Race for the Cure, MKE 2007

The Race for the Cure has held special meaning to my family for quite a few years now. This year, starting in April, I was bound and determined to run (ok... jog) my first 5k. What better goal than to complete the Komen Race in Milwaukee! Training was going well, I'd go out at lunch break at work and put the miles in 3 days/week and once on the weekends. Was able to run farther at that point than I'd ever been able to run in my life. Then, seemingly all of a sudden....my air simply disappeared. Where I was able to run 2 miles at a decent clip, I was only able to jog 1/2. I was disappointed in myself and discouraged. I asked my doctor, and leave it to her to put things in perspective. She told me that I was no longer the only one using my blood supply for oxygen. I was breathing for the 2 of us now, and when I was gasping for breath, it meant that Peanut wasn't getting enough O2 either. Who knew someone so small could cause such big changes in such a short time? I shelved my running for the season, right next to my Ninja and my love for the occasional beer or martini.

Two of my sisters made it up to Milwaukee to do the Race with me, along with 2 of my friends, and we walked. Not how I had planned on completing this Race, but we completed it all the same. I thank them for their support in walking with me, and even waiting for me mid-course when I needed to find a port-o-john. :P~

Boondoggle 2007

This weekend was the annual company camping trip. It's a great weekend filled with jokes, games, camaraderie, and....partying. This year I opted to stay only Friday night, as I wasn't sure how it would be being one of the only totally sober people there. In spite of being sober and a little more tired that I otherwise would be, it was a great time, and many found out here that Dan and I were expecting.

It's a yearly tradition for a group of people who ride motorcycle to head up in a band to the camp and enjoy the scenery along the way. This year, I opted into that group since I would have no reason to not ride well and safely (aka a hangover on Saturday). The weather ended up being cold, and the clothing was well-layered, but it was worth it. This was to be my last ride until Peanut makes his/her debut. Doc tells me that in the beginning, Peanut is very very well protected behind the pelvic bone and riding would not do any harm, barring an impact (in which case we both would have issues!) By the end of Boondoggle weekend, Peanut was making him/herself known enough that mom thought putting the bike away until next season might be a wise idea. Oh how I missed riding in the last warm days of Indian Summer this year, but there will be many more of those to come.

First Ultrasound

Today was an amazing day. Because of some things that had occurred with previous cycles, the doctor prescribed an early ultrasound to make sure everything was progressing as it should, and to determine just where we were at. It was totally amazing and awesome to see that there actually was this little person developing inside me. Before I could feel anything, before the body had changed much at all, I could already see arms, legs, little facial features, and even a little 2 chamber heart beating away like a drum. This was the first step in making this whole thing seem real.

Here is one of the first shots where Peanut developed his/her nickname. The ultrasound measurements at this point, measured 8 weeks, 1 day along...making our due date move from the original estimated date of April 27th to our current due date of April 16th. Here you can see Peanut's head, torso, arm buds, leg buds and the 'yolk' which is the halo shaped object next to his/her head. We learned that this yolk provides nutriends for the embryo while the placenta and unbilical cord is forming and becoming mature enough to support further growth.


Here, Peanut was ready for his/her close-up. There was some movement between the pictures, so not as much anatomy is visible, but you can see a little arm bud sort of waving at the camera (the baby is head down in the picture). It's hard to believe at 8 weeks, all these things had formed, and the little nut was moving around of their own accord already.

OB Appointment #1

Today was my first visit with my OB, and ultimately the person that will help me deliver this baby (what a strange idea that still is to me!). She has been my GYN ever since moving to Wisconsin, and is a wonderful doctor. No matter how busy or behind she is, she takes the time to answer any questions or address any concerns that I might have and tells me what I can expect in future visits as well as some of the things I will experience as the pregnancy starts to develop. She is a certified nurse-midwife, and there's no one else I'd rather have help me deliver, despite some of the misgivings from family of not having a "real" doctor. I will be in a hospital setting for delivery, and if I should need a C-section, she will assist a doctor in the procedure so she will be there the whole way. I will be just as well if not better cared for with someone like this there to listen and to help ME listen to my body when this gets stressful. Don't worry, we will have plenty of questions as we go along, and will ask all the wonderful friends and family that have such a wealth of successful knowlede at their disposal. If there's one thing that I've seen from both of my families and friends, it's that there are many roads to having a successful and happy family!

To Tell or Not to Tell....

Today is the company picnic, a place where many that we call friends will gather for the annual summer picnic. Just finding out and not having gone to the doctor yet, do we tell anyone? We are still pretty bowled over by the news ourselves, and are not sure we want to share it with too many just yet. Yes, we knew it could happen, and we weren't preventing...but anticipating the news someday and actually LIVING it are two very separate things. Are we surprised? Sort of. Are we happy? Yep! Are we scared? Absolutely! This will take some getting used to...

It Begins

Today, we found out, proof positive that we were expecting. The lab tests confirmed what 2 home pregnancy tests had already told us....that sometime in April we would become parents. While carrying this baby and prior to knowing, summer went on as usual. I didnt' feel sick or really that much different that normal...maybe a little more tired than usual. One strange thing.....we had recenly been charter fishing on Lake Michigan and had lots of fresh smoked salmon in our fridge. For some reason, for the next 2 weeks or so, I couldn't get enough of this smoked salmon! Was it the salt? The Omega-3's? I doubt peanut will be able to tell me. After those 2 weeks, though...I didn't want to touch the stuff anymore. This little one has been canoeing, waterskiing (a first time for mom too), horseback riding, motorcycle riding, and possibly even charter fishing with me...all before knowing of his or her existance. So, if little Peanut turns out to be a little daredevil, we'll know he or she has been 9 months in the making.