PUPPP

Merry Christmas to me! This Christmas, I got PUPPP, a rare skin rash that happens in less than 1% of pregnant women. Yippie!

It actually started on my stomach a few days ago. It didn't itch that much and seemed to be contained, so I didn't worry too much. When I woke up on Christmas day, the rash had spread everywhere--my legs, arms and face. It itched so freaking bad. I also noticed my legs were slightly blue colored. It was weird.

When I woke up this morning, everything still seemed so red and itchy. So I called my doctor and he asked me to come in and see him. We (KC and my sister) were at the hospital where they ran several blood tests on me. They wanted to make sure it wasn't a liver problem. I told the doctor I had read about PUPPP, and I thought that's what it was at first. After several hours, he concluded it must be PUPPP. Especially since I hadn't eaten anything unusual and because I had been using any new moisturizer or soap.

I took some Benedryl and cortisone cream and that seems to be helping.

What's interesting is the nurse told me if my legs were still blue and I was still itching, they might have to induce me next week. I'll talk to my doctor about that tomorrow.

Pupp?

For the last few days, I've had a rash on my tummy. It's little red bumps that are spread out across. At first I thought it was a new soap I was using, so I switched to my old kind. But it's still there.

I just did a google search and pulled up something kind PUPP. I have never heard of it. But the article I found said less than 1% of women get this. And it tends to happen in the last trimester.

Hmm. Maybe I should call the doctor. I don't want to, but maybe I should.

36 weeks and 2 days

Ahhh! Time is flying. And soon, he will make his grand appearance. I packed his things this weekend for the hospital. And I have some of my stuff packed. I have off in Thursday and Friday, so I'll try and finish it up then.

I'm totally nesting and I think I've gone a little bonkers. I've cleaned all of his clothes for the 1st 12 months. Thankfully, I stopped there. And I've been doing laundry and cleaning the house up.

The last few days have been great. I haven't felt much pressure on my vee-jay-jay. Prior to that, it really hurt for about a week. I had difficulty walking and moving. I felt a lot of pressure and it wasn't just uncomfortable, it was painful, too.

We are still trying to decide on a first name for him. We keep going back and forth. And now that I just saw the top names for 2007 posted on babycenter.com, I am knocking off two contenders: Caden and Logan. While I thought both were kind of cool, I hate that they're in the top 10. So it looks like it's really down to just two names now and I feel like we're really leaning toward one. I know KC has slipped earlier about the names we like and so far no one has liked the name we're leaning toward, I don't really care. After all, he's our son and we can name him whatever we want. This name we're leaning toward was actually the first one we liked, so it's funny we've come full circle. And honestly, it's the one where I feel like it's the right name. The other names made me feel nothing. So I'm trusting our instincts on this one.

Amniotic fluid vs. Discharge

So I thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid last night.

I took a shower and an hour later, my underwear was kinda wet. So I called my doctor. He was concerned and asked me to come to the birthing center. He said if I was leaking, I might have to deliver the baby that night. So of course KC and I were freaking out, b/c a) we weren't ready and b) we haven't even started packing an overnight bag.

We got there a little after midnight. And no one was there, so everything went fast. This nurse did some tests and let me say, I am such a wussie. They were simple ones. A swab here. A pap smear-like one there. Cervix checking. And all three hurt like hell. Mind you, the nurse went fast and hard on all three tests. But both KC and I could help, but wonder, how the hell am I going to get through child birth if I was jumping off the table with these tests. I was kinda scared before. But now I am definitely am.

The nurse came back and said I wasn't leaking amniotic fluid. Thankfully. She said sometimes when you're pregnant, your body temperature rises so much it literally melts your discharge. So while it was clear, it wasn't amniotic fluid. I totally overreacted. Oops!

Good news is the baby's heart beat is great and we actually saw a contraction on the monitor. I didn't feel a thing when it happened. The nurse reassured me, I would soon enough.

Mama's Having Some Fun

Tomorrow I hit 35 weeks. Thankfully, I have not lost my sense of humor.

34 weeks and 4 days

So much has happened over the last few weeks. Here's a quick update, since I am so pressed for time.

Besides being slammed at work and working 50+ hour weeks, we or rather KC, finished the nursery. It turned out really great.

We also took our first birthing class last Saturday. It wasn't as great as I had hoped. But I've learned a little, which is good. Plus, my insurance covers $90 so I only pay $40.

On Sunday, we had our baby bash. It was really wonderful. We had a good turn out, despite the rain and dreary weather. Mai and Jackie did a hilarious job on the games. They actually got guests to make fashionable diapers out of toilet paper and tape. It was insane. We got so many presents, too. I was blown away at how much stuff our son accumulated. He is one lucky kid!

I had my 34 week appointment today. The doctor said I am measuring 33.5 inches, which is on target or about .5 under, which is fine. The baby's heartbeat is still in the 140's. He said the baby is definitely a little lower than before and that he is most likely around 5 pounds right now. I mentioned to him how lately, I've begun to feel like my groin has been punched and slight menstrual cramp feeling. He said it is nothing to worry about, so I'll try not to.

I can't believe in 2.5 weeks the baby will be full term. Ahhhh! We better hurry and decide on the name. I have a feeling we're just going to walk in there with a list and decide.

