Sweet Baby Girl :-)

Monday, May 10th was the day we finally got to meet who has been swimming around in me the past 19 weeks! The experience was amazing! Kary and I had been counting down the days mainly due to our insane curiosity of wanting to know if we were going to have a daughter or son. We never imagined it would be such a cool experience. We arrived to the OBGYN at 3:30. We were called right in to the ultrasound room. The room was big and dark. The nurse had me hop up on the table and put the goo on my belly (surprisingly warm goo) There was a screen mounted up on the wall and one behind me. The nurse started moving the wand around my belly and instantly started clicking pictures and labeling them. For about the first 5 minutes I had no idea what I was looking at. Apparently it was baby's bladder and some inner guts of mine. Then we saw a flash of a spine which was very cool. The nurse said she already had a good idea of the sex of the baby and referred to the baby having a "hamburger" which means GIRL! I was instantly thrilled. I would have been just as happy with a boy but I secretly really wanted a girl. Apparently little baby girl was feeling shy and was burrowed into my pelvis (really making me have to pee) She stayed like this for almost 10 minutes as the nurse was jamming the wand into my pelvis trying to get her to flip around. I even got up at one point and peed (in the toilet) and danced around the bathroom trying to get her to turn over. When I returned she was still keeping her head down but after I gave her a stern talking to.."Listen baby, my insurance only covers one sonogram so you better flip your ass around and show me your adorable little face before you really piss me off!" (the nurse enjoyed this) She actually listened and the next movement we saw was her turning around and putting her thumb into her mouth. So cute! Then we switched to 3-D and saw her dainty little face...we instantly fell in love! Sure she was sort of alien-like but our little alien. Kary kept his eyes glued to the screen and stopped at one point and said, "Shit, I have a daughter." but he said it happily :-) We ended up being the last appointment that day and got to watch her dance around and rock out in my belly for about an hour. We saw her little mouth opening and closing and we saw the four chambers of her heart beating strong (relief to me considering her mom's heart lately!) Her heart rate was at 161/ minute.
When the nurse was all done with the measurements we went to another room to meet with the doctor. We couldn't stop looking at the pictures. Now it seems so real!! When the doctor came in he said and I quote, "You got a phenomenal kid here" wow! I don't think the news could have been better. Her head measured great, no cleft lip, and her growth rate is right on target...except, she has long legs, which is not too much of a surprise considering the lanky Chesley girl genes. This made us very happy. Of course, she still has a lot more growing to do and we would love her phenomenal or not. Now it's time to get that tutu and figure out how to outfit all her rock 'n' gear with a splash of pink.

Today I fell asleep with Brixton on my side and my hand on my belly. Baby girl was kicking around and we all napped together. Girls rule! Kary and Brooklyn better watch out ;-)
















"hamburger" privates


her cute little profile

update :-)

I visited my regular doctor today to get my cardiologist referral and he said it was not necessary to see one! :-) phew!! He said I do have SVT and it's not a heart "condition" but an arrhythmia. He said it is not life threatening and most likely will not occur again for years. (my last one was about 3 years ago) They did hook me up with a heart monitor for a few weeks to keep track if I am having frequent SVT attacks. That way if I am, I can go on meds. But, most likely I won't need to. Yay! Now, I can just focus on my sweet "feets" (fetus) and waiting for my first real kick! :-)

