Heading toward the 10w mark

I knew my toes were down there somewhere.

Hayride ‘09

Kicking off the night in the corn crib

And we wonder how all the corn got in his boots?

Um, anybody else think maybe I should get me a little one to dress up in pink fluff?

Okay, maybe Seth isn’t too keen on that idea…

Who needs to carve a pumpkin when you can just paint one?

No comment. (Except, I want one.)

Heading back to the bonfire for the wienie roast

Poor Kasey…..this pot of chili spilled in her truck on the way to the farm.  Needless to say, we were extra careful not to spill any more on the flatbed (though something tells me this would have been easier to hose down than Brock’s truck…)

Jim and Daniel, dutifully feeding their famished wives

The mr. and mrs., sneaking a kiss

Mommy and Seth on the real moonlit hayride

 

Ending the night on the four-wheeler, pickin’ up chicks =)

And, of course, the shoes full o’ corn.

My Autumn Porch

If I’d been really on the ball, these pictures would have been blogged weeks ago.  But it’s no secret that I’d not really a blog-in-the-moment kind of girl, so, the pictures are “late.”

But it’s still autumn, right?

I’m happy to report that all the decor on my porch totaled under $30.  That’s for 3 medium mums and 22 various sized pumpkins (thank you, Nashville Farmer’s Market), the brass lantern, the ghost luminary, and the two Pottery Barn candlesticks (clearance a couple years ago).  Oh yeah, and the wreath on the door was from my wedding four years ago.

There is one more touch that I have yet to get a decent photo of, and that is of the 20 lit-up jack-o-lanterns that are edging the front landscaping.  Maybe on Halloween night, when we host our party….

Can I just tell you how proud I am of my fall nesting this year?  I’m bound determined to follow up this post with pictures of the touches I’ve added indoors.  Hold me to it, people! =)

Not feeling well

I've been taking it easy for the past three hours, trying to beat down this persistent headache that has been building for a few days.

No relief yet.

I just took my BP, and it's holding steady in the 145/85 range. =(

I have to pick up the Chicklet's Brother from school in a little while, but will continue to try to stay off my feet and still this afternoon, and monitor the BP tonight.  If it stays up, I'll be heading into Dr. M's office in the morning.

=( and more =(

9w update

How far along? 9w1d

Total weight gain: Holding steady at +/- 0 lbs.

Maternity clothes? yes, in pants, skirts, and dresses.  Tops are either/or right now.

Sleep: Better than I expected it to be at this point.

Best moment this week: Having someone in WalMart ask the Chiclet's Brother "are you getting a baby brother or sister?" with a knowing wink at me.

Movement: Nope.

Gender: I'll admit, I'm hoping pink.

Labor Signs: Nope, although my BP was not great at my ob appt this week.

Belly Button in or out? In. .

What I miss: The freedom to not worry about 7 different prescriptions, all refilling at different times, at different dosages, to be taken at different times of the day.  Ergh.

What I am looking forward to: Next u/s at 11w.  14 days from today!!!!

Weekly Wisdom: Try NOT to be so focused on wanting the baby to be a girl, and just focus on health.

Milestones: First run in with the insurance/pharmacy/MFM office.  Fun times.

One hat, two years

2008

2009

Seth’s new favorite “vegetable”

Just a teaser from the great time we had at our hayride Saturday night.

This is what I found when I took off Seth’s boots:

I think that goes to show just how much fun he had.  He never once let on that there was this much corn in his shoes – he just kept on movin’ and runnin’ and enjoying all the fun!

Oops. It’s like I forgot a had a baby blog

No worries, though.

I'm still here, and I'm still pregnant.

What is there to report?

I've started my Lovenox injections, and after a little mishap with the first shot (I chickened out and had Chicklet's Daddy do it), we've gotten the hang of it: ice before, jab the needle in quick, and depress the plunger slowly.

I had a regular obgyn appointment last Tuesday.  Weight gain is holding steady at +/- 0 lbs. 
Yea!  By BP, on the other hand, is on the rise.  It was 144/97.  Yikes.  Dr. M said that she would consult with my MFM to see if we needed to change or increase my two BP meds.

Other than that, I go back to both the MFM and Dr. M on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Until then, I'm just trying to take it easy, not overdo it with Chicklet's brother, and enjoy getting back into comfy, cute maternity clothes.

Can I just say, it makes my heart happy to be closing in on the 9w mark?  Whoo-hoo!