Just 54 days to go

Dear lord, where does the time go? I'm now 32 weeks along and every time I think about the fact that soon, I will be pushing a baby out of me, I freak out. Not a joyous freak out. Oh no. It's more like, a "I am going to die" freak out. Hopefully, when we take the birthing class on December 1st, I will calm down and not be so scared.

This week is Thanksgiving. And we will have anywhere from 9-18 people. I plan to make the following:

-Turkey
-Red Mashed Potatoes with fresh parsley
-Deviled Eggs
-Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Green Apples
-Cornbread stuffing
-Homemade Pecan Chocolate Chip Pie
-Truffle cookies
-Fruit Ambrosia
-Corn Pudding

I am sure I will pig out and gain a few pounds.

2 $100 gift card

And I got two $100 gift cards as a baby present yesterday. I really can't believe the generosity of our friends and family. It's really touching.

30 weeks, 5 days

I had another appointment this morning. The doctor said I measured 30 cm, so I am right on target. He also said the heartbeat was in the upper 130's, so it looks like the little guy isn't as energetic as he was.

I told him my concerns about getting a flu shot. Especially with all the talk about mercury and autism. He said there is not scientific study. And the only reason this is now getting a lot of attention is because people are now looking for it. Back in the day, there was in a kid in class who probably had it, but at the time, it was diagnosed. Anyway, he said just do what I feel comfortable with. He didn't seem like I had to, especially since I do not work with small children.

I also asked him about the pre-natal vitamins at Costco versus prescription strength ones. I told him how my masseuse (my company pays for a chair masseuse every week and I had him massage my calves; it felt great) yesterday said that Costco vitamins are crap and that I should not take them. He disagreed. I told him the reason I switched back to Nature's Best is beacuse you get like 200 pills for $10 whereas the prescription cost $30 a month. I asked him if I'm really just paying for marketing. And he was like, you're a smart cookie. So I'm sticking with my Costco brand.

I've now gained about 21 pounds. Yikes! And my boobs don't feel as heavy as they did before, so I guess they're done growing. My energy also seems to be back. I don't feel exhausted at all. My nose is really stuffed however when I wake up in the morning. And I feel like there is phlegm backup when I eat sometimes. Tasty, I know. Besides that, everything else seems fine.

Birthing Class Screw Up

So our baby bash was supposed to be on Saturday, 12/1. But then I remembered I had signed up for this weekend birthing class and it started on that day. So last Friday, I switched into their November class, which was supposed to start on 11/10. Notice, I said supposed to.

Well the nurse called me on Saturday and was like, "Um. Are you coming?" And I was like class starts next week. And she said, "Actually it was a bumped up a week." Well, apparently, half the class didn't know this.

So now our baby bash has been switched to Sunday, 12/2. And now my mom can't make it. She claims she can't get off work on Sunday. It sucks, but there's nothing else I can do.

Baby Nursery

KC and his father painted the nursery this past Saturday. I wasn't sure whether to paint the nursey a light aqua color a fun greenish-yellow color. KC liked the greenish-yellow color better. And boy am I glad we went in that direction. The color is so bright and fun and it oozes creativity. The paint color is called Gleeful by Valspar.

I am really happy they painted it on Saturday, because we got an email on Sunday that the nursery furniture had arrived at Walmart and we could go pick it up. The staff was a little incompetent. But after 20 or so minutes, they found the boxes and helped us load it into our SUV.

My sister was over at our house. So she helped KC (a little) assemble the ParkLane crib. It took KC probably about an hour or less to put it together. And I think he's happy with it overall. We still need to assemble the changing table and finish hanging some of the art work and shelves up. But overall, it's coming along and I am excited that it will done before Thanksgiving, so it's one less thing I need to worry about.

This is going to be an insane week for me. Work is crazy! And I ended up selling both pairs of my Police tickets for tonight's show. I would have loved to see them. But, losing a few precious hours would have stressed me out of mind. I just need to get to next Monday and I'll be okay. I hope.

Thimerosal-free flu shots

So at my last appointment, my doctor told me to get a flu shot. But because I read too much, I have learned about thimerosal-free flu shots. He didn't recommend I get this particular kind. But after researching, I feel if I'm going to get one, I should. Apparently, thimerosal has mercury, which can cause autism and other kinds of brain damage. I normally don't get sick, so I am debating about whether to even get a shot.

Anyway, yesterday was Halloween. I dressed my belly up as Yoda. I really wanted a Luke Skywalker mask, but couldn't find one.

And I've now offically gained 20 pounds. Although, I am pretty sure in the next week, I will probably lose a pound or two. I got assigned 4 projects with insane deadlines, so the next week or so are going to be extremely crazy. I hope I don't forget to eat.

And tomorrow morning, I am selling my last 2 concert tickets to the Police. KC isn't in the mood to go and concerned about me, since I'm pregnant. I was mad, but now with all of this work piling up, I have no idea how I could go.

Just 75 days to go

I'm 29 weeks and 2 days along right now. And I'm in shock, I only have 75 days left until I have to endure the worst possible pain of my entire life.

I am glad to report that I passed my gestational diabetes (GD) test. Woohoo! And the rocking glider chair finally came in. KC loves it. It's really comfortable and I'm glad we splurged. I also ordered the ParkLane crib and changing table. It should arrive before the end of November. So that gives KC plenty of time to paint the nursery.

