Great news...I went to the doctor this morning and, after two days of bedrest and much worrying, was given a clean bill of health! All my tests came back completely normal, and my blood pressure (which reached nearly 170/110 on Wednesday) has stabilized and come back down. So no more bedrest for me...I even got to go back to work this afternoon!! Basically my doctor said that they are just going to watch me and be a little more vigilant, and that I should try to take it a little easier than I have been and try not to get too stressed out (about, oh I don't know, things like the fact that I have a new job, or that we're building a house, or that my husband doesn't even live here!!). Those of you who know me well know that won't be easy for me, but I promised them I'd try.
My next appointment is on Monday, August 11th, and that's when they'll start checking me to see if I'm making any progress toward labor. Keep your fingers crossed that I at least present the conditions necessary to schedule an induction around 39 weeks, which would make the baby due on Sept. 2nd. An induction would be so much better for us, since it would allow us to plan in advance so that there's less of a chance that David will miss the birth (which is a pretty huge possibility if we wait until I go into labor naturally!).
Thanks to everyone who was thinking about me and praying for me. I love you all and promise I'll keep you posted!
Caitlin
PS -- On the bad news side, I finally got a stretch mark on my stomach. Cocoa butter sucks and is a major lie. It is a sad, sad day. Feel free to mourn as you see fit.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
34 Weeks and counting...
I know, I know...it's been forever since I posted...I'm the worst blogger in the history of the world. People have been on my case to post some new belly shots, so here they are! I can't believe that it's already been seven weeks since I posted my last photos...today I am 34 weeks exactly, and it's starting to get pretty real that I'm getting closer and closer to actually having a baby. What a trip! I'm getting SO big...I'm a little bit worried that my uniform might not fit in a few weeks...I'm not sure exactly what I'll do if that happens, so I'll just have to cross that bridge when I get to it. At least I don't have any stretch marks yet...fingers crossed my poor tummy can hold on for 30 more days or so!I had a doctor's appointment this morning, and the doctor said the baby looks great. I'm measuring right on target, weight gain is still good (well, by "good" I mean not completely and totally out of control), heart rate is right where it should be and he or she is already head down (hopefully going to fully engage in the pelvis soon...I could really use the extra breathing room, and I'm pretty over getting kicked in the ribs all day long!).
A little bit of bad news -- the doctor thinks that there is a possibility that I have pre-eclampsia, a condition in pregnancy that is characterized by high blood pressure and can be pretty serious if left untreated. I'm exhibiting a few of the symptoms (high blood pressure in a person with no history of that, protein in the urine, mild swelling, etc), and my mom had it while she was pregnant with me, which increases my risk. So basically, they're going to do some tests Wednesday to find out for sure, and after that we'll go from there. If I do have it, I will have to be monitored more closely (probably at least weekly visits), and may have to be induced early (since the only "cure" for pre-eclampsia is delivering the baby). So please keep me and the baby in your thoughts and prayers for the next few days. Hopefully the tests will all come back fine and everything will progress normally, but if not maybe Baby Brown will be making his or her debut sooner than we thought!
That's it for now...hope everyone else is doing well. Love you all!!
PS -- My good friend (and cyber-stalker) Jessey actually crocheted me a baby blanket, which just blows my mind because (as a completely un-handy/crafty person myself) I am totally amazed by anyone who can actually make something useful and beautiful!! I've pasted a picture of it below, because it is SO cute, and it's also her first baby blanket, so she is rightfully proud of it! Thanks so much, Jessey...Baby Brown will love sleeping under it (and, as you can see from the photo, Chloe is a fan as well)!!
Monday, July 7, 2008
No Real News...
Happy Belated 4th of July to everyone!!! I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend. Even though I have no real news, I decided to go ahead and post anyway, since everyone keeps asking me when the next post will be up!! Geez, who knew that I had so many cyber stalkers?! ;)
So to get everyone caught up, I've been at my new job for exactly 17 days (if you count today), and they're finally starting to figure out what to do with me! I've been pretty useless and bored for the past couple of weeks, but it looks like I'll be pretty busy in the future, which is great if you're me (because nothing is harder for me than being extremely bored). I've been trying to put in the hours even if there really isn't much going on for me yet, since I feel a little guilty about the fact that I'm going to be leaving for two months of maternity leave when I've only been there for two months total! Either way, the people are really nice and the job seems easy and low-stress (if a little time-consuming), which is exactly what I need right now with a baby on the way!
