Meighen

Today I had my 4th ultrasound. Man I really hate that goo they put on you. It sucks having to go back to work when all you want is a shower. Anyways, the technician said she got everything they weren’t able to last time (ie: organs). The baby’s almost 2 lbs and a good size with a strong heartbeat. I got to see an arm and boy did it look like a long one. I wonder if the baby will take after Ben and my dad and be really tall. It’s either that or really short like my mom, heh. I’m a good height too so I’m betting tall. I didn’t get pictures this time cause the baby wasn’t in a great position for photo ops. I wonder if that means no gender assessment either. We go back to the doctor on Tuesday so we’ll know then if we need to do a 3D one or not. If we do we’ll schedule that for late March or April. If you do one too early the baby looks a bit freaky.

The baby’s been really active lately. The flutters are now stronger jabs and kicks (UFC Champion in the making). Speaking of UFC, Ben and I got tickets to the show in Montreal this April and it’ll be a great final vacation for us before the baby comes. I hope the noise doesn’t freak it out too much but I’m not much of a screamer so we should be ok. We’re carpooling with one of Ben’s friends who’s wife is also pregnant, should make for an interesting trip, heh… poor guys.

Work’s been slow which is a nice break, I’m not as exhausted all the time. School’s busy but will be over 6 weeks – can’t wait! I can then turn my attention to getting the nursery ready and make a list of what we need. I’ve been doing a lot of research online (and through my gf) on what kind of products I want to get. I’m all for the multi-use things. For example, Graco has a carset which pops off the base so it turns into a carrier. Perfect! That carrier then snaps into a stroller frame. Even better!! That carrier also snaps into a swing! This is so fantastic cause it will reduce the amount of stuff we have laying around the house. I hate clutter and with 2 dogs I need to make sure I don’t trip while carrying the baby. But yeah, all that will have to wait till after school ends in April.

Friday marked the end of my 5th month of pregnancy, 4 more to go!

Today we went to Kingston to see my gf Ali and meet her new baby Seth. He was a cutie! He’s 11 weeks now (I think) and looks a lot like his dad. Knowing nothing about child development I was surprised how he’s kind of like a bobble head. I’ll be taking notes from his progress to know what to expect. I was totally shocked to hear in the US you only get 6 weeks off after birth and that’s without pay! Crazy. She’s from Ottawa but lives in Pensylvannia.

After lunch in Kingston we stopped at my folks for a visit and dinner. Mom’s totally in grandma mode and has knitted a bunch of stuff. They all look great and will get good use when our little one is here and it gets cold outside again. She insisted taking a picture of my belly, something I’ve been avoiding doing myself. One day I might appreciate it but right now, getting bigger is hard to accept since I’m already a big girl.

Otherwise, nothing else to report at this time. I go for another ultrasound on Friday and follow up with my doctor next Tuesday. Hopefully we’ll know the gender by then, if not, we’ll have to look into a 3D one, which would be awesome but I’m trying to avoid it if possbile.

I’ve been meaning to get a baby-blog up and running but between working full time, school at night and being exhausted, I really haven’t had a chance to. I’ve been keeping regular notes since we found out to make sure I had a good timeline when I finally had the chance to do it right… which is now. = )