Besides that, this baby has gotten extremely active in the past week. It's almost like he never sleeps. He seriously moves around all day. He's kicking, doing flips and acting crazy. He must get that from KC. The book I'm reading said if you count 10 movements in 2 hours, that is good. Well, the other day I counted 35 moves in under a minutes. Insane! He was moving around a lot during this murder mystery party we went to on Saturday. I had to dress up as Alice in Wonderland and KC dressed up as the Mad Hatter. I looked absolutely retarded. And we were both totally brain dead the whole time. We didn't remember what anyone said. Thankfully, everyone in the room were lawyers. They really paid close attention.

After eating all weekend like a hungry hippo, I've also gained 20 pounds. It's mostly all going in my belly. But with the holidays around the corner, I'm worried that I might gain too much.

What great co-workers I have!

W*O*W!

When I came in, the office had a baby shower for me and two other pregnant co-workers. They made us a huge breakfast --waffles, bacon, sausage, bread, donuts, and fruit. And they gave us two stuffed animals--I got a dinosaur and a turtle--and they gave us a $100 gift card to Babies R' Us.

After getting stuck in traffic for almost two hours this morning, this really made my day. What great co-workers I have!

What about the crib?

Well, we to IKEA this past weekend. And we bought the Hensvik crib. It was $129. Even though it looks feminine, KC thought it was more practical. We haven't opened it yet and I was considering returning it, because the mattress was so low. I thought it would hurt my back after awhile. But after reviewing the site, it turns out, the mattress can be adjusted to 2 levels. So maybe it's worth it. The only real draw back for me is the conversion kit. It's $100 more. We wouldn't have to buy it for awhile, but it would ultimately cost us $229.



My alternative choice is now the ParkLane crib set at Walmart.com. I was really leaning toward the white and espresso Roxanne crib set. But now, I think it's kinda traditional. And well, the ParkerLane is really cool looking, especially considering the crib is $299. The mattress can be adjusted to 4 levels and it comes with the conversion kit. So for $70 more, you get a much nicer crib.

Gestational Diabetes aka GD Test

7-9% of pregnant women develop diabetes. As a preventive measure, doctors want moms-to-be to take this test--normally at week 28.

Ugh. Yes, the rumors about this test are true! The orange syrup is disgusting. It's okay for the first sip. But 10 ounces and five minutes later, you feel absolutely disgusting. That's because it's loaded with 50 grams of sugar and you feel like you're OD'ing on it. You have to wait one hour. One long, miserable hour. Then, when the time is finally up, you get some blood drawn.

The results won't come in for a few days. And I hope I pass. Because if I have to do it again, I'll die. The next test for those that fail takes 3 hours and is loaded with 100 grams of sugar.

OBX Last Vacation Before the Baby Comes

We went to Kills Devil Hills for one last vacation before the baby comes last week. Surprisingly, the weather was good. It never rained. It was a little chilly near the end of the week. But overall, it was good.

We met up with one of my old co-workers, Sissy. It was nice to see her again. And we also met up with Mimi, a copywriter I work with now.

I ate so much on this trip, I think I gained around 7 pounds. Yikes! And the underwire in my bras were killing me. Is that a sign that I am moving up a size?





KC's parents, Kyle, and his parents' friends joined us on Wednesday. After they arrived, we pretty much spend the rest of the week fishing. We fished one day on the Kills Devil Hills Pier, one day on Bodie Island SUV Beach, and one day on the Nags Head Pier. KC caught a few fish the first day, but nothing after that. We witnessed 2 people catch some huge fish. One was a Red Drum, which the man released. The other was a King Fish.




Overall, the trip was relaxing. The only annoying part was listening to KC's mom threaten her grandson. Instead of disciplining him, she used the word "Uncle" aka KC to make him behave. I warned KC this was not cool. It is not his job to discipline him. And she shouldn't make KC out to be the bad guy or rather, a bad uncle. It's not right and it's not fair.

If you click on the headline of this article, I included a link to the place we stay. We've gone there for 3 straight years. Although, maybe next year, we'll try a new house.

Rave: Childishclothing.com

It's SO freaking hard to find cool kid clothes. Especially ones that cost next to nothing. So imagine my surprise when I discovered this site, childishclothing.com

Let me start off my saying, yes, it offers really cool kid clothes. And they are expensive. But you have to dig a little to find a goldmine on this site.

Because boy, when they have a sale, they have a sale. I bought a few things that cost originally $40-58 for $8 each. Including the shirt in this picture. "My Dad Is My Hero." Too cool for words!

2nd trimester is no walk in the park

Whoever said 2nd trimester was great was obviously crazy!

With just a few weeks left in this trimester, I can tell you that this time hasn't been a breeze. I'm still getting morning sickness. Although, it has only happened a few times recently. And my energy level is almost non-existent. No matter if I drink a big cup of coffee, I can't seem to stay up late. And there's the sore hips, because lying your back hurts, so you flip from side to side only to make both your hips extremely sore. And of course, there's the bathroom runs you make in the middle of the night. Sometimes, more than once. And then there's the aversions. Certain foods still don't sound appetizing. And if you eat big portions, forget it. Your body will make you pay big time soon after.

Hopefully, the 3rd trimester is better.

25 weeks and 1 day

Seeing as time is beginning to run out, I am trying to get my butt in gear. Besides ordering the glider chair, we really haven't done anything.

I've been looking at crib sets for awhile now. It seems like all the cool ones are about $125-175--which is insane. I'm starting to come to my senses now about all of this. He's a baby. And he doesn't need to be spoiled with super luxury items--like designer crib sheets. So wherever I can save some money, I should do it. Starting with the crib set.