Rain or shine, we’ll get our Touch of Autumn

Believe it or not, this is actually the first  picture of the day.

Although the forecast proved accurate with a balmy 46 degrees and steady, misty drizzle, we ventured out to the pumpkin farm with some friends.  About a hour into our trip, Seth decided he’d rather curl up with his socks than enjoy the scenery.

Look, Mom!  Gourds!

AP and Seth, adorable little teachers’ pets

The farm we visited had a learning barn where the little ones were schooled in the ways of honeybees and taught to recognize the various types of pumpkins, like Fairytale, Cotton Candy, Cinderella, Munchkin, and the featured Touch of Autumn.

  Seth, meet Peter.  Peter, meet Seth.

There were rabbits, cows, goats, donkeys, turkeys…..lots of farm animals that the kids could interact with and feed.  (Can I just say that your nose alone would tell you in no uncertain terms that you were on a working farm?!)

Nope, not in there…..

In the milking barn, the little ones can “milk” a cow – and despite that it’s only water that shoots out from the udder, let me tell you, it’s pretty realistic!

Yes, he is the only one facing the wrong direction.  He was just rallying the crowd!

For the PIG RACES!  I have to admit, it was awesome.  The pigs race for Oreo cookies, and you better believe they can move!  It made me want to come home and watch the movie Babe.  “Out” pig (assigned to our section of the crowd) won two out of the three races.  Way to go,  Piglet!

 

Without a doubt, Seth’s favorite part of the day was the Corn Crib – a huge, well, bin, of corn kernels, ala ball pit style.  He had to be parent-retrieved twice before he’d get out.  Once he got the hang of walking in the shifting maize, he loved it!

 

Finally, after a full day of walking through the mud, the little ones were sent into the patch of Touch of Autumn pumpkins to pick their very own.  As you can see, Seth felt it necessary to walk to the entire other side of the patch to select his “ball.”

Was it worth the drive (even though we got [a little] lost on the way home?  Worth the $6 admission?  Worth the 2 hours in the rain and muck?  Worth getting the F250 buried in the mudbath of a parking lot?  (Sorry, the stress of that experience kept me from taking photos.)  Was it worth the less-than-perfect conditions to spend a day with my son?

Um, yeah.  I’d say so. =)

I remember

Wow.

How much has changed in the short year since I wrote this post last October.

At that time, I only had one personal loss to acknowledge on National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day – our first miscarriage in February 2007.

Just four short days later, our gone-too-soon children grew in number from one to three, with the loss of our twins on October 19.

Seven months later, it grew again to four with the birth and homegoing of our sweet Duncan on May 19.

So today, I light my candle for not one.  Not even four.  Because sadly, the list of children who I am personally missing  has grown beyond the confines of my own family.

So, yes, today I light a candle in remembrance of my four, but also….

…for my mom

…for my grandmother

…for Stacy

…for Kendra

…for Daina

…for Kelly

…for Stephanie

…for Stacia

…for every mother who has an empty spot at her dining room table.

A change of heart

When Jason flew us to Nashville last October to house hunt, Jim and I were on a mission, yes, but it was also whirlwind mini-vacation.  We’d talked long and hard about whether or not we should rent somewhere until we knew which Nashville suburb we wanted to live in, or whether or not we’d be willing to make a move on a great deal, if we were to stumble across one.  I don’t think either of us truly expected to find a house in the 36 hours we were going to be traipsing across the Nashville metropolis with our realtor Wanda.

But, we did.

On Sunday, October 12, 2008, Wanda showed us our 23rd potential house, and we knew.

This was to be our home.

And the most miraculous thing happened, in just the last month.

Not only was it home, but it felt like home.

The last time we were in Ohio to visit family, I got homesick.  For Tennessee.

I missed my friends.  My neighbors.  My trees.  My house.  My church.  I wanted to go home.

So here you have it.  An entire year later.

New paint.  New lights, indoor and out.  A few more flowers, a few less trees.

 

Home, sweet home.

Why, yes, I am aware it’s been almost a week since I posted

Life, peeps.

Sometimes it gets in the way.

Here.  Until I get force my brain to string together something meaningful and coherent and relevant, amuse yourself with these pictures from last Friday’s lunch date with the future inlaws.

A-pesh and Ah-Besh (translation: Presley and Aunt Beth)

Could you not just eat this girl up?!

Seth is confident in his manhood, despite his underwear showing.

Aw!  Their first kiss!
(I’m thinking that should go on the wedding invite somewhere, Beth…)

Ultrasound shocker

Well.....

