Pregnancy emails

I was reading through old emails and thought I'd put the ones that related to pregnancy together. This is quite long so don't feel like you need to read it. This entry is mostly for me and someday for Lilly. Read on, if you'd like.

9-9-06
My plan (not yet Al's) is to get pregnant in the spring so I can have a baby not this March but the following one. Teachers go into "heat" early summer so that can have their babies in early spring & have the whole summer & then some with their babies. Hope it works out.

Sometimes my plans really do work out. I did, in fact, have a baby in March of 2008.

6-22-07
Ice cream sounds good--well I should correct--would have sounded good a few weeks ago. Now ice cream makes me want to throw up.

Almost every day I wake up and wonder why I drank so much last night. Then I realize I didn't drink anything. All the joys of a hangover without the fun of being drunk the night before. Oh well, at least drinking does not appeal to me at all lately. I was hung-over once in addition to my migraine hangovers. Not fun.

I bought a monstrosity pill organizer for my vitamins. Who knew I'd need a bigger pill organizer after I went off my medication. :-)

I was a couple weeks pregnant but didn't know it. I was feeling sick due to migraines and maybe morning sickness. I was really sick through the summer...

Julie to Al
7/9/07

This is for week 5 which started on Saturday.

The heart will begin to beat this week! It's amazing how much is happening so quickly. A transvaginal ultrasound will show about 90% of the yolk sacs. It is now possible to differentiate between the head and the tail of the baby now. By the end of the week that folic acid will be paying off as the neural folds begin to fuse. Your baby is now an embryo! Average length is 1.5 - 2.5 mm.

bye bye blastiocyst :-)

love you lots-

Am I pregnant? 8/11/07
I found out I was pregnant when we were camping at the very beginning of July. I wasn't sure because the second line was so faint. That would be the first of about five tests I took over several days just to make sure.

Sept 4, 2007
Attached is what I am going to put up at work tomorrow. The secret is out.

I put up a picture of what I would look like very pregnant that I took when I went maternity clothes shopping with my sisters. The sign said-Coming soon… (to a classroom near you!) Premiere date: Mid March 2008 Help yourself to pickles and ice cream to help us celebrate!

Sept 9th, 2007
All signs point to "I'm having a baby" but it really doesn't seem real yet. I'm just hoping I'll feel less tired soon. That is getting old to say the least. Oh well, at least we have nice new couches!

The heartbeat was 160--on the high end of normal. I guess it is higher when they're so little. Maybe when you and Dan come, I can take my wedding ring, put it on a string over my belly to see if I'm having a boy or girl. Maybe I should be more pregnant to try that. :-)

We closed on the house on my birthday, which was also the first day back to work for me.

9-12-07
I bought about 5 shirts that are longer/looser last week. They're all dirty and it didn't occur to me to do laundry. This morning it was interesting trying to find something to wear. I put on this light knit sweater that is a little looser than some of my other shirts. I thought it might be a little tight but....I looked down and was shocked at my stomach and thought to myself--it's like there's something growing in there and what is that!

Don't be alarmed, just my stomach. I'm sure this is only a preview of what's to come. :-)

Oct 28, 2007
Hi moms I know,
I'm starting to make a list of what I need. I looked at a website of suggested items. Wondering if you think I need these things:

baby bathtub
Rehydration solution (does this mean pedialite?)
tweezers (other than what I have now--do they make baby tweezers)

Any other tips on things to get/buy? I looked at lists and know the basics, but I'm sure there are things that fit the criteria
-I couldn't live without..
-I wish someone would have told me to get..

I am realizing that my baby is "half way done." Guess I better get organized--yikes!

10-30-07 (to my dad)
It’s a
????????????????????
You'll have to call me to find out or email me if you are checking your email in the airport.
We just had the ultrasound and everything looks good.
--Mommy to be

11-4-07
Tonight I painted large turquoise-ish dots on the blue wall opposite the window. The dots are about a foot in diameter. I planned well so that the dots "ran into the wall" behind the door. I tried to make it so that there would be an even amount of space at the bottom and top of the wall where no more dots would fit. I left space at the bottom and then the dots ran into the ceiling. Al and all I like how it looks.