I have a 15% off coupon at Gap.com. I originally wasn't going to get a cutesy crib blanket. But seeing as this quilt is $30 with my discount. That's a great price-even cheaper than Target. So I'm ordering it along with the the bed skirt ($38)and 2 solid crib fitted sheets ($5 each). I'm not getting the bumper, because too many people have told me babies can suffocate from that.

One thing down and a million more to go!

UPDATE: Gap.com had problems, so I couldn't place my order. I just went on ebay and found someone selling the crib skirt for $13. Sweet! So that's $53 total for everything. The original price was like $180 for everything.

24 week appointment

So everything went fine today. The baby's heartbeat is 148, which is strong. I got to hear the heartbeat through the doppler, which is always cool. The doctor said in the next 2 weeks, I need to take the Glucose test. Ahhh! I'm not looking forward to drinking that syrupy orange drink. Blech!

Anyway, I ran threw some questions I had.

1. I found out Dr. Liao delivers on Monday and Wednesday and Dr. Ng delivers on Tuesday and Thursday. They rotate for long 3-day weekends. Dr. Ng said he delivers 85% of his patients' babies.
2. He said 50% of his 1st time mothers deliver past 40 weeks. I was really surprised to hear this.
3. He said when I go to OBX, try and keep the hot tub temperature at 85-90 degrees.
4. He said 75%+ of his patients get their sons circumcised. He said it generally happens the day after the baby is born. He said it's totally our choice. Recent studies show it makes no difference. It doesn't increase chances for STDs, etc.
5. And I was really worried about the overall size of our baby's head. KC and his family have some monster size heads and I was afraid his head would be so big, I would need a c-section. Dr. Ng looked at my 20 week u/s and said the baby's head measured 65%. So he does not have a big head. :)

And the biggest news was that it looks like my delivery date is now January 12, not January 14. Although, I guess 2 days is not really that big a deal.

gDiapers

From our hybrid to recycling to the new reusable shopping bags we bought, KC and I are taking baby steps toward being better to the environment.

So when I just read an article about gDiapers, I got very excited. Did you know that plastic diapers take over 500 years to distintegrate? And that Americans send 50 million plastic diapers to landfills every day?

Apparently, gDiapers is an Austrailian product that has been around for 15 years. And not only are the diapers (inside portion) bio-degradable and flushable, they have no inks or perfumes. So they are good for the baby and the environment.

Baby Registries

So far, we are registered at 2 places. And I haven't updated them totally.

For Target, our registry can be found by typing in my name or KC's or Registry #: 011003997103931.

For Babies R Us, you can find our registry by either of our names or the Regsitry #: 54075934.

24 weeks tomorrow

Tomorrow, I'm 24 weeks along. Only 16 weeks to go!

This afternoon, KC and I went on a hospital tour of Prince William Hospital's Birthing Center. Overall, we were impressed. We got to see the delivery room, which was totally different than we imagined. I guess we're used to hospital scenes from movies and television shows, because we imagined that moms delivered babies in an ER-type room. But at this hospital, you actually deliver in a very private room that is nicely decorated. Afterwards, we get to spend the "Golden Hour" with the baby. That is the 1st hour after the baby is born. The nurse said that babies are totally alert and can see 8-10 inches from you. So parents and baby can bond and the mom can breast feed if they want.

The nurse said I could have up to 3 people in the delivery room with mom. Although, it will probably be just KC. Unless my mom is interested in coming. And once I am transferred to my hospital room, which is a private room, I can have 4 guests at a time. Visiting hours are from 11-8:00.

I also liked the fact the hospital is secure. The baby has an ID on his ankle that functions like a lo-jack. If someone tries to remove the ID or leave the hospital with that ID on the baby, the whole birthing center will lock down.

I have my 24 weeks appointment this Tuesday. Hopefully, all is well.

Nano Highchair by Bloom

Well, I was going to get this really cool white high chair by Boon for $200. It has a lift on it like they do when you get your hair cut. But then I found this really cool highchair by the Bloom. It's the same European company, I bought that really cool lounger from.

What I like about it is that it can fold and be stored away. I love that, because I really don't want our house to get cluttered. Also, it's made out of micro leather and it has an adjustable footrest and tray.

Anyway, Right Start in Reston has in featured in their new catalog for $179.99. But Giggle.com is selling it for $150. You gotta love the web!!

Crib from Walmart

Well the last place in the world I would look for a crib turns out to have the best one at the best price. I was looking for something modern. Unfortunately, all the really cool ones are $600-900. Yeah, insane. And I recently found someone selling a Oeuf crib for $500, which is a steal considering it was originally $825.

But then I randomly stumbled onto the Walmart site. Long behold, a modern two-colored crib for $299 by Baby Mod called "Roxanne". While the end bars aren't super cool. The two tone color makes it feel modern overall and will match the nursery theme I am trying to create. It's Japanese-inspired mixed with super heroes, robots and cool illustrations. Plus, it converts to a toddler bed, so it'll last for several years.

Anyway, I guess Walmart got some new buyers or something. Because Target doesn't even have this. In fact, the only modern Target crib which is called Bebe happens to be $599. Sick!

You would totally think Ikea would have something like this. But they don't. They offer very plain cribs for $100-200. So from my comparison shopping, I think Walmart wins!

