with family members not around. I'm a mother to be but still considered a 'mami' I do like the sound of that.

May 14,2008.
Today was my routine appointment, I'm 6 months 26 weeks. I told my doctor I was feeling the baby right on my bladder and heaviness around my vagina. I also felt vaginal pain whenever I walked like stabbing pain that comes and goes. So the doctor checked to see if it was contractions. But after checking he said everything was fine and maybe with your uterus and baby growing that your going to experience pain, but he said if it continues to be excruciating pain then notify him. But everything is fine I've only gained 3 pounds at the moment and feeling my abdomen the baby feels about the right size and heart beat 145. The pain hurts also in my back and legs so when I sleep or sit I have to elevate my feet and it's much better. I have so many doctor's appointments and also appts with workmed and occupational therapy I just carry a calender binder everywhere I go so I don't lose track.

May 27,2008.
My original doctor was on vacation today so I saw a new one Dr. Commons he seems okay. He measured my stomach which was 27 inches and the baby's heart rate being 160. I also explained to him that I'm having allergies which I never had before he explained to me that my body is less immuned to things and since I am carrrying alot of blood in my body my nose will fel congested and that it is okay to take Benedryl. It is sort of annoying sneezing every 5 seconds and having to blow your nose with tissue lying beside my bed (eww). I gained weight I am now 210 (ahh) I hope to lose it all after the pregnancy because I was starting to lose weight before I got pregnant I got from 220 to 180 pretty good. But the weight is mostly concentrating on my belly and breasts because my face looks slimer and so does my legs. With the weight mostly on my belly it's harder to get out of bed with back pain so I try sleeping on my side with a pillow between my legs but then I have to keep switching sides because my arms and hands become numb. Baby is fine she's kicking alot which is good I can't wait to actually seeing the legs and arms sticking out but I am not going to be excited about the pain especially if she kicks around my ribs (which I heard is really painful).

June 09,2008.
I met with Dr. Commons again and the nurse had stated that I needed to redo the glucose testing. I did the 1 hour test before and they said the glucose was too high. I had to drink a thing that has a big 50 on it and it was orange it tasted like cheap stale orange soda.

June 14,2008.
I just did my glucose testing for diabetes. This time I had to drink something that said 100 on it and it was dark brown. It tasted like stale pepsi drink but with large amounts of sugar which made me want to throw up. The lady at the counter said that I may get drowsy I felt a little light headed but more like thowing up the drink. I had to wait there 3 hours and was stuck by a needle 5 times, one because they tried to get a vein on my right arm but couldn't. So when I came out it looked like a drug addict. LOL

June 23,2008.
Doctor Ting came back from vacation and said my test results for the glucose was fine. I told him about the pain in my left and right arm becoming numb he said that's just the baby hitting the nerve and there's not much he can do about that situation. He also said that if it continues and becomes worse to tell him. I got to record the baby's heart beat on my camera. But other than that the baby is growing well and the heart beat is fine.

CLICK TO LISTEN TO HEART BEAT

June 28,2008.
Since my insurance couldn't cover the child education classes I went to the library to get three tapes labor classes (4-1/2 hours of info.), breastfeeding, and child care. It's very informative. I also made my appoinment with the anestegiologist (pain relief during pregnancy) which is July 23rd. My mother told me I still need to pre-register at the hospital so when I go to the Emergency room I can just go up to the room because I already filled out the paperwork. She sayd they also show you how the rooms are like. I still need to do it and I really don't have that much time since my due date is close by.

July 15,2008.
Last week I had problems with my legs because they got swollen during the weekend. Luckily, I went to the store to get knee high stocking to help with the pressure it works very well, but once I take it off I have to rest. But at work today but had to return home because I was feeling lightheaded. The call the doctor's office and my nurse (Lindy) said that I should eat more protein in the morning and more water before starting the day. I went home and rested for a few hours that made it better but I really think I also should pace myself at work. My hands and fingertips still get numb when I'm sleeping, typing, or handling anything. My doctor says it's just normal pregnancy pains I'm going through. I know it maybe normal but it really sucks having to work through it because all I want to do is rest.

August 2,2008.
Well, I had two schedule appointments one to check if I had B strep infection and another appointment to tell me it came back positive, so I have to take antibiotics so that no harm comes to the baby. They say without taking anything the baby passing through vaginal birth might get sick or worse even die. The doctor was supposed to check my cervix on my 36 week and then again on my 37 week but due to emergency or whatever he has missed both times. So now I'm 8 weeks waiting for my Friday apointment not knowing the weight of the baby and how my cervix is doing. I also recently took my maternity leave I tried waiting till my due date or due date week but it was not possible. I was in so much pain it was so hard for me to walk my joints are hurting I really need to rest, not be stressed out at work. So hopefully, this Friday's appointment I can remind my nurse and doctor that I need to have my cervix checked, I mean I'm really close to the due date I need to know these things. Also, someone from the hospital was supposed to call me back to register me, so when I go to the emergency room I can go straight to my room and not have to sign paperwork. The only person that called me back from the maternity area was a woman named Nancy who said that she will forward my case so they can register me in the room and call me back. So I may have to call Nancy back, so much to do soo little time. At least I got my bag to bring to the hospital ready.