Nov 11, 2007
I cleared out my room upstairs (mostly, anyway) and got most of the trim taped. Until the tape ran out. Turns out that I can put tape rolls pretty much all the way to the top of my arms. The question is, how much weight will I gain before my arms don't stand up to the tape
roll test? Any guesses? (I've gained about 12 so far)

11-13-07
It's hard to know what's "normal" these days.......

Lately, I'll get waves of nausea and sometime dizziness.
--about a week 1/2 ago driving to work I was sure I was going to throw up. after about 10-15 min I felt OK (right after I ate)
--about a week ago--sitting in my classroom--pretty sure I would throw up (ate 1.5 hrs before) but was ok in about 15 min
--on Saturday I felt nauseous then felt a bit better, then nauseous/dizzy/lightheaded/hot, then threw up (whole episode lasting about 30 min) and was about 1.5 hrs after I ate breakfast
--Today (tues) I ate then went walking about 45 min later. I walked for about a half hour. My leg started to go numb (I have had some cyatic nerve issues) got light headed/dizzy/out of
breath/nauseous/hot. I went from feeling a little tired to I have to sit down over the course of several minutes. I had to call Al to come and pick me up several blocks from home. After about 10-15 min, I felt fine.

I also feel out of breath and feel my heart beating more lately esp after walking up a flight of stairs. I would expect this if I was in my last month of pregnancy. Makes me feel really out of shape.

11/15/07
I'm officially pregnant!

Yesterday two students (who I don't know) asked if I'm pregnant. One of the girls is a higher functioning mentally handicapped 5th grade student. A few hours later, I got a card from her. On the inside shedrew me a picture and wrote "It a girl." It was really sweet coming from her. Also, my kindergarten student was singing while he was working. I didn't say anything and he stopped. Then he says, "I'm singing yourbaby a lullaby." Just before that he got kicked out of class forburping. After that he was in the office for being naughty. At least he has redeeming qualities. He's the same kid who asks me once every three weeks or so if I had the baby. Now I'm trying to convince him that it'll be after Christmas. After Christmas, I'll have to try
to convince him that I'll have the baby when the snow melts.

11-26-07
Going, going...............soon to be gone
Today I'm saying a good-bye to my belly button until March or so.
Wonder when I'll see it again?

12-2-07
Just in case anyone is wondering, I have a baby in my rib cage. As Al calls it, the "baby house" is expanding daily. It doesn't seem like there's much more room to add on any square footage to my belly. I have a feeling that it won't matter if I get the home equity loan, the addition to the "baby house" is coming--like it or not. I'd prefer my belly to expand rather than my rib cage but I guess I don't get to choose. 15 weeks or so to go..........Then I have a baby, yikes!

Dec 11, 2007
my aunt's wedding
Guess what I did at the wedding--look at the picture to see if you can guess....:-)
I was the flower girl at Gary & Sue's wedding. It started out as a joke, but then I really was!

Dec 15, 2007
Yesterday I rang in the new trimester (actually stayed up past midnight). Well, maybe I should say puked in the new trimester. I'm really hoping I'm sick and this isn't a return of "morning" sickness. I've had dizzy spells lately and am feeling geriatric lately. It's like the instant "I shouldn't have had so much to drink feeling" without the fun of actually being drunk before the world spins. Depending on the day, I get tired walking in from the parking lot at work (it is a long ways but not that long) and the last time I went to the grocery store I was learning on the cart. (Yes, that's right, I'm using a cart now but am still holding off on carrying a purse)

The good news is that I will have a baby in three months and will be done with work, etc. The bad news is that I will have a baby in three months. Three months seems like a long time to be still pregnant. How big will I get? Then again, three months doesn't seem so long to finish getting ready for the baby-mentally, getting all the stuff, and finishing moving in.... but....ready or not, here she comes.........

Speaking of "she" I wonder when will ever be a good time for Al to talk about names. He says he's going to look but I think that's code for I'm just going to pretend to look at names and finally say yes/no to one on your list at the last minute. Oh well, I can just call her "Nessy" for a while. (named after my loch ness monster belly sticking out of the water in the tub).

Al's still sleeping. How is that fair? Why does he get to sleep, drink beer, not feel nauseous, wear his regular clothes, etc. I hope Nessy gets him back with really stinky diapers.

Well, that's the news from the wonderful (and not so wonderful) world of pregnancy..........

12/16/07
Nessy is kicking up a storm and I can really see my stomach move. weird, huh?