Tomorrow is 23 weeks

Well tomorrow is officially 23 weeks. It's hard to believe I am now beginning my 6th month. Time is flying!

This past week, I really felt the baby move a lot. And not just from the inside. I placed my hands on my belly and could feel him move from the outside, too. It freaked me out. It kind of felt like there is an alien inside me. Just because the movement felt so strange.

I got put on this big interactive project on Thursday, so I had to work this weekend. In fact, right now, I am taking a break. I can't believe in a few months, I'll be off work for 12 weeks. I wonder if I'll be okay--mentally. I wonder if I'll return to work early because I can't deal with being at home for that long.

Well, the weight is definitely starting to stick now. I think I've gained 10 pounds. Thankfully, most people have told me they can't tell. Just 15-25 more pounds to go. After going to the Golden Corral for lunch today, that will probably be easy. I ate all my favorites--mashed potatoes, stuffing, cornbread, sweet potatoes, ham, green beans, etc. It felt just like Thanksgiving. Damn, it was heaven.

This week I am really going to try hard to lay off caffeine. So no sodas and coffee. I worry that the baby will turn out hyperactive if I keep drinking that stuff.

That's about it. KC and I go on a birthing tour at the local hospital this Sunday. Hopeflly, that goes well. Besides that, there's nothing else to report on.

22 weeks, 0 days

This past weekend, KC bought me a kickass rocking chair.

If you buy a new nursing rocking glider chair, it can run you $350. And then after the baby gets bigger, I am not sure what you'd do with the chair. So we stopped at Macy's to get a leather rocker. Unfortunately, it looked better in the picture than in reality. But situated nearby was a leather rocking recliner that also glides. It was on sale for $549 (from $799) and we get to use this $50 gift card we got for Christmas. So it's just $500. We picked out the mocha color.

KC said after the baby outgrows it, it will become "his" chair.

Not much else to report on. I had some major morning sickness last Thursday after eating a huge bowl of pho. I got to remember not to eat big portions. My stomach hurt so bad, I had to stop at the rest-stop. It sucked. And since this morning, I have felt some uncomfortable cramping. I am not sure what that is all about, since I haven't felt any cramping in months.

I also cheated last night. I had about 1/5 of a glass of muscato. KC opened up a bottle and I couldn't resist. While it wasn't much, it was so delicious.


As of this morning, I have gained 9 pounds. Which I guess is good. I am trying to stay in the 25-35 pound weight gain during this pregnancy.

And as for new gifts to report on, KC's cousin Jamie bought us a cute "Family Guy" onesie. She told me to stop buying clothes since I will probably get plenty during the baby shower. I think she might be right.

21 weeks, 1 day

What a long Labor Day weekend!

My uncle and aunt came from Korea as well as my mom came over to visit. My uncle and aunt bought us a portable Graco playpen with bassinet and changing table.

KC ended up working all weekend--30 hours in 2 days. So I had to be a good hostess. I drove them to a vineyard called Mediterrean Cellars in Warrenton for a wine tasting, an outlet mall, and to several restaurants in Centreville. And I also had to wake up very early. Especially after the first day, when I came down at 9:30 and my uncle called me lazy. This after I woke up several times--as usual--throughout the night. Including at midnight when it felt like a knife had been stabbed into my calf. I jumped out of bed to try to put some pressure in it and I was nearly in tears from the pain. It was so intense.

So needless to say I am exhausted. And to make matters worse, I just found I have a ton of work to complete by this Friday. So it looks like I will be up late at night every day this week and drinking lots of coffee. I need to stay calm though. Because I was getting nervous earlier and just went to the bathroom and threw up. I hate feeling sick at work. It makes it so hard to concentrate.

The baby is still kicking up a storm. Last night after KC and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary at Toney's new restaurant. Afterwards, we laid down to relax. KC placed his hand on my belly and the baby kicked 10 times right where his hand was. Several times, it felt very strong. I was surprised that KC couldn't feel it when I said, "He just kicked again." Although, KC swore he could feel him moving. I think we are both still in shock that we will soon be parents.

It's a Boy!

We saw the doctor yesterday. On the way to the hospital, some lady hit my car. Fender bender. My bumper is still in tact, but she hit me hard enough to imprint her license plate into my bumper. My neck hurts a bit, and I had a headache, but that’s about it. Too bad, I can’t take any meds. I think Tylenol, but I gotta double check.

Anyway, they did the full anatomy scan. It was so cool to see all the details. And it was cool when I felt the baby kick and then I saw it kick on the screen. The baby kept playing with its hands and putting it in its mouth. It even did the rock on symbol, which was funny. They said the baby is developing very normal. It looked like it was 20 weeks and 6 days and I was 20 weeks and 3 days. So I guess it’s good news that’s not going to be short. And the heartbeat was 150, which is really healthy. And it turns out, the baby is a boy. I can’t believe I was right. At first, KC had no idea what he was looking at. I was like, duh, that’s a penis. Then said, “Cool. Now I only have to worry about one penis, instead of millions.” He is such a dork sometimes.

It's official: I'm 20 weeks pregnant and I felt flutters

On my way to work this morning, I finally felt it. Butterfly flutters. It wasn't what I imagined or how most people have described it to me. I imagined it would be like wings flapping gently. But it actually felt like butterfly wings flapping quickly and with some force. Or you could say it delt like when you're in a pool and you push out your arms and then bring them close to your body. It kind of feels like the resistance in the water you get. What a strange kick!