2007 – 10 – 16
It’s the week after Thanksgiving and after a week of speculating, I finally took a home test today. It came up a faint positive. I’ve read that “there’s no such thing as a false positive” so this could really be it!
2007 – 10 – 18
Ok, we’ve had a couple days to digest this, time for another test. This one came back even more positive than the first! I called my doctor and while she’s away, a colleague will see me on the 20th for blood work. Today I switch to decaf coffee/tea and limited colas…*sniff sniff* I let my gf who’s currently pregnant know. I’ll need someone to talk to about all the girly stuff!
2007 – 10 – 20
Went to the doctor and did the bloodwork today. I’ll get the results on Monday. I’m finding it hard to sleep at night, my mind won’t shut off! Excitement, joy, fear, everything!
2007 – 10 – 23
I called the doctor today and got the results. Good thing my family’s been going there a long time and we have a good rep, the receptionists tell us the occasional thing without having to come in. Anyways, it’s confirmed! We’re pregnant – 4 weeks and 3 days. I’ve made an appt. to go in for my first prenatal. Ben told his buddy (who’s fiance is currently pregnant)… since I have someone to talk to he needs one too, heh!
2007 – 10 – 30
Oh boy, I think the morning sickness has started! I threw up today for the first time and have been feeling queasy for a couple days now. Starting to feel a bit of activity, I don’t want to call it pain but I can tell somethings going on.
2007 – 11 – 02
Went to the doctor today and was sent for a lot of tests! Man, they sucked my blood dry! I found out there’s a “shared care” program here where I can continue to see my family doctor till approx 30 weeks then an OB steps in. I’m totally cool with this (and actually prefer it) cause my doc used to specialize in pregnancy and was an OB! Later in this pregnancy my OB will be Dr. Kung at Women’s College Hospital. I’m lucky to be here in TO with the best hospitals in the province. I wouldn’t trust many hospitals in Scarborough so what’s a 40 minute drive to be one of the best! I go back for my next prenatal on December 7.
2007 – 11 – 5
Morning sickness has now turned into all day sickness… blah!
2007 – 11 – 21
Wow, I feel like a real person today. I haven’t been sick! I’m a bit worried. It’s been a rough couple weeks, haven’t been eating much cause I feel so crappy all the time. So far I’m not seeing many of those pregnancy perks I hear about… although, I’ve been having these really vivid dreams lately. They go on-and-on. Even when I wake up to use the bathroom the dream continues as soon as I’m asleep.
2007 – 11 – 26
Been having lots of sensations lately. I haven’t been sleeping well the last couple nights. I think it’s either starting to hit me or I’m stressing about telling people. I’m dead against letting all our families know until we’re out of the woods. I’d hate for something to happen and have everyone feeling sorry for us. Call me crazy but I’d rather deal with it myself (well with Ben) and come clean when I’ve come to terms with it. The other night at dinner I had wicked pain – it felt like I was being gutted. I hear pregnancy gas can be painful, hopefully that’s it and nothing’s going wrong.
2007 – 11- 27
Went back to the doctor today. I’m a bit freaked out, I’ve lost all my pregnancy symptoms and after Sunday’s pain, I want to know if I’m still ok. She’s sending me for an ultrasound.
2007 – 12 – 4
Today we went for our first ultrasound. It’s nice the clinic/hospital is between where Ben and I work – he can easily meet me for appointments. I’ve had ultrasounds for other reasons before so I kinda knew what to expect. Everything went fine, we got to see our jellybean, awe! The heartbeat was strong. We go back on the 17th to start the prenatal screening tests.
2007 – 12 – 5
I told my boss today. He took it sooo well. Having four kids of his own I hoped he’d be on board. I was a bit scared cause this is a sort of a new job for me. I started here in August. I told him I wanted to tell some of the staff myself after the next ultrasound when we know things are still ok. Since I’m due at the end of June I want to start my mat leave mid June or at least one week before I’m due.
2007 – 12 – 7
Went for my second prenatal today. I’m 10 weeks and 6 days. Everything’s good, all the bloodwork went well.
2007 – 12 – 17
We told Ben’s aunt/uncle and brother yesterday at the Richard Christmas dinner. Since we’ll out of our first trimester at Christmas we want to tell as many people in person that we can over the holidays. We asked his aunt if we could borrow their crib and she didn’t get it, when she clued in she hit Ben so hard across the chest, it was hilarious! They’re all pretty happy and his brother is looking forward to his first (blood) niece/nephew. We had our 2nd ultrasound today to start the genetic testing. It’s awesome seeing the baby on the screen. I even saw it move! The heartbeat is still strong and it’s grown so much! I really haven’t been sleeping well now, I think the stress of word getting around is getting to me. I’ve also been having a lot of headaches and can’t take my usual Advil migraine to help = (
2007 – 12 – 20
OMG, I’ve had the worst stomach flu over the last couple days. Better now than over Christmas but never would have been fine too. I had no idea what to do being pregnant and vomiting every 20 minutes for 3 days. Everyone I called wasn’t able to help me (hotlines, doctors office, etc). How frustrating! It makes you want to give up seeking help unless you’re sure it’s a total emergency.
Looks like we’ll have to cancel our trip to Kap, the cars aren’t behaving. We called to tell his mom we’re not coming but countered with “we’re pregnant”. She screamed (good screams) for about half an hour before calming down. Her reaction was one of the few I was 100% sure of.

Well, I did it, I’m enrolled in my final class. I started the Public Relations certificate at Ryerson University in September 2004. I missed a couple semesters and will be taking course 9 of 9 in January. I’ll finish in April and be qualified to be a PR person… well I’m already qualified just need the paper to prove it. It’ll be a good 2nd trimester distraction.
2007 – 12 – 24
Today we did the Chivers family Christmas at mom and dads. We told them (and my aunt/uncle who were there too). I wanted to tell them without telling them so I found a really nice photo frame (etched stone) that says “Grandparent’s fill the world with love” and put the most recent ultrasound picture in it. They opened it together and after reading it outloud finally figured it out. Mom cried, I cried (stress relief galore!), sister cried and so did my aunt. All the women were crying, ha! My sister already knew though. See we have the same family doctor and when she called to enquire about something one of the receptionists said “are you the pregnant sister?” … so much for patient confidentiality. Ah well, she got a nice “auntie” frame similar to my folks. Anyways I’m sooo glad everyone knows now and I don’t have to avoid people in fear I’d let it slip. Mom took it way better than I expected and is excited to take me maternity clothes shopping. I’ve made plans to go back next week before New Years.
2007 – 12 – 31
I’m back from my shopping spree in Brighton! We ended up spending 3 hours in Walmart loading up on maternity tops and under garments. Some of the tops are really nice! I’m quite surprised. I’ll have to hit a mat. store for the pants though. I’ll do that here in TO in the next couple of weeks.