Dec 17, 2007
Tomorrow I take the "how not to break your newborn" class. Hope I get over the floppy head thing. I got the ugliest pregnant snowman ornament today with my fake due date on it. My due date is really March 10th ish but I tell people at work usually "middle of March" or if they really ask I say March 15th. Oh well, it's the thought that counts. :-)

1-5-08
She's was moving around a lot last night--way on one of my sides. Guess she's getting bigger so she takes up more space but still, it seems a bit strange to me. Al could see her moving from the other couch.

Jan 5th, 2008
There's not a whole lot (except for the obvious one of having a baby in the end, which, I'm sure will make up for the annoying parts of being pregnant)

--Not having to help anyone move and not feeling bad about it
--Al will drop me off at the door of stores when we go shopping
--People tell me I look "cute" a lot (which may be code for "wow, you're getting really big but it's better to say "cute" instead")
--I found out that I have a tiny mole on the inside of my belly button
--It's entertaining to see the baby move
--I get periodic random presents (well, for the baby actually, but it's still fun)
--A return to hand-me-downs----it's like shopping for free!
--I have more compassion for people with physical problems (I've actually thought that an EZ lift chair would be a good idea--do they make EZ lift beds?)
--I'm a natural speed bump/traffic control on the stairs at work since I'm a little slower these days. Eventually, I'll have to start taking the elevator at work, which will be really entertaining for some of my students since they'll get to go on it with me.

......Well, I'm sure there's more, but.......that's all that comes to mind at the moment.

1-8-08
I was lying on the couch on my back (bad idea). When I tried to get up, I couldn't move my leg. Actually, I could move it a little bit but not enough to swing it off the couch. I had a hard time sitting up because my stomach muscles don't work like they used to and I have that weird pulled muscle thing up by my rib cage. I was able to push myself up eventually and use my hand to help swing my leg off of the couch. I think my nerve got pinched somehow. Al was in the basement and I couldn't get to the phone so he could help me up. I was just like the lady in the commercial that couldn't reach the phone. It was only a couple of minutes but I have to say it wasn't a great feeling. Nessy is up to new tricks--I wonder what this button will do? Hopefully she won't find too many new buttons. It seems as though she's tired of pushing the dizzy button because that seems to have gone away. Oh, the never ending saga (OK, there will be end to the pregnancy saga)...........

If only I would have thought to put these on my Christmas list
-ez lift chair
-ez lift bed
-I’ve fallen and can't get up button.

1-27-08
Greetings--34 weeks (40-36=yikes that's really not that far away)

My belly has taken on a life of its own--literally. Little Nessy is rocking and rolling a lot lately. I'm just hoping she's rocking and rolling her way to have her head down. I was curious to see how they tell if the baby's head is down or not without doing an ultrasound.
Sometimes the internet with instant information isn't such a great
thing. Oh well, now I know....

The nursery is completed now except we need to get the changing table from Beata and Travis. Al hung the new curtain rods and put thepictures on the walls. Now I just need to replace the stock photos with real baby pictures of family members.

I thought I did pretty well this morning going through my closet and weeding out the shirts that don't fit anymore-guess not. (Last week, I was playing "I'd like shirts that don't fit for a thousand, Alex" with myself, which made for too long picking out clothes in the morning) I was shopping today and yes, that's right folks, was pushing a cart. I usually really hate carts--similar to my purse aversion. I am using a cart because somehow, it's too hard to carry my coat and walk around the store. Guess using a cart is good training for when I have a baby. I took off my coat and was walking around Linens N Things for 10 min or so before I realized that my belly is hanging out. I guess short shirts haven't been in style for quite a while........oh well. You'd think I'd feel a draft or something but I'm so used to tank topsthat are a bit too short with shirts that just hang of the belly and a coat that just hangs......always a bit drafty. Oh well, I'm sure it
was comical to the other shoppers. Good thing I decided to take a
look at my belly in the mirror section...

1-31-08
...........Claire, Madeline, Sadie, Anna, Elise, Ellen, Callie..........