This kid is crazy though. I must have felt like 50 kicks yesterday. I even played him/her some classical beats and he/she was still kicking up a storm.


And last night, I woke up again around 4:30 to use the bathroom. When I got back in bed, the baby was kicking up a storm. I felt at least 6 kicks in five minutes. I also felt very hungry, but I was too tired to get up and go eat something. Maybe the baby was kicking because he/she was hungry.

ANd my nails are still growing strong. I can't believe they aren't flimsy.

I can't believe I'm already at the halfway point. It's so hard to believe in 20 weeks, KC and I will be parents. Scary thought!

Beat it hooker

I had my 19 week appointment today. The doctor said the heartbeat is strong. And it's somewhere between 145-150. So it sounds like the baby is doing great.

Besides that, I totally feel like a hooker today. I bought a few empire tops during the big Nordstrom Anniversary sale last month. And today I'm wearing one of them. And boy do I feel like a hooker. I'm normally kinda flat chested, but this deep v-neck shirt makes my boobs look huge. Or maybe my boobs have gotten bigger. I feel so awkward I put a cardigan on. Still, I can't help wishing I didn't wear this shirt.

19 Weeks and Baby Pak is Going Strong

It seems time really is flying. I realized over the weekend, I am already in my 5th month. KC and I went to Mike and Melissa's wedding on Saturday and some folks thought I looked like I was 3 months, because I was barely showing. I think I still have only gained 3 pounds during this whole pregnancy.

I am still getting tired a lot. And it's getting more difficult to sleep at night. I keep turning on all my sides and of course, waking up to pee throughout the night.

Last night, Jamie, Colin and baby Julia stopped by. Jamie gave me a ton of bottles and she also brought over 2 car seats. It was super nice of them and it's one less thing I now need to worry about and of course buy. Hand-me-downs rock!

I had a strong craving for Shepherd's Pie and made it for the first time yesterday. Everyone liked it. Especially KC, which is a huge surprise since he normally doesn't like anything I make. And Julia loved it as the food was all over her face. It was too cute.

My goal this week is to try and eat healthier. We went grocery shopping yesterday, so this should be easy. At least, I hope.

Chipotle Is Painful

It took me 45 freaking minutes to get a carnita burrito at Chipotle today. I went to 2 different restaurants, because the first one had an insane line.

When I got back to my desk, I scarfed it down. Bad idea! My pregnant belly was very pissed at me for such a move and boy did it get payback. I just ran to the bathroom and I'll spare you the details. I will never make the same mistake again.

Felt Baby Pak Kick

On my way home yesterday, I was nearby my neighborhood. I was jamming to the new Arcade Fire album and bam! I felt the baby kick for the first time. Someone on Craigslist posted that it will feel like flutters or a bubble popping. Mine felt like a bubble popping. But it wasn't hard like I expected. It was actually quite gentle. And if I didn't know it could feel like a bubble, I totally wouldn't have noticed.

18 weeks, 1 day

Movin' on up. At 18 weeks, I can honestly say I have turned into a hungry, hungry hippo. I want to eat everything. And when I get hungry, I am super hungry and I have to eat immediately. At last check, I believe I have now gained 2 pounds. And my tummy is definitely showing now.

Also, it feels so good when I sleep on back. But now, if I spend too much time on my back, my lower back hurts when I wake up.

I am growing tired of Korean food. Except rice cake soup and chang chang myun. I really miss American food. I think I am going to start cooking tonight.

I have also been having minor headaches for the past week. And I am still tired a lot. Oh when will my energy return?

I went shopping with my mom on Friday. I told her I wouldn't tell her the baby's name before it was born. She said, "there are no secrets between us. You're not planning to name it something crazy like what Angelina and Brad Pitt did, are you?" Then she got upset when I told her we planned to give the baby a single Korean middle name. She was like the baby's last name is Korean, isn't that enough? All I can say is, I can't wait to see how she treats her first grandchild.

And lastly, I got the Bloom lounger yesterday. It is freaking awesome!! I am so glad I got it and I think KC digs it, too.

Prego Brain

I can't believe I forgot to mention the biggest observation of all.

Starting near the end of week 16, I felt the baby move. Although, at first I wasn't sure. It felt like little taps on the upper left and right side of my abdomen.

Hopefully, I will feel it kick soon.

I also have been getting some minor headaches.

And I can't believe this, but when I walked out to my car for lunch, my door was open. I must have forgotten to close it when I parked in the morning. Insane!

Baby Girl Name

I really think I like Stella Coryn Soo Pak now--if it's a girl.

Or Stella Sun Pak

I wish I knew the gender already.

About the name Stella.

Latin Origin
Means Star

A place name and a given name used after the 16th century that's often associated with the Virgin Mary by Roman Catholics because of her title "stella maris" which means "star of the sea." It became a literary name used by 16th century poet sir Philip Sidney in his famed collection of sonnets and Jonathan Swift during the 18th century in his "Journal to Stella.""Astrophel and Stella." The name is best remembered in Tennesee Williams' 1947 "Streetcar Named Desire" for character "Stella Kowalski," portrayed by actress Kim Hunter in the 1951 film adaptation. Another notable bearer is English fashion designer Stella McCartney, the daughter of Beatle Paul McCartney. Also the name of a Belgian and Egyptian beer, a brand of guitars, and a line of Italian cheeses.