David was here visiting all of last week, which was amazing. I hadn't seen him in twelve weeks, and he couldn't believe how huge my belly has gotten! We spent a night in Orlando and went to Sea World and Pleasure Island, and we got to eat at one of our very favorite restaurants (Texas de Brazil). The rest of the week we just spent fishing, hanging at the beach and lounging by the pool...it was fantastic. I miss him so much when he's away, and (as cheesy as it sounds) seeing him again is always a little like falling in love with him for the first time. He had so much fun feeling the baby kick and move around, and he talked to him (or her!) every night before we went to sleep. Needless to say, it was horrible to watch him drive away on Sunday...I feel like we're always saying goodbye. I might not see him again for eight weeks (until the baby is born)...but at least after that we'll be together for weeks and weeks!
Baby is doing great...kicking a LOT, and starting to actually hurt me. He (or she) is always trying to squirm up under my ribs, which is even more uncomfortable than it sounds. Sometimes I get kicked so hard that my whole stomach jumps, which makes the whole "there's a little person in there" thing much more real! Other than that, I'm feeling great...starting to get a little tired but nothing unmanageable. Unfortunately, I think I've started to waddle...which I was really hoping to put off until at least 35 or 36 weeks. Oh well...it could be worse I guess! We've pretty much settled on our two names -- Samuel Patrick for a boy and Fiona Susan for a girl. And don't any of you worry your pretty little heads about giving me "ideas" or "suggestions," because we are a little past that point now...and we did it that way on purpose! ;) I'm starting to get excited about meeting this little person, and I'm ready for the day to actually get here already!!
Well, that's all for now...in a week or so I will post another belly shot, so that you can all point and laugh at the enormous circus freak that I've become ;). Love you all!
So to get everyone caught up, I've been at my new job for exactly 17 days (if you count today), and they're finally starting to figure out what to do with me! I've been pretty useless and bored for the past couple of weeks, but it looks like I'll be pretty busy in the future, which is great if you're me (because nothing is harder for me than being extremely bored). I've been trying to put in the hours even if there really isn't much going on for me yet, since I feel a little guilty about the fact that I'm going to be leaving for two months of maternity leave when I've only been there for two months total! Either way, the people are really nice and the job seems easy and low-stress (if a little time-consuming), which is exactly what I need right now with a baby on the way!
David was here visiting all of last week, which was amazing. I hadn't seen him in twelve weeks, and he couldn't believe how huge my belly has gotten! We spent a night in Orlando and went to Sea World and Pleasure Island, and we got to eat at one of our very favorite restaurants (Texas de Brazil). The rest of the week we just spent fishing, hanging at the beach and lounging by the pool...it was fantastic. I miss him so much when he's away, and (as cheesy as it sounds) seeing him again is always a little like falling in love with him for the first time. He had so much fun feeling the baby kick and move around, and he talked to him (or her!) every night before we went to sleep. Needless to say, it was horrible to watch him drive away on Sunday...I feel like we're always saying goodbye. I might not see him again for eight weeks (until the baby is born)...but at least after that we'll be together for weeks and weeks!
Baby is doing great...kicking a LOT, and starting to actually hurt me. He (or she) is always trying to squirm up under my ribs, which is even more uncomfortable than it sounds. Sometimes I get kicked so hard that my whole stomach jumps, which makes the whole "there's a little person in there" thing much more real! Other than that, I'm feeling great...starting to get a little tired but nothing unmanageable. Unfortunately, I think I've started to waddle...which I was really hoping to put off until at least 35 or 36 weeks. Oh well...it could be worse I guess! We've pretty much settled on our two names -- Samuel Patrick for a boy and Fiona Susan for a girl. And don't any of you worry your pretty little heads about giving me "ideas" or "suggestions," because we are a little past that point now...and we did it that way on purpose! ;) I'm starting to get excited about meeting this little person, and I'm ready for the day to actually get here already!!
Well, that's all for now...in a week or so I will post another belly shot, so that you can all point and laugh at the enormous circus freak that I've become ;). Love you all!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
First Day of Work and David Home...
Wow, I have so much news!! First of all, we mananged to find a tenant for our house in Omaha, which is super exciting. Selling up there in this market just was not going to be a good idea for us, so we placed the house on the rental market before I left. The tenants signed the lease today, and will be moving in around September 1st, which gives David plenty of time to move out. It's a wonderful development because it is the first step toward us being able to buy a house here...we can really get to house hunting now!!