Apparently, I'm just destined to be a humongous freak of nature with the growth of my belly in the next several months, because as of our ultrasound yesterday....

.....we think.....

.....pretty much.....

...that we are having.....

ONLY one baby.

Yep, just one.

Probably.

See, the sonographer decided to try to get what she needed by an abdominal ultrasound rather than a transvaginal ultrasound (which would have provided the most clarity).  And she got the measurements of the Chicklet, the heartrate (155 bpm), and the rest of the inner workings of my uterus.

When we asked her, "Now you're sure there's only one," she promptly replied, "nope."

But she thinks that there is only one, but we'll know for sure for SURE at our 11w ultrasound in early November.

So, no need to change the blog title to "The Chicklets."

Yet.

;)

The masses are demanding Double Corn Chowder

I had a laaaazy day on Sunday.  It was wondrous.  I spent the ENTIRE day in wool socks, yoga pants, and my 13 year old OSU sweatshirt.

I watched a ton of football, and lit candles, and filled the house with the wonderful aroma of a crockpot recipe I found in my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook.

And then I posted about it on my Facebook page, and got bombarded with requests to share the recipe.  So, here you go!

Potato Double Corn Chowder

1 bag (16 ounces) frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed (4 cups)

1 can (15.25 ounces) whole kernel corn, undrained

1 can (14.75 ounces) cream-style corn

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon pepper

In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients.  Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 to 8 hours (or High heat setting 3 to 4 hours) to develop flavors.

Here are my personal, non-Betty Crocker approved tips:

1. Have your hubby surprise you with a pancake breakfast the day before you plan to make this recipe. That way, you already have bacon cooked and ready to crumble into the chowder.

2. I wish I would have sprayed the sides of my crockpot with cooking spray; the sides are not-quite-burnt, but they are going to be a PAIN to clean.

3.  Jim and I both liked the flavor, but think something is missing.  We have yet to put our finger on it.   Maybe green chiles?  It just needed a little more kick.

4.  I think 6-8 hours, even on low, is more than sufficient to cook this.  As Jim put it, the consistency ended up being “like the insides of a lima bean.”  Gross to think of, but surprisingly accurate.

5.  Also, I didn’t bother with a real onion; I just used onion flakes I had in the pantry.

Hope you all enjoy this recipe!  It was a great football-watching meal, paired with milk and blueberry muffins.  Have a great week, y’all!

I know a 6w fetus isn’t that big yet…

...but holy cow, a baby (or babies) can still do some serious pressure-pushing on my bladder.

Chicklet's Daddy and I went out to dinner last night, and I had to get up no less than FOUR times in a 90-minute timeframe.

All I do anymore is pee and shovel in Saltines.

And I'm loving every stinkin' minute of it. =)

Pre-tasted

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You expect them to grab one as soon as the sheet comes out of the oven.

Seth prefers to take a bite before the cookies get baked.

Whatever, dude.

(Thanks for the special treat and the laughs, Gramma.)

I think the phrase you’re looking for is “holy crap”

6w4d

Place your bets, ladies.  How many are in there?

Un

Don’t hate me, okay?

Remember when my Blogger feed list pooped out on me back in August?  I was so disgruntled by the whole thing, that I switched over all my “followed” blogs to Google Reader (which I highly recommend, by the way).

But then my Blogger feed started working again, and I now I get multiple notifications of post updates to all the blogs I read.

So…..I’m going to unfollow.

Everybody.

It doesn’t mean that I’m not reading you – because I am.  You’re just going to lose me as a public follower.

I know.  Bringing your follower total down a notch is selfish of me.  But a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to keep her life as simple as possible.  Or, at least her time spent reading blogs.

So, there’s your heads up. =)

Welcome, Octo-month.

You’re my favorite.

I love you.

Pregnancy Brain

It has struck much sooner, and much more severely, than ever before.

Due to my lack of brain power, my housekeeping has suffered.

Point in case: last night, as we walked into our bedroom, Chicklet's Daddy stared in disbelief at the state of the room.  (Yeah, it was bad.)

I just shrugged my shoulders, and I kid you not, the following sentence came out of my mouth:

"This window has caused my pregnancy to fly right out the brain."

So, I'm pregnant.  Apparently that means I can't make the bed, or form coherent sentences.

Taking away the doorstop

Today, I remove the stop that is holding the door open on my twenties.