17 weeks 2 days

~Changes and Observations~

The bump is definitley noticeable now. I definitely need to buy a few maternity pants now. Everything is becoming too tight.

And my appetite is back. I weighed myself this morning, and I am finally back up to 136--which is how much I weighed when I first found out I was pregnant.

In the past 4 or 5 days, I have become very exhausted. I thought in the 2nd trimester, you get your energy back. I guess everyone is different.

In the past few days, my nipples have started to hurt. Maybe their preparing for nursing.

I am still getting a good night's sleep. For the most part, I am sleeping all night long, which is great.

Just 22 more days until we find out the gender. KC really want the baby to be girl. For some reason, I still feel like it's a boy. We'll have to wait and see.

I am also bidding on the coco lounger by Bloom. It retails for $200, but I am hoping to get it for $150. I like that it blends in with our furniture and won't look ridiculous. It's uber stylish. I hope I win it.

Great Quote on Fidelity

"If you can't trust a person to be loyal to their family, what can you trust them with?"

-Truman


I found this quote on craigslist. Too bad, it's not listed anywhere else.

15 week doctor visit

This was perhaps the most boring of all my visits so far.

Last Friday, I had my 15th week appointment. I thought I was doing a vaginal ultrasound again. To my surprise, he used a doppler on my belly and I heard the baby's heartbeat. Then he said, the baby was kicking. I wish I could have seen it. It lasted only a minute and then I sent on my way.

16 weeks, 3 days

This past weekend my cousin Mark was still visiting. We took him to Annapolis and I pigged out on crabs. To my surprise, he doesn't eat crabs. I felt bad, but I had a craving. Afterwards, we went downtown and I got a strawberry lemonade from Ben and Jerry's. It was so delicious. Although, KC thought it was too sour.


So what's new?

Well, I just switched to a new OB/GYN, which my first one did not have privileges to Fair Oaks Inova Hospital. 66 is always a nightmare. And it would suck if something happened and I was caught in traffic trying to get to Manassas.

I need to call them and get my records. Hopefully, they're understanding.

As far as symptoms, I no longer have UTI--thanks to the drugs. So for the last week, I slept the whole night through. Although, KC said I keep waking him up because I keep laughing in my dreams.

My appetite has also come in and I can feel myself starting to crave stuff. In fact, I indulged yesterday. I drove to Reston and stopped by Chick-Fil-A. It was the bomb. Besides that, I've been craving tomatoes for some strange reason. And I've been eating a lot more fruit, which has miraculously helped stop the painful constipation.

I also noticed that while I was walking Karma, I lost my breath. Twice. It's like an instant shortness of breath.

And lastly, my energy is back for the most part.

Just 4 more weeks until we find out the sex of the baby. Can't wait!

Baby Names

So here are some baby names I dig so far. Since I don't know the sex yet, I'll just list all my faves. By the way, the middle names are Korean. BTW, we are choosing to spell H'yok as Hawk.

For a girl:

Ella Song Pak
Josie Sun Pak
Coryn "Cory" Song Pak
Cora Sun Pak
Eden Sun-hee Pak
Evie Song Pak
Norah Song Pak
Ionie Sun Pak
Helena Sun Pak
Suny Elle Pak
Anissa Sun-hee Pak
Stella Song Pak
Naomi Soo Pak
Isobel Soo Pak
Marisa Pak

For a boy:

Lucas Hawk Pak
Emerson Jae Pak
Orion Jae Pak
Jonah Jae Pak
Izak Hawk Pak
Adam Hawk Pak
Callum Jae Pak

2nd Trimester--here I come!

I'm now officially in my 2nd trimester. And I'd love to say I feel great and everything is so much better, but it hasn't happened yet.

My morning sickness hasn't happened as much. In fact, I've only puked once in the last 2 weeks. So that's good. I also still have food aversions. I'm not really craving anything really. And I haven't gained weight. Since I found out I was pregnant, I am down 2.5 pounds. I am waiting for the weight to stick, bit no luck.

Also, my blood tests came back normal. But my urine test came back showing I have UTI (urinary tract infection). I'm taking some prescription pills right now. So hopefully, it clears up soon.

The Pregnant Matron of Honor

Well Mai and Phil's wedding has finally happened. There were so many brides all over the city of Philadelphia, it was crazy.

I was really worried the dress wouldn't fit, since I am now 12 weeks pregnant. The back of the dress was intricate and looked like a corset. Unfortunately, I couldn't fit the back piece in, but everyone said it was fine to show a little skin. Although the weaving of the strings covered most of back.

Even though this is terrible to admit, I drank very little all Saturday afternoon. The wedding was on a tight schedule and unfortunately, there were only porta potties at the Japanese Garden where the ceremony took place. I felt weak, but surprisingly made it through.

By the time the reception took place, I somehow was ready to eat. Which was strange. My appetite has been small for weeks now. And then suddenly at the hibachi grill, I ate like a pig. I ate fried rice, roast beef, chicken and broccoli, hibachi vegetables, a roll with butter, beef with veggies, salmon, asparagus, and two different kinds of cake. It was so delicious.

But within an hour of finishing, my tummy expanded so much, the corset portion of the dress was getting tighter and tighter. I could feel it pinching deep into my skin, right above my belly. So I ended up sitting for most of the night.