Also, as some of you may have known, today was my first day of work as a Public Affairs Officer in the Florida Air National Guard. Since leaving College of Saint Mary in Omaha, I've had about a month off, and let me tell you...I got spoiled!! I didn't even work a full day today, and I'm pretty tired :). I guess being seven months pregnant in June in Florida will do that to you, though. I was up at the Wing Headquarters in Jacksonville, escorting media and taking part in a change of command ceremony, so I was on my feet and outside a lot, which probably didn't help. Other than that, it was a good day. My boss seems really nice and easy to get along with, and it was just so wonderful to be back in uniform...I really missed it and it was a good feeling to lace up those boots again! Tomorrow will probably be mostly an office day, just getting settled and meeting people. Wish me luck, since I'll probably be at this job for quite awhile, and I definitely dont want to let them down!
But enough about me and the house...I've been saving the best for last! The other exciting thing that happened today is that David finally got back home!!!! He's been gone for nearly three months, and he is so excited to be back on U.S. soil. He arrived back in Omaha this afternoon, and will spend the next couple of days inprocessing back to his unit and getting over his jetlag. Then he will make a trip down here to visit me, and hopefully to do that house hunting I mentioned earlier! I just can't wait to see him -- he's been gone so long and I've missed him so much, and I know he is excited about seeing me all huge (when he left, I was only about four months along...I'm MUCH bigger now!). Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and kind words while he's been away...having such great family and friends really makes the difficult times easier.
Well, that's all to report for now (as if it isn't enough!). I have my next doctor's appointment in about a week, and I will be sure to post again then to let you all know how it goes. Love you all!
Caitlin
Also, as some of you may have known, today was my first day of work as a Public Affairs Officer in the Florida Air National Guard. Since leaving College of Saint Mary in Omaha, I've had about a month off, and let me tell you...I got spoiled!! I didn't even work a full day today, and I'm pretty tired :). I guess being seven months pregnant in June in Florida will do that to you, though. I was up at the Wing Headquarters in Jacksonville, escorting media and taking part in a change of command ceremony, so I was on my feet and outside a lot, which probably didn't help. Other than that, it was a good day. My boss seems really nice and easy to get along with, and it was just so wonderful to be back in uniform...I really missed it and it was a good feeling to lace up those boots again! Tomorrow will probably be mostly an office day, just getting settled and meeting people. Wish me luck, since I'll probably be at this job for quite awhile, and I definitely dont want to let them down!
But enough about me and the house...I've been saving the best for last! The other exciting thing that happened today is that David finally got back home!!!! He's been gone for nearly three months, and he is so excited to be back on U.S. soil. He arrived back in Omaha this afternoon, and will spend the next couple of days inprocessing back to his unit and getting over his jetlag. Then he will make a trip down here to visit me, and hopefully to do that house hunting I mentioned earlier! I just can't wait to see him -- he's been gone so long and I've missed him so much, and I know he is excited about seeing me all huge (when he left, I was only about four months along...I'm MUCH bigger now!). Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and kind words while he's been away...having such great family and friends really makes the difficult times easier.
Well, that's all to report for now (as if it isn't enough!). I have my next doctor's appointment in about a week, and I will be sure to post again then to let you all know how it goes. Love you all!
Caitlin
Monday, June 9, 2008
27 Week Belly Shots
Hey everyone! Here are a few new belly shots at 27 weeks pregnant. I know, I know...I'm getting freakishly HUGE!! The baby will probably end up weighing like 23 pounds...I'll have to skip all the adorable baby clothes and move straight to shopping in the toddler section ;) As you can see, my dog Bella wasn't sure she liked me and the baby getting all the attention, so we let her make an appearance as well. My main goal this week is to get an appointment with an OB/GYN here in St. Aug (I'm pretty sure I already know the one I'm going with), so as soon as I get that accomplished, I'll be sure to post again to keep everyone up to date!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
26 Weeks and Counting!
Wow, I'm so sorry it's been so long since I posted last. Things have been C-R-A-Z-Y!! As many of you probably know, I got a job in my hometown of St. Augustine, Florida, working as a Public Affairs Officer for the Florida National Guard. In late May, I packed up some of my stuff, loaded it and my dogs into David's truck and (with my Dad's help) took three days driving from Omaha to Florida. It was actually a pretty fun trip, even though staying in hotels with two huge and unruly dogs is not something I would recommend for the faint of heart!
Anyway, we got here alright and are staying at my parent's house until David gets back from his deployment. Then we will start working to get him moved here with a job in the Florida National Guard, and start looking for a new house. We are so excited about this new chapter in our lives...we've missed living in the South (and the warm weather!) so much, and love the idea of raising this baby close to both of our families. We can't wait to take the baby to the beach and spend weekend at Disney World (David is especially excited about that one!).