Al spent most of the time in the name game nixing my choices rather than coming up with names of his own (Sadie's a dog's' name, I knew someone who was a **** named Callie--also too much like Al, I know an Anna _____ and she's_____, Madeline is like that story, I don't like that name........) We're down to a few (& yes, it's a secret). In the beginning I told Al that he had until Feb 11th (a month before my due date) to help me decide or I get to pick. That got him talking about names, or should I say nixing all of my names. I have to say, he did come up with a few on his own, but mostly just made faces when I came up with names I like. I'd say, here, look at the list. He didn't want to do that. Anyway, now he wants me to decide now, andI'm having a hard time. It's like going to the store and wondering why it takes so long to pick out a toothbrush. Once I take it home, do I ever think that I should have gotten a different tooth brush? Sorry, baby NOT ...........Claire, Madeline, Sadie, Anna, Elise, Ellen, Callie..........or whatever you name is, I really shouldn't compare you to a tooth brush. I promise we won't switch you out for a new one after three months. (Sydney was also a name that was on the list for a long time)

Thoughts of the morning....off to get ready for work. Which is another one of my projects lately. The "how to be me" teacher manual is almost done. I thought I could hold it to 18 but it's creeping upto 19. I'm pretty much done.... Al laughed at me, but he doesn't have to write a manual about how to be him for 3 months. But....on the flip side, it's very nice that I do get to take that much time off.

2-19-08
Pregnancy update
My cervix is emerald green, no change foreseen. (Joke from the old Provident Life weather beacon).

2-26-08
Dan rather was in my dream last night as my doctor. He told me that I was having twins. He said I was going to have the baby any day now because multiples come earlier. I tried to reason with him that I'd be much bigger by now with twins and I've had two ultrasounds and even I could tell there wasn't more than one baby in there. He said the ultrasound technicians weren't trained very well and that one baby was hiding behind the other one (this is Al's teasing creeping into my dreams through Dan Rather). I'm not having twins but I will have one baby sooner than later.

For those of you who haven't heard yet, the stork is bringing my baby and after the baby arrives, I'm going to press a button and my belly is going to deflate and return to it's normal size. Oh whoops--guess I'm dreaming again. Maybe Dan Rather can arrange something for me.

2-29-08
My cervix is white as snow, down her head will go.

My Dr says her head is way down low and I'm dilated one centimeter. I guess I won't have a leap year baby after all. That's OK, she has to wait until at least the 7th after school so I don't have to go back to school. In my dreams last night, once I had a huge baby that had to have weird formula who was in the NICU. Then, all of the sudden, she was a little baby yelling at me when I was trying to feed her. Babies that argue with me seem to be a common theme...maybe it has something to do with my line of work.

3-6-08
I was reading a book about a teacher having a baby to two K students. One boy says, "How does the baby come out?" I said, "I go to the hospital and the Dr helps me" and then continue reading (without pausing as to encourage anymore questions). After about 30 seconds he says, "Later, can you show me how the baby comes out."

3-6-08
Could you be really nice to your mom and let me know when you're going to be born.

All of this uncertainty is cramping my style. Last night is the first night I left work thinking---if I don't come back to work, someone could take over for me-finally light at the end of the tunnel. After today, I should have the loose ends taken care of but she needs to wait until after school on Friday so I don't have to go back to work the last week. She's almost there........We'll see how I feel but maybe next Friday will be my last day at work (if she's not born before then). I guess I can go with the flow. All this non-planning is getting to me. :-)

Since it's 4:30, I think I'm going to see if I can go back to sleep.

3-8-08
So......I'm 40 weeks today. Wonder when the nesting instinct will kick in?? I'm just glad I'm all set at work. I think I did all of my nesting there and am all nested out. Either the baby isn't coming soon or I'm just too lazy to nest. Oh well.......


March 10, 2008
Today, 40 weeks pregnant and all, a Kindergarten student kicked me twice and called me a b---. Then, another student got hauled in and went to the time out room. Then, a different Kindergarten student threatened me with pool sticks, hit me on the hand, etc. It's not as easy now because I can't restrain them. They'll be in trouble next year when I can wrestle again.... All of this fun in two hours. Maybe this is my way of not missing my students so much after I have the baby. I hope they're not too naughty for the sub.......Oh well, she'll figure it out.


Mar 11, 2008
I got an apology note from the K student that kicked me/called me a bitch. He wrote: I'm sorry for swearing at you then drew a picture of a race car. :-)

March 11, 2008
Subject: no baby today
:-(

3-12-08
Al-
Since I'm officially over my due date, it would be a good idea to get the car seat in ASAP. Please do it today just so I don't have to worry about it anymore. Have a good day....