I am definitely starting to show now. And it looks like I will definitely have to be hitting the maternity store next week. I am really shocked I am showing already. It looks like I definitely need to tell my boss now.

12 weeks, 0 days

This was our very first ultrasound picture. It was taken at 6 weeks and shows both the fetus and the yolk sac.



This was taken during the regular 12 week ultrasound.




This was taken during the 12 week for the Nuchal Translucency test.



This picture was taken today during the NT test.


It's been awhile since I've posted on this blog. I think part of it was my growing frustration of getting BFNs month after month.

I am happy to report that after a long journey, I am finally pregnant. In fact, I am 12 weeks along today.

So I will summarize a few things I've noticed over the past 12 weeks.

SYMPTOMS: aversions to food (especially toward spicy, coffee and diet coke), smaller appetite, morning sickness, tender breasts, constipation, dehydration, exhaustion, acne

HARDEST LESSON TO REALIZE: You life doesn't change after the baby is born. It changes immediately when you become pregnant. Soon, you can't do the same activities you used to and your clothes can't fit anymore.

TRIPS: I flew to Reno and then I rode on Amtrak's California Zephyr from Reno to Chicago. I went for a week to Dominican Republic.

WORST SCARES: Fender bender during week 4, bleeding during week 7, dysentery during week 10

BELLY POPPED: End of week 11

TEST SO FAR: Ultrasound and Nuchal Translucency (NT)

NEWSWORTHY: At my NT test today, the nurse asked if I had difficulty conceiving. After I answered her yes, she pointed out on the sonogram that my uterus was posterior (sits low) and that my bowels were in front of it. She said she could count on her hands the number of times she has seen this. And that other women with the same layout had trouble and also received fertility treatment.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: The results from the NT test and finding out the sex of the baby at the next appointment. I think it's a boy, but my DH thinks it's a girl.

Aunt Flo Wins Again

I was so sure I was pregnant. I thought I noticed symptoms. Aversion to coffee. Strong sense of smell, especially with perfume. Strong urges to pee a lot.

What if I was pregnant and in the last few days I was so stressed, I actually lost the baby? After all, I had a lot going on in the last week. My job is insane. I worked 60 hours for the past 2 weeks. I'm taking a web design class at a local college. And I interviewed for a new job yesterday.

Only two months left if we want a 2007 baby aka Golden Piglet. It seems like time is slipping away. And it seems like I will never ever get pregnant.

Is this a symptom or am I going crazy?

So in about a week I should find out if I will get a BFP (Big Fat Positive). The only symptom, if that's what it was, I've noticed was last week my cravings for coffee were weak. I normally have several cups a day. But last Thursday and Friday, I wasn't feeling it and the thought of drinking it made me sick. But it didn't last. Today, I've already had 4 cups. I doubt you could have any symptoms within days of trying to conceive.

I ovulated today. Happy 30th Birthday to me!

I just about gave up. I took an ovulation predictor test every day for the past 11 days. And every day it was negative. I was so convinced that we would have to try all over again next month, I went on ebay yesterday and bought 50 more ovulation strips and a basal body temperature thermometer.

Then this morning, I decided to look at my cycles for the past year. I spent the while morning looking through my 2006 calender. I noticed there were 2 months that my cycle was 32 days. So I punched the date into those online ovulation calculators and bam! It said today fell ino the best time to conceive.

When I went to the bathroom, I noticed some discharge. It was creamy white. Gross, I know. I wasn't sure if I was ovulating or if I was so excited I turned myself on. I kept thinking if my husband worked with me, I would totally jump him now. I couldn't wait to get home and do some baby dancing.

When I got home, I noticed I had one last test strip left. I took it and at first the results looked the same as usual. So I jumped in the shower. When I got out, I glanced at the strip and I had to do a double take. At last, there were two lines. It was positive. I was in fact ovulating.

So I ran downstairs. Got some sparkline wine, two champaign glasses. I poured a glass for my husband and I and we toasted to starting a family.

We're going to try again tonight and then tomorrow morning. Who knows, maybe we will be lucky this month.

Ovulation Strips. Yes, I am desperate!

So I have reached that point where I admit that I am dumb when it comes to getting pregnant. I can somewhat tell when I ovulate, but obviously I must be doing something wrong since every month Aunt Flo comes by for a visit.

Well, this month I crossing a new low. I bought ovulation medical strips off of eBay from a Canadian medical wholesaler. He has really good feedback and at around $10 I figured it wouldn't be a huge loss if it didn't work.

I cannot believe I have to use strips to tell me when I ovulate. And I cannot believe eBay sells ovulation strips. I guess you really can find anything on eBay.

I read that most women ovulate about 10-12 days after the first day of their last period. So for me that would mean the earliest is tomorrow, the 12th. So I am going to take the test in the morning and if I see two lines that means I have 24-48 hours to try and conceive.

If this doesn't work, it's time for me and husband to see a doctor.

Damn Aunt Flo

The bitch showed up out of nowhere. And I hate her!

I noticed a few drops of bright red blood this past Saturday and then nothing. I thought maybe it was implantation bleeding. But most sites say most women do not experience it and if they do, the drops are pinkish-brown. Then this morning after peeing, I noticed a very tiny amount of pinkish-brown blood and I thought, just maybe it is. Just when I got my hopes up, I went to the bathroom after lunch and the bitch showed up. Grrr...