Friday, July 31, 2009

Pregnancy 101: Dr. Ice and Seeing Red

Have I mentioned before how unsure I was about my OB? Let's call her Dr. Ice shall we? Because that is what she is. A BIG FAT BLOCK OF ICE. I'm officially over her. This is going to be a long one kids so hang on to your britches. Also, could be TMI. You've been warned.

On Wednesday of this week I started bleeding. Bright red blood. Which promptly sent me into a freak out because everything you read and everything your doctor's tell you is that if it's brown you're okay but if it's bright red you have cause for concern. I immediately called the advice line and the nurse made me an appointment with the next available doctor. Let's call him Dr. Gentle. So my sister and husband came with me and we went and saw Dr. Gentle. He was very kind. He did an examine and both an internal ultrasound and external. He said everything was fine and even showed us the baby and the heartbeat. It was a quick visit but leaving there I felt much better. He told me to go take it easy and that sometimes these things happen and at this point "whatever was going to happen was going to happen." I went home, put my feet up and was feeling better. But then it got worse. And the cramping started. I immediately laid down and stayed that way for the rest of the night. By the time I got up in the morning it seemed to have slowed down and although I was still having some cramping I headed out to work.

While I was at work yesterday I made one of my gazillion trips to the bathroom and there it was again. Worse than ever. This time I was determined to remain as calm as possible. I called the nurse on the advice line again and she immediately told me to go on bed rest and she wanted me to come in and see the doctor this morning. So that's what I did. I laid down all day yesterday. But it didn't let up. And there was cramping. Honestly it felt like I was have my Lady Days. Which, hello? You aren't supposed to have when you are pregnant. It was consistent all day yesterday until about 8:30 p.m. and then it started to let up a bit.

So I got up this morning and got ready for my appointment. My dad came to pick me up because honestly I didn't know if I would be in any state of mind to drive myself home. So we are about 2 minutes from the hospital and Dr. Ice calls. At first I was shocked and happy that she had. So unlike her to behave caring in any way. I got over that quickly. Basically she calls to tell me that there really isn't any reason at all for her to see me because she's not going to do anything different than Dr. Gentle and he's a good doctor. And really why would I want to waste my time coming into the office when she can just "reassure me over the phone." Oh and also, if for some reason I should decide to keep my appointment she is running late so I'm going to have to wait. "Sometimes these things just happen and there is nothing we can do about it." I was shocked. I was blown away that this doctor couldn't be bothered to reassure a first time mother that her baby was okay.

First of all, I am a first-timer. So every twinge, every cramp, every new symptom is being closely monitored by me. With pregnancy you don't know what to expect from day-to-day. The symptoms you have one day will be completely different the next. So you just try to stay in tune with your body and know as much as you can what is going on. I have tried very hard to not be one of those ladies (who are NOT crazy, just concerned) that calls every time I sneeze. All I have asked is that when I do have a question or I do see a doctor that they spend the time with me that is necessary to make me feel reassured and confident. Dr. Ice hasn't done that a single time. NOT ONCE. Every time I have seen her I have felt rushed out of her office. In fact she has told me multiple times, "If you think you are stressed now wait until the baby comes. That's stress. This is the easy part." I'm sorry but are you FREAKING KIDDING ME?!? Look lady I know that you see 1000 ladies a day but there is just one me. I'm not just another number on a chart. This is my FIRST pregnancy. If it was my third it might be a little different. I feel so responsible right now in ways I can't even explain. If something were to happen I would feel as if I had failed. As if somehow my body had let my baby down. Do I realize that after the baby comes it will a DIFFERENT kind of stress? Well, DUH. Seriously. So on top of how crappy she has been the last two times I have seen her for her to call and blow me off today has definitely pissed me off. And just to assure myself that I'm not crazy I've talked to my family about it and they all agree that as a first pregnancy this doctor should be willing to see me everyday if I wanted JUST TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER. So much for bedside manner. The other thing is that every other nurse, doctor, whoever I have talked to at the hospital since I got pregnant has shown extreme concern over my job. They all know where I work and when they find out they have all told me that I need to be very careful and try to keep my stress level as low as possible because the company I work for is not good with pregnant employees. They have all showed a high level of concern over this and my stress level. And yet Dr. Ice? Well, I just don't know stress yet as far as she is concerned.

So as it stands now I'm still bleeding. And I'm changing doctors. I'm going to find someone that gives a hoot about my feelings and is concerned enough to make sure that I am reassured that they have checked everything they can and are monitoring all they should to make sure my munchkin is okay. Medically they are correct. What is going to happen is going to happen. But I am actually paying for my insurance so they should be HAPPY AND WILLING to do everything they can to make ME feel better. And Dr. Ice? She can take a long walk off a short pier as far as I am concerned.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Lungs

Today my 5-year-old niece, Butterbean, is getting her tonsils out. Her doctor told my sister that her tonsils were the biggest he had seen in a child her age. Butterbean is really nervous and keeps telling us that she "doesn't want to get her lungs taken out." My sister had a hard time with this decision but ultimately decided to do it because the doctor said she would have to have them out sooner or later. So send good thoughts, prayers and good wishes her way today.

Monday, July 27, 2009

I Want to Be Their Friend

This couple is SO cool! I would love to be friends with this couple. Can you imagine how fun this wedding was?



Sunday, July 26, 2009

Beach Bash


My BIL hit the big 3-0 this week. Man, he's getting old. What's funny is I've known him since he was 14. I have literally known him half his life. And he's been married to my sister just about as long. Just kidding, but it sure seems that way.

