Dec 10th

Well I know that I am a couple of days late to write this but better late then never. LOL!
So on Dec. 8, 2008 @ 8:10 PM Baby Gavin was born to Bill and Juliann!! He was born at 34 weeks. He weighed 5lbs 13oz and was 19in long. He was perfect!! Juliann and Bill actually were able to hold him wihile I took pictures, a first! Since then Gavin has had a little problem bur he had surgery yesterday to correct it and is doing well in the NICU.
The best part of the enitre thing, for me, was that I was there!! I was finally able to be there for one of Juliann's births. It was amazing. She did awesome. her water broke at 4:50 PM. We were at the hosiptal by 5:50. Bill got there by about 7 PM and that is when labor really got going hard on her. She went from 2cm to 7 cm in a little less then 2 hours and then from 7 to 10 in about 15 minutes. She pushed for about 15 minutes and we had a baby!
I can tell you this, I am SOOOOOO not ready to birth another baby (too late, I know)! LOL!!
Yesterday my niece, Elizabeth, turned 8 years old. I can't believe that she is 8 already, where does the time go. She actually had a movie birthday party last Saturday. We saw Bolt. It was really cute!
Today is my FIL's birthday. He lives in FL so we will not be able to see him today. We did send him out a card and few pictures of Addison that we had done in Oct. We will call down to FL later on when Michael gets home so we can all talk to him together. I have to say that Addison (as well as Michael and I) do miss my IL's. We will be seeing them in May for my niece's 1st Holy Communion and then again for the baby's Christening and are definitely planning a trip to FL some time next year too!
As for me and the baby, we are doing well. This kid kicks so much that I am afraid that the baby is going to come out with a soccer ball attached to his/her foot. LOL! It is constant. Addison was NEVER like this. She was very content in there. LOL!
I did do a heck of a lot yesterday, in and out of the house and I think that I over did it a bit. I was so sore on my right side last night that I almost fell when I tried to walk to the bedroom. Michael had to almost carry me in. It was not fun!! I did take a Tylenol 3 with Codine, so I could get some sleep. They were prescribed to me by my OB the last time I pulled a muscle. Today I am still sore but not as bad.
Ok, It is time to feed babies nad put toddlers down for naps. I'll blog again soon.

My Second Level II Sonogram

So I had my second Level II Sonogram on Friday, 12/5, We were there for over 3 hours!! I got there with Addison at about 2:40 PM for a 3 PM appointment. Michael came at about 3:15 PM. I was still in the waiting room with 3-4 more patients ahead of me. We finally got into the sonogram room at about 4:15 PM. Then Tad was being uncooperative, as usual. LOL!
When we first went into the room we were with the tech. She checked over the the baby but saw that Tad was in a bad position again. She did manage to get Tad's femur length, head and stomach sizes too but when it came time to attempt to get Tads face, lips and nose, to be exact, to check for a cleft lip and/or palate Tad was very uncooperative. Forget about getting Tad's heart!!
The tech would stop for a few minutes and I would lay to one side, to see if Tad would move and it would work but only for a few seconds. After about 45 minutes of trying the tech was able to visualize Tads lips and nose. Still no full heart though.
Next the Perinatologist came in and tried for about 20 minutes. He then sent me for a little walk. Michael, Addiosn and I went down to the cafeteria and I got a soda, figuring that the sugar would motivate Tad to move.
I got back and the Perinatologist tried again and NOTHING!! (Stubborn, just like Mommy. LOL!) He made me lay on my side for a bit longer, again. The tech came in about 10 minutes later and tried again. I have to say that she has some patience. I was so sore, from the pushing with the probe, that I wanted to leave and come back another time, but they were not having that. LOL! About after 20 minutes of trying the tech was finally able to get a video thread of Tad's heart, all 4 chambers!! Thank God!!
By the time we left there it was a little after 6 PM!! I did not get the see the Perinatologist so he could go over the heart findings because he had an emergency come down from Labor and Delivery but I knew that I had to call today for a growth scan in a few weeks and I was told that he would talk to me over the phone if needed.
So I called this afternoon for a growth scan after my OB visit and I was told that all is perfect with Tad's heart. Tad is weighing about 12.5-13oz, right on target!
My OB visit was nothing special today. Just a weight check and going over some of the issues that I have been having in the past and now. Mostly just the Braxton-Hicks contractions. I was told by my OB to up water intake (if possible) and I was also told no cardio unless it is swimming or water aerobics because the BH seem to get worse after a workout (I even get a few real contractions) after a moderate to high intensity workout.
Thursday will be my Hematologist appointment and then nothing until right after the new year. I have two appointments on the same day and then 2 other appointments later on in the month.
I cannot believe I am over half way through my pregnancy already. It seems like just yesterday I POAS and saw the "PREGNANT" on it. I love being pregnant! I am going to miss it so much. Well, I have breast feeding to look forward to too. I do love to nurse! As for future pregnancies and babies.... You can count on it!!
Here is a picture of Tad from Friday. I have labeled it too, enjoy!