We told Ben’s dad on Christmas day by giving him a nice bottle from the LCBO – to celebrate his 3rd grandchild. He was really happy for us, I knew he would be. We’ve already decided that if it’s a boy the middle name will be Alan after my dad and Ben’s step-dad who passed away earlier this year. I know this touched his dad deeply.
2008 – 1 – 4
Had another prenatal with my doctor today. I’ve lost 5 lbs since October… nice! My blood pressure and sugar levels are good and I got to hear the baby’s heartbeat for the first time. Everyone said how fast it would be but it sounded normal to me. She reassured me it was fine. When we go back February 5th (after another ultrasound) she might be able to tell us the gender!! I have to know, I’m such a planner. Everything’s on hold till I know!
2008 – 1 – 10
I think I’ve been feeling the baby move over the last couple days. I’ve had an on/off again flutter in my abdomen. I’m 16 weeks and the books say I may start feeling flutters and that’s what I’m thinking is happening here. It’s kinda cool, like someone tickling me from the inside. Very light but distracting. I want to just sit there and take it all in while I’m supposed to be working! Yesterday I had a not so nice pain. I went to get up and felt a wicked tear on my left side. I had to sit down again.

I had my first OB appointment (meet & greet) today and she’s really nice. I’m totally comfortable with her. She said the pains I’ve been having are just ligament pain. I’m a little disappointed to find out that just because she’s my OB doesn’t mean she’ll be delivering the baby! There’s a team of 12 OBs that are on rotation so it all depends on when I go into labour. Regardless, WCH is one of the best so I’m not too worried. I figure come the time, I won’t care who’s catching the kid, as long as it’s out!

2008 – 1 – 22
I got a call from the OB today, the baby passed the genetic ultrasound and bloodwork. No known complications so far. I wasn’t worried but it doesn’t hurt to know.

Work is really stressing me out right now. There’s so much going on and I’m only one person trying to deal with it all. I’m trying to keep my work out of this blog and keep it focused on the baby… which is what I’m going to do.

A few weeks ago when I was picking up some maternity pants I also picked up a onesie for the baby that had the mini-cooper logo on it but it said “mini-pooper”… awe!
2008 – 2 – 5
I’m 19 weeks and 3 days. I can’t believe I’m halfway there! Time seems to be going fast but slow at the same time. I can’t wait for June and for the baby to be here (and off work for possibly a year). I know I’ll be uber busy at home with a newborn but it’s a different kind of work… not the day to day office grind I’ve grown accustomed to.

We had another ultrasound yesterday to have a look at the baby’s organs and make sure it’s progressing as needed. Got the results from my doctor today and the scan was too blurry nothing could be made out (not even the gender). She wants me to go back in 3 weeks and re-do the scan. Hopefully this time we’ll be able to find out what it is and that it’s still healthy.
Ben’s mom bought us a carseat and we picked it up from Sears this past weekend. It’s pretty nice! A 3-in-1 so it grows with the child and we shouldn’t need to buy another booster seat ever! Fingers crossed.
2008 – 2 – 10
Since I’m keeping track of which celebrities I’m pregnant with the most…
Angelina Jolie
Jessica Alba
Jamie-Lynn Spears
Matthew McConaughey
Ethan Hawke
Gwen Stefani
Tori Spelling
Fergie

2008 – 2 – 15
Man, I must be growing! I have a small bump and starting to be really sore after work. I feel like the only pregnant woman who’s working her entire pregnancy without breaks! Everyone else I know had the luxury of either not working, working from home, or getting wicked breaks. Driving home the other night in the snowstorm (3 hours) really took it’s toll on me. I could hardly get out of the car and walk. It was right to bed with me!

Ben’s been working on the basement some more. The plan is for his office upstairs to become the nursery and renovate the basement to be a rec room / office for him. He can’t have our spare bedroom cause I imagine a lot of guests will be coming after the birth and we’ll need a nice room for them to stay. Mom wants in to do the nursery in May so he’s down to 2.5 months to get it done and move out, heh! Looking forward to the next ultrasound next Friday, I love getting to see our little one. If we can’t get the gender results we “may” have to resort to a 3D ultrasound. I hate not knowing… I need to plan colour schemes, baby clothes, shower themes, etc.
Speaking of showers, my sister will be throwing one either late may – early June. More info to come.