My sister, being party planner extraordinaire planned him an AWESOME surprise party. The them was a 50's Beach Bash. The BIL had no idea. My hubby took him for an overnight fishing trip and brought him back to a huge waterslide in his yard, an outdoor theater, hamburgers and hotdogs, 50 people dressed up like a blast from the past and some really short shorts for him to wear.
It was such a fun day. There was a watermelon eating contest for the guys and a hula hoop contest for the girls. For prizes you could choose from Silly Putty, Fireballs, Bubble Gum, polka-dot sunglasses for the girls and fake Raybans for the guys. They also set up a volleyball court and a badminton court. When it got dark we all watched movies outside. They set up a sheet on the side of the garage and had a projector. So much fun! Happy birthday to my old BIL!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Melissa & Ade

If you don't watch So You Think You Can Dance you missed a powerful number last night. Most of these dances are pure fluff and entertainment but last night they literally moved me to tears. Choreographer Tyce DiOrio put together a number for Melissa and Ade about the fight of breast cancer. As someone who has had two women in my family fight against this awful disease it moved me. I cried through the whole thing. It's beautiful and a powerful tribute.



Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Wedding

About a month ago my little brother married a beautiful girl. It was a gorgeous, happy day. And even though I was a part of the wedding party I couldn't possibly NOT take pictures!

The wedding and reception took place at Capitol Plaza Ballrooms. What a beautiful old building! The ceiling in the ceremony site was gorgeous. It was nice because all us girls were able to get ready at the ballroom then go right downstairs for the ceremony! Talk about easy!


The ceremony was sweet and heartfelt. I of course cried. And my new little sister gave us all a laugh when she saw her ring. She hadn't seen it yet and she was VERY excited!

The reception was SO much fun. We had Mexican food for dinner, which I had never had at a wedding but is was so good and so them! The DJ was awesome (friend of the bride's family) and played all the perfect songs for dancing our booties off. All in all it was a perfect day.

To check out the rest of the pictures look at the slideshow!



Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Pregnancy 101: Waking up

It's been twelve days since I posted. Which is the longest I think I have ever gone without pestering you with my thoughts and silliness. So where have I been? People, I've been growing a kid. GOODNESS. Did you guys know that when you get pregnant all you want to do is sleep? Oh, you did. Well, shoot. No revelation there then huh?

Seriously, with the tiredness? Holy cow. I have been very blessed in this pregnancy. I've only had morning sickness three days. I've had three migraines (In the last three weeks. BOO.). But the tiredness? Oh the tiredness. It has nearly killed me. I am not someone that slows down usually. I'm going full kilt until I drop. I always have ten different things I'm working on. Not so much anymore. I have quit simply had to slow down and take a nap. The tiredness has been the most annoying part. Oh and the mood swings. HELLO HORMONES. It's that feeling that you get when you KNOW you are being irrational but it's like a speeding train and you just can't slow it down. Fun for everyone!

However I feel myself coming out of the fog. I'm eleven weeks pregnant now and I can literally feel myself waking up. I haven't even really been on the computer much in the last few weeks, but suddenly I'm interested again. I processed over 1000 pictures in the last two days, so be prepared. I'm back.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Roller Babies

I saw this video over on my friend Nicole's blog and had to share with you. SO CUTE! Enjoy!



Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Lovebug

I love this kid. LOVE. HER. She's the baby trying to figure out where she fits. She's the challenger. The fighter. And also the cuddliest little bug I've ever known. I love this bug.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

4th o' July

Happy 4th of July everyone! How blessed are we? We live in a country where we are given the freedom to disagree with our government, I don't have to stay at home just because I'm a woman, we can worship as we please and we are allowed to have different opinions. We are so blessed. Thank you to all those men and women who have and are sacrificing of themselves so that we can have these rights. There is no greater hero than you. I hope your day is filled with laughter and family!

Happy 4th! Let freedom ring!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Rejected

I consider myself a good friend. A very good friend. I think that those who know me well would agree. I'm usually everybody's sounding board, the one you come to for advice or if you just need somebody to listen. I work hard to maintain my friendship's and keep in touch with people. I have a lot of acquaintances but I have a handful of REALLY GOOD friends. And it seems to me that suddenly, without any warning, that circle is decreasing. And for the life of me I don't know WHY.

There are a few people whom I have developed very fun friendships with over the last year. We were brought together by life's circumstances and just really hit it off. I didn't think they were superficial friendships. We hung out, we did stuff, we emailed, talked on the phone. I got to know them, they got to know me. We were friends. But suddenly we aren't. Calls aren't returned, emails ignored, texts not responded to. Is it because I'm suddenly not able to party with you? Because that's when it seemed to start. So is our friendship based on a glass of wine? If so I seriously misjudged the situation.

There are other friends that I was really worried about telling I was pregnant. Because knowing how they are I really thought it would change them. NOT ME. Them. Does being pregnant change certain things, yes. But not who I am fundamentally. I'm still the same girl that has spent countless hours listening to you and being there for you. I still WANT to be there for you. And I want to share this with you. I don't sugar coat anything so I want to share all the nitty gritty with you if you want it! Just because we aren't in the exact same place in our lives doesn't change my feelings for you or our friendship. Just as me getting married didn't! Your fear changed our friendship not me!

And then there are those who have simply decided they are too busy for me. Ouch. I'm busy too. I work too. I do most of the same things you do. But I'm still trying. I'm still reaching out. What's your excuse? No one has stepped up to tell me if I have done something wrong. I'm not aware of it if I did. If I did know about it I would apologize. I don't want to lose friends. I love my friends. You mean the world to me.

It is hurtful. Here I am going through the biggest thing that has ever happened to me and to feel rejected hurts even more now. Especially because I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID.

I am not going to belittle what some of my friends have done. Some of you have become even better than I ever imagined (I'm looking at you TU). And I'm so, so thankful for you. I want you to know that. But when people walk away from you with no rhyme or reason or explanation it just hurts.