911

I was sure that my next trip to the hospital would be when I was ready to deliver the baby...but that was not the case this past Saturday. I have had asthma since I was about 8 and thought I was pretty familiar with what an asthma attack was. To me it was a rapid heart rate and shortness of breath. Turns out that was not asthma at all but a heart arrhythmia called SVT. I guess I have it..weird. Anyways I was showering Saturday morning and when I bent down to get my razor I stood up and my heart went crazy. I immediately jumped out of the shower with a full head of conditioner and yelled for Kary. He came running and brought me my inhalor. I took a few puffs and it didn't help. He moved me to the bed and got me ice water. I sat up unable to talk and took breaths and tried to stay calm. It had lasted for about 20 minutes (which was typical for when this happens) when Kary looked at me and said, "I'm really scared." The whole bed was shaking because my heart was pounding out of my chest. I was super freaked out but the cost of an ambulance ride and hospital trip held me off for about another 10 minutes. Then I looked down at my belly and realized it wasn't just about me anymore so I looked at Kary and whispered, "Call 911." He called and they had him check my pulse which was 200 beats/ minute. The ambulance showed up in about 2 minutes and about 8 big southern dudes were in our bedroom. I managed to throw on some sweat pants and a t-shirt Kary grabbed for me before they got there. They hooked me up to an oxygen tank and a heart monitor. When the medic was sticking heart things all over my back and chest he asked me if I had breast implants...I laughed. They tried a few things to slow my heart rate and nothing was working. The medic told me that since I was pregnant they really could not do what they usually do. They took my blood pressure which was low...weird...and loaded me on a stretcher down the stairs to the ambulance. Kary stood at the door and waved to me and smiled as they closed the door. As soon as I got in the ambulance I felt much more relaxed. The medic told me the OBGYN said it was ok to do the procedure he wanted. It would mean he would inject me with something that would stop my heart for about 2 seconds and reset it. This of course terrified me! Luckily, as he was about to do it my heart rate fixed itself without meds. I rode to the hospital and by the time we got there I was doing much better. The nurses instantly hooked me up to more monitors and scanned for the baby's heartbeat. At first she could not find it. It took her about 3 minutes to find it and it felt like an hour. I did not look at Kary because I knew he was worried too. Finally, she found it and said it was strong and that baby was just jumping all over not cooperating. Apparently, since the baby's heartbeat averages 160 beats/ minute my rapid heart rate didn't affect him/her too much.
We stayed in the room a few hours while they monitored me and I called my mom. Then the nurse gave us some towels so Kary could wash the conditioner out of my hair in the hospital bathroom. They took my blood and said I had low potassium and they gave me some pills, juice, and graham crackers. They told me I was good to go home and I needed to follow up with a cardiologist to make sure everything is ok with my heart. The doctor gave me instructions on what to do if it happens again. Risa came to pick us up and I was standing outside the hospital with hospital footies, shiny blue sweat pants, an old hot topic t-shirt and a giant messy curly afro...but I was just happy to be going home and to have a normal heart rate again. The whole thing was super freaky but I remained surprisingly cool and so did Kary. I don't know what I would have done without him. Now I am just taking it easy and hoping everything goes well at my cardiologist appointment. Next blog will be after our sonogram and we'll reveal the sex of the baby! Hopefully, no more drama til I poop on the delivery floor! ;-)

"The Fat Lady"

Today's doctor's appointment was awesome! I was just expecting a boring regular check-up but it could not have gone better :-) We met Dr. Campbell and he was awesome! He was super friendly and took the time to talk with us instead of just rushing through like "Dr. Bland" we had last month. My blood pressure was great, I measured good and the nurse found the heartbeat as soon as she placed the monitor on my belly. Then she told me I was so tiny which was amazing since minutes before the other nurse shared with me that I have gained 10 pounds in a month!!! ahh!! I have never weighed this much in my life and I'm sure it's nothing compared to the heiffer I will become! :-) The heartbeat was 160 beats per minute. It slowed down a bit since last time, which is good. The heartbeat was very loud this time and the nurse said it was so strong they could probably hear it in the waiting room...ha. I also found out I can go back to my better, cheaper, prescribed allergy pills!! yay! maybe now I'll get some relief!
The best news ever was when Dr. Campbell told us we get to come back in 2 weeks (not four!) for the sonogram and to find out the sex! woohoo! We are scheduled May 10th and now we really can't wait! I can't wait to see him/her flipping around and finally know what clothes we can buy. I also should start feeling some movement in the next 3 weeks or so...super cool!
Lastly, to explain the title of this post. Today, one of my students decided to write a story about me. He titled it, "The Fat Lady." He drew me as a giant circle with a tiny head and arms and legs. He drew a baby in my belly and wrote boy pointing to the baby. The story is about me growing gigantic and taking over the world.

barf, nosebleeds, and asthma attacks...oh my!!!

so glad he's by my side...but keep that damn flower off my face! I'm allergic!!!