Speaking of the baby, he/she is doing just great! Next week will be the start of my seventh month, and my third (and last!) trimester. I've started to feel a little tired again, but have been lucky to not be working (I don't start my new job until June 21), so I've been able to take a nap almost every day. I'm busy trying to find an OB that I like here...it looks like I'll have to deliver in Jacksonville (about 45 minutes away) because of Tricare restrictions, but I'm sure it will all work out fine.
The baby's kicks have gotten out of control...sometimes I think there MUST be more than one in there, but the doctors assure me that's not the case :). Sometimes he/she kicks me so hard that you can actually see my stomach jump...it's such a weird sensation. Lately my cravings have been pretty healthy...I want a lot of fresh things (like fruit and salad), and probably eat about five Sugar Free Popsicles a day (at least they've only got 15 calories each!). It's helping me keep my weight gain in check...my doctors and all the baby books say that by this point I should've gained between 16 and 22 pounds, and I'm right at 18 or 19, so that's good!
All in all, the pregnancy is still progressing smoothly and easily...I really have no complaints to speak of. I've been very blessed to get through it with no morning sickness, no heartburn, and no extreme fatigue yet (talk to me again when I'm eight months pregnant in August, and we'll see how I feel then!). Thank you to everyone for your kind words and well wishes...David and I truly appreciate them! I promise to post a new belly shot soon...I'll have to do it quick before I lose the battle to stretch marks!
Love you all!
Caitlin
Anyway, we got here alright and are staying at my parent's house until David gets back from his deployment. Then we will start working to get him moved here with a job in the Florida National Guard, and start looking for a new house. We are so excited about this new chapter in our lives...we've missed living in the South (and the warm weather!) so much, and love the idea of raising this baby close to both of our families. We can't wait to take the baby to the beach and spend weekend at Disney World (David is especially excited about that one!).
Speaking of the baby, he/she is doing just great! Next week will be the start of my seventh month, and my third (and last!) trimester. I've started to feel a little tired again, but have been lucky to not be working (I don't start my new job until June 21), so I've been able to take a nap almost every day. I'm busy trying to find an OB that I like here...it looks like I'll have to deliver in Jacksonville (about 45 minutes away) because of Tricare restrictions, but I'm sure it will all work out fine.
The baby's kicks have gotten out of control...sometimes I think there MUST be more than one in there, but the doctors assure me that's not the case :). Sometimes he/she kicks me so hard that you can actually see my stomach jump...it's such a weird sensation. Lately my cravings have been pretty healthy...I want a lot of fresh things (like fruit and salad), and probably eat about five Sugar Free Popsicles a day (at least they've only got 15 calories each!). It's helping me keep my weight gain in check...my doctors and all the baby books say that by this point I should've gained between 16 and 22 pounds, and I'm right at 18 or 19, so that's good!
All in all, the pregnancy is still progressing smoothly and easily...I really have no complaints to speak of. I've been very blessed to get through it with no morning sickness, no heartburn, and no extreme fatigue yet (talk to me again when I'm eight months pregnant in August, and we'll see how I feel then!). Thank you to everyone for your kind words and well wishes...David and I truly appreciate them! I promise to post a new belly shot soon...I'll have to do it quick before I lose the battle to stretch marks!
Love you all!
Caitlin
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Level 2 Ultrasound
Today I got my level two ultrasound, which checked everything in much greater detail to make sure that the baby was growing and developing properly. I'm SO glad to report that everything looks awesome! They said the brain, spine, internal organs, and external structures all look totally perfect -- what a relief and a blessing!! Thank you to all of you who were thinking of us and praying for us! I've attached some of the ultrasound photos below...enjoy!! :)
Above is a profile shot...
I love this one because you can so clearly see the baby kicking me...he/she is an active little sucker!
Here's a shot of both of the baby's hands...
And both of the baby's feet....
Looks like we've got a little thumb sucker on our hands...you can see his/her little fist right in front of the mouth...the ultrasound tech said that was probably because he/she was sucking on a thumb!
Above is a profile shot...
I love this one because you can so clearly see the baby kicking me...he/she is an active little sucker!
Here's a shot of both of the baby's hands...
And both of the baby's feet....
Looks like we've got a little thumb sucker on our hands...you can see his/her little fist right in front of the mouth...the ultrasound tech said that was probably because he/she was sucking on a thumb!
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