As of midnight Wednesday, it is my 29th birthday, and for the next 365 days, the doorway to my twenties will be swinging steadily toward 30.

And you know what?  Bring it on!

My twenties were great – wonderful college memories, opportunities to travel, a bachelors degree, real paychecks, falling in and out of love, a short detour to a life in sunny California, a surprise career in insurance, marriage, my first “grown-up” house, a baby (or 2 or 5…), a not-so-short-can’t-really-call-it-a-detour move to Tennessee.

So, happy birthday to me!  Let’s see just what fun we can pack into this last year of 20-something!

Escape

News flash, Interpeeps.

Seth can now open a traditional doorknob.

Which is just great, because that is all we have in our home.  And it’s not like I ever kept a door shut to keep him out of things.

Riiiiiight.

Anyone have an opinion on whether those Safety1st knob covers are worth it?

Sous Chef

lettuce CPR from The Writer Chic on Vimeo.

You’d wonder how my mother-in-law gets any cooking done when Seth isn’t in town.

Foreshadow

On Sunday, I had dinner with a girlfriend who I'd met through the Internet (don't you just love blog people?), who also happens to be pregnant -- about a month ahead of me.

We were trying to reassure eachother that this time would turn out great (given both of our past less-than-stellar conception histories).

Wednesday, she went to her first midwife appoint, and sadly, there was nothing detected -- no sac, no baby, no heartbeat.  She was devastated, to say the least.

Her doctor gave her a few options: (a) she was earlier than she thought, and it was just too soon to see anything; (b) the pregnancy was ectopic and she'd need to have an ultrasound on Friday; or (c) it was another blighted ovum.  She had her betas drawn on Wednesday after her appointment, and then just had to wait.

Her midwife had told her that if her betas were over 20,000 (keep in mind, she is almost 8w pregnant to my 5w), it would not be promising that there was a baby.  Under 20,000, there was still hope.

Thursday, she found out her betas were well over 120,000.

Again, she felt hopeless and heartbroken.

Friday morning, she went in for the confirming u/s, and to schedule a D&C.

But instead, she saw a healthy gestational sac, a perfectly formed yolk sac, and a beating heart.  Whoo-hoo!

And not only that, there was another gestational sac, just slightly smaller than the one with the baby.  There is still a chance that a twin is developing!!!

And not only that, but there were two more sacs, smaller than the others, with no visible signs of growth....

But still!  Can you believe it?  She said she knew she was in trouble when the u/s tech put in the wand and said, "Now, T____, did you conceive naturally?".

I can't help but remember what T___ said to me when she found out I was pregnant again: "This is going to be so great.  We are going to do this TOGETHER!!!"

Ugh.  Is it the 5th yet?

Beta, beta, bo, beta

I couldn't think of a more creative (or less cheesy) title.  My mind is still reeling a little from a phone call I received earlier today from my obgyn's office.

Last week, at 4w1d, I had a series of blood draws done.  I was approximately 15dpo (days past ovulation), but I'm guessing, based on my conception history, that I was closer to 12 or 13dpo.  Anyways.  I'd not heard from their office in the following days, so I assumed that all was well.

And then I received the following voicemail:

"Chicklet's Mommy?  This is Nurse from Doctor's office, and I need to speak with you regarding the results of your blood work.  Can you give me a call back at your earliest convenience."

Lovely, right?

So, I call back and tell the receptionist that I absolutley will hold while she finds Nurse, and in the meantime, sweat through my teeshirt.  Nurse gets on the phone all chipper, like usual, and says that I need to get her the phone number of a pharmacy (here, in Out of Town Land) so she can phone in a scrip for me ASAP.  I told her, "I'll be home Monday -- what's the rush?"

And then we do this awkward little dance where I want her to tell me what's wrong and she says "nothing is wrong" and I say "then why do I need this rx ASAP" and she says "Doctor just wants to be extra careful" and I say "why, what's wrong" and she says "nothing" and I say, calmly of course, "What were my betas" and she says "they were great!" and I say, calmly and sweetly of course, "BUT WHAT WERE THEY!!!!!????"

And in my head I'm thinking "over 30 over 30 over 30" (because that was what Chicklet's Brother's first draw was, and what I knew would be in the normal range).

Y'all wanna guess what my 15dpo beta was?

2,521.

Yep.  If you want to know the real significance of those numbers, you can click here or here.

When I told the Chicklet's daddy what Nurse had said, he just laughed.  I have a feeling we may be doing a LOT of that in the coming weeks.

To be continued...