March 15, 2008
.......school's out forever!! (well, only until August)

I've decided that I've had enough "fun" for one school year. I'm officially done. Now I don't have to worry about getting a hold of my sub, trying to finish up at the end of everyday, leaving notes for the "what if" I don't come back tomorrow, etc. Also, working with 50 or so other women, I get many questions everyday. Well meaning.....but I just don't think I could handle coming back on Monday. Thought I wouldn't see you today, still here, how are you feeling, discussing my cervix, etc.

I've been preparing my students for at least three weeks. I talked to them about my long-term sub visiting, then my sub came, then I talked about that one day--I might not come back because the baby could come anytime, etc. Yesterday, I had a fifth grade student say "why" when I told him I'm not going to be here anymore. Do I look any different to you? (as I looked down at my belly) Then the other girl said, I thought you were having the baby in May. On Wed, I told a student that I'd be gone in the morning because I have a Dr appt. He went back to his classroom teacher and told her that I'd be having the baby on Friday. It goes back to the theory--that's why they come to see me.

I have Dr's appt's scheduled for next Tues and Thursday to monitor the baby, etc. Hopefully, I'll have her before then (before she's two would be good, also). The plan is so far that I'll go with the flow and be patient and I'd be induced on Monday 24th, if needed (as long as she's still doing OK). I'm feeling like a beached whale as I lay on the couch but mostly fine.

March 17, 2008
At the grocery store this weekend, Al was being dumb and teasing me because I bought two boxes of brand name cereal and made some kind of comment about how expensive it was saying how I should buy the generic. He was just teasing me but some old lady overheard and probably thought he was being mean to his pregnant wife so gave us a coupon for the cereal. Serves him right for always teasing me so much

I was contemplating a walk but then thought I may as well just walk around my house and up/down the stairs and clean up stuff while I'm at it. It's pregnant lady exercise and nesting all in one.....

It's nice not to be at work today. I suppose if I start missing it, I can argue with myself and call myself a b_____??

March 18, 2008
I came from the doctor this morning. No change. I think this baby needs a sticker chart. I've been trying to reason with her that there's a lot more room for her on the outside and daddy really isn't that bad. He's teasing with mostly everything he has to say and that we'll really mostly know how to take care of her & I promise we'll figure out the rest. Unfortunately, my doctor says there's no prize for being the most pregnant woman in Fargo. Right now, I'm a stereotypical pregnant woman reading about pregnancy and eating ice cream while I watch TV. I've been told that I'm a very patient person. I'm trying to live up to that. I think I will continue with my not answering the phone regimen. The next person that asks me if I had the baby yet will be sorry!

3-19-08
See, I'm flexible......

March 11th--my due date
March 15th--pay day
March 17th--St. Patrick's Day
March 18th--Grandma's birthday
March 19th--last day my OB is in town until Monday
March 20th--1st day of spring
March 21st--Good Friday so it has to be a good day
March 22nd--Can't think of a reason for this day?? How about, it's about time!!
March 23rd--Easter--She could wear a cute little crocheted bonnett (from my sister)
March 24th--Sorry baby--this is the end of the road. No more choices anymore.......

And it really was time on March 22nd!

3-20-08
I had a thought about babies this morning (imagine that)

If Eva was born at 37 weeks and I'm now at 41+ weeks, it seems as though my baby will be 4 weeks older than Eva when she's born. That's crazy!!

I wonder if Eva knows what my baby's favorite letter is???

I found a Time magazine article (from 1945) claiming that the world's longest pregnancy is 375 days. I don't think that's possible. Guess I don't get to be in the Guinness Book of World Records after all.....

Maybe my baby is waiting for the last March snowstorm to arrive. 3-6 inches is the prediction. Hey, I have a reason for her to come on Saturday. It should be almost done snowing by then.

...Snow started on the 21st and so did labor.....and then you arrived on Saturday, March 22nd. You were so worth the morning sickness, migraines, sleepless nights, disiness, planning, and even the 11 days you were overdue...I was trying to prepare for all of the disasters that could happen with having a baby, but I wasn't prepared for how happy you were going to make me. You started out as a blastiocyst and now (as I'm holding you while you sleep) you're over 18 pounds and almost 10 months old. Sometimes I just wish time could stand still so I could soak it all in.