It's Been A While

Well today is the last day my My and Michael's vacation. I have to say that we were pretty busy too. We took Addison to the Crayola Factory in Eaton,PA. We all had a wonderful day there. We also rearranged Addison bedroom and have her sleeping in her toddler bed about 90% of the time. We actually bought a Christmas tree too. I always had a real tree but this year I decided that it was a good idea to buy a fake tree and use it for the next few years. It will be much easier to put up, take down and care for a real tree while being pregnant (hopefully there will be more pregnancies after this one!!) and while the baby is small. I figure that by the time our youngest child is 3-4 years old we will go back to a real tree.
We bought our tree at Walmart. We spent $200 on the tree and it is beautiful! I swear, it looks like the real thing. I would post a pic but only the tree is up, it has not been decorated quite yet. Michael will get the ladder up for the attic and I will go up there tonight to get the Christmas stuff down. I am hoping to get outside our apartment decorated tomorrow and Thursday and then do the Christmas tree this Saturday with Michael and Addison.
Thanksgiving was very nice. We went out to my Uncle's house and spent it with my Uncle, his girlfriend, his 4 children, my 2 brothers and their wives and kids, my mother and my grandmother. I have to say that it was a very calm and relaxing day (once we got through the 2.5 hours of traffic to get there. LOL!)
We also went to the mall on Sunday evening and yesterday evening, to get Addison acclimated to Santa so she can take pictures but I do not think that it really worked. We are taking her for pictures tonight but I will be dressed and ready to sit in on the pictures too.
I am not too happy about tomorrow, it is back to work for us all. Yes, I have missed having Catherine in the house but it has been so great to spend so much time with my family together (plus the added help from Michael when I am not feeling too good or tired). Well, that's life. I would much rather give up some time with my DH and work then have to depend on others to take care of me, Michael and our children.
Well here are a couple of pictures of me at 19 weeks pregnant. The first one is of Addison giving "Her baby'" a kiss and the next one is just a side shot of "The Bump!"

Level II Update

Well, my Level II went ok, not the best but ok. It seems that Tad was not being very cooperative. LOL! Every time the tech would put the probe to my belly, Tad would curl up and turn over, so she could not see everything needed. We were able to see a perfectly round head and brain and a normal Nuchal Fold which were my main concerns. We were also able to see Tad foot, a quick glimpse of Tad's face profile with a little bit of Tad's hand, Tad's bladder and leg. Tad is measuring at about 7 oz, which is perfect.
We did not visualize Tad's gender (nor do we want to know) The tech and the Perinatologist also had problems getting a proper look at Tad's heart and a couple of other things. I will be heading back on 12/5 for a repeat Level II and then every 3-4 weeks after that to make sure that the baby is growing properly due to the medication that I am taking.
I do have a pic of Tad but I do not have a new profile pic of my belly bump. I am hoping to get a couple of good pics this weekend and I will update with them when I get them.
For now, here is my Baby Tad...

Should Have Done This A While Ago

Well here I am and I am PREGNANT!!!! I am 18 weeks pg today!! I am so happy that I can finally shout from the rooftops that I am pregnant. I go tomorrow for my forst Level II sonogram. I have to say that I have had 6 sonograms and 1 cervical scan already. LOL! Yes, I am checked and followed very closely, but really, I do not mind. I love to watch my baby grow.
Addison is so very excited to become a big sister. I can't wait for her to see "her Baby'" tomorrow. She gets really excited and happy to see the baby on the "TV". I have had a few little hiccups but all is going well.
So here is a pic of me at 13 weeks pregnant...

I will update my baby bump pice tomorrw and add a sonogram pic tomorrow. I will try to add all the sonogram pics that I have, in order (newest to oldest) also.