I have started week 16 (4th month) I am definitely noticing that I am pregnant and so are others. My pants barely fit and I have been holding them together with a hair tie. My shirts that once fell at my waist are now belly shirts...it's quite odd. I've never had a weight issue and not been able to fit in clothes...luckily, I have a good reason to be packing on the fatty pounds!
For weeks, I could not wait until the general public could tell I was pregnant. That way I would not just look like a chubby girl who drank a bit too much in college but rather an adorable tiny pregnant lady ;) Unfortunately, my first encounter with a stranger commenting on my pregnancy was from a teen girl at target who walked by me and said to her friend, "Uh oh...somebody got preggo." At the time it kind of pissed me off. I am a week away from being 30!...I am married!...and we tried for almost a year!!! haha! I guess I should just think of it as a huge compliment that I look like a teen. Turning 30 and gaining weight is a rough combo so I'll take some girl thinking I'm an irresponsible teen who got "knocked up!" ha.
This past weekend has been rough. Friday night Kary and I went out for Chinese food after I went to a performance of my students dancing the polka. I had a bad headache all day that day and our meal was interrupted by me dashing to the bathroom and barfing up my entire meal...there goes $10! The toilet was filled to the rim with rice and tofu (yum..huh?) When I went to flush, the toilet was broken...I walked back to the table, eyes watering and make-up running, and told Kary I'd be in the car. But, I ate the leftovers the next day and they were delicious. I also had an asthma attack later that night and again on Monday. Each morning since Friday I have had the joy of waking up with a nosebleed. We got a humidifier for our room and today was my first morning with no nosebleed! yay! haha....my allergies are ridiculous, I can barely sleep since I can't breath out of my nose and my nose runs constantly. I thought the second trimester was supposed to be the easiest! oh well.
This Friday we have an appointment...we'll hear the heartbeat again and get a chance to talk to the doctor about any questions we have. Then we'll make our next appointment to get our first sonogram and find out the sex!!! We have been thinking girl...but now are getting the boy vibe...we'll see what they find: "peep" or "hoo hoo"....We can barely wait!!

POP goes the BABY!

It seems as though overnight my belly has popped! Today was my "coming out" at work since apparently there is no hiding my baby bump. I am now 15 weeks and feeling good. I have been working out on wii active every day and rubbing the cocoa butter like crazy. My mom and I are in the process of planning my shower for this summer. It will most likely be on June 26th at my mom and dad's house in PA. Kary and I are working on our plan to get all the furniture out of the guest room and start to organize. With 5 months left it seems like a long time but I'm sure it will go fast.
The weather has been super hot here and my allergies are horrible. I started zyrtec yesterday and getting some relief. Kary has been working hard on the yard doing a major overhaul and we are hoping to get a patio set this weekend so we can enjoy the weather.
Brooklyn and Brixton don't seem to understand what is going on yet. When I say that a baby is going to come they run to the door and bark as if he/she is going to be delivered to the front door..ha
Baby is now about 4 inches long and is busy growing like crazy. It is such a strange feeling to have my belly grow right before my eyes. I cannot wait until I feel movement!


Here is a picture with my head included..ha

Easter Weekend

This past weekend I got to see my family for the first time since we found out about the baby. It was so awesome to see everyone and be spoiled ;-) My mama made sure I was resting and my dad made sure I kept stuffing my face. The weather was beautiful and it was awesome to cuddle with baby Isla Rose and play cops and robbers with Mason. They surprised me with an early birthday celebration. My mom made an ice cream cake and Jess and Andrea got me really cute maternity shirts (my first ones) My mom got me a gorgeous turquoise necklace that will keep her close to me even though we're separated by 500 miles.
While in PA, I started to notice that at night my stomach gets very tight. My sister (2 time mom) said it is my muscles stretching. It's super uncomfortable but I'm sure nothing compared to what is about to come. I am 14 weeks now and officially a third of the way there. I am feeling pretty good besides my extreme allergies. My doctor did not give me the ok to get back on my allergy meds so I'll have to settle for some over the counter stuff, which I am sure will make me super jittery. My asthma meds are also not recommended so I am going to use my rescue inhalor as needed and hope my breathing is ok. Our fetus can hear this week so I'm sure Kary will be spending lots of time yelling random things into my belly. I have also started cocoa buttering my belly every night. Stretch marks are not an option!
We still have 2 weeks before our next appt and 6 weeks before we find out the sex and get our first sonogram. Now, I'm just watching my belly bump pop and enjoying spring break and being pregnant. I miss my family like crazy but will see them at the end of June for my shower. It is always hard saying goodbye to them. My mama gave my belly a kiss as we left...so cute!


Here are the 2 shirts I got for my birthday. Jess got me the polka dot one and Andrea got me the blue tank top. Both are big for now but I'm sure they will fit by my birthday.