Quote of the Day

"You shouldn't say 'Honey, you smell like ass.' Have some tact, woman."

Hilarious.

Let me explain. Everything stinks to me during this pregnancy - including Dave. It hurts his feelings even though he knows that he doesn't actually stink. I was reading a Fit Pregnancy and read out loud that a lot of women think their husbands smell foul during pregnancy and above is the response that Dave gave. So, from now on, I won't tell him when I think he stinks.

The First One Could Have Been a Fluke . . .

But last night I found the second one. I don't know why it brought me to tears. I know that is ridiculous. It happens to everyone at some point or another. For some reason, I thought I would escape this inevitable fate. Dave had hundreds of them when I started dating him 10 1/2 years ago. Since then, he says that I have given him thousands more. I don't know how he could possibly blame me. It makes him look distinguished. It will just make me look old.

No one told me that pregnancy would give you grey hair!!

No one told me a lot of things about pregnancy. I told Dave that I am going to start a blog or write a book to tell women all of the dirty little secrets of pregnancy. I wish I had that book. Do you think I could get rich off of it?

Failure to Blog

Failure to grocery shop. Failure to exercise. Failure to weed the flowers. Failure to make dinner. You get the gist. I apologize to my readers about being absent. I feel as though I have been absent from every aspect of my life - except for work. I am always "present" for work.

I was 14 weeks yesterday and I felt a little better yesterday and today than I have in a long time. I actually went to the grocery store and I made dinner last night. That is a big victory.

I spent more than an hour surfing for baby stuff on the internet last night. Dave told me that he was happy that I was finally starting to get interested in buying baby stuff. I think he was a little worried that I may never gain any motivation.

I have also decided to make the blog public, so you should no longer have to log in to view it. It should be easier to leave comments, too. I hope that makes things easier. I'll be back soon.

Oh, Baby - Two Distinct Personalities

Twelve week ultrasounds were today. Dave was unable to attend, but Mom was with me today. The babies were beautiful. Active. Healthy. Amazing. Mobile. Tiny (about 3-4 inches). The ultrasound pictures tell the story.

This is Baby B (for boisterous). In this picture his hands are crossed in front of his face. He could be described as uncooperative. He wasn't interested in having his picture taken today. He has a STRONG personality.

I think this is the most hilarious ultrasound picture of all time. Baby B is directly facing the ultrasound wand. He has his arm in the air. It's almost like he is waving his arm, saying, "Get out of here or else!" HILARIOUS!! Baby B is very rambunctious . . . active . . . uncooperative . . . hyper . . . and the list goes on and on. It's amazing he has so much energy considering that he is holding up Baby A.

Baby B again, facing the ultrasound wand. He was constantly moving throughout the entire ultrasound. I was shocked that the babies can move so much at only 12 weeks.

This was the best profile picture that we could get of Baby B and it took some patience.

This is Baby A (for angel). Baby A moved, as well, but she almost always went back to the same position. We got to see all of her fingers. She had her hand up by her face most of the time. The ultrasound tech, Nan, saw her nasal bone, which is apparently difficult to find at only 12 weeks. I can already tell that this will be our good baby.

Another angelic view of Baby A.

This is the hand of one of the babies, I'm not sure which one. We could see all 20 fingers today.

Baby A's heart rate was 146 and Baby B's heart rate was 167. The tech said Baby B's rate was probably higher because of all of the activity. Nan also said that she can't be 100% sure, but she thinks that Baby B is a boy and Baby A is a girl. We won't start decorating the nursery yet, but it is nice to have an idea what the sexes are. Everything looked great on the ultrasound today. YEAY!! The next ultrasound is at 16 weeks, on July 7th.

Mom went with me to the ultrasound today. She loved it. She was happy that they actually looked like babies instead of blobs. She had chemo today. It seemed to go well. She has been feeling okay, not great. She will have chemo every week for 9 more weeks. The trial drug, which caused most of her side effects, has been left in the dust. She is continuing chemo with the regular protocol of drugs from here through the end. I am happy about this.

This is my 12 Week belly picture. I read that a woman pregnant with twins is usually about the same size as a woman pregnant with a singleton that is two months further along. That means I am probably about the same size as a woman that is 5 months pregnant. So, I asked Dave what would happen if I made it to 9 months (I know it is unlikely) and he said, "You will look like you are 11 months pregnant." I thought that sounded like lots of fun.

I Love Summer

The best thing about the summer is that our social calendar is generally very full.  That means we get to spend a lot of time with all of our friends and family.  What is better than that?

This past weekend, Dave and I went to Kansas City.  We had a GREAT time.  We stayed at the Marriott on the Plaza.  Friday night we hung out at O'Dowd's with our great friends Jeff & Leigh Ann Williams, Seth & Ellen Berry, and Mitch Prather.  We had a fabulous time.  Unfortunately, I didn't think to take any pictures.

Saturday was spent hanging out on the Plaza.  We had lunch with the Herbst family.  We shopped (mainly for maternity clothes) and enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Rockhill Tennis Club celebrating the marriage of Sam Allinson and Matt Dunn.  Sam is the daughter of my business partner, Darren.  We had a wonderful time.  Sam was a gorgeous bride.

This is a picture at the wedding reception.  From left, Dave, my pregnant self, Darren, Kellie, Jersey & Tim Herbst, Olivia and Rick Gooch.

This is me with Dave at the wedding reception.  I ended up wearing a dress that was the same color as the bridesmaid dresses.  I couldn't believe it.

On the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, we celebrated the 30th birthday of my great friend, Angie Wentworth.  Together with her husband, Thomas, and friends, Melissa, Missy, Ranina, and myself, we were able to pull off a wonderful surprise party.  It was a Hawaiian luau party.  She honestly had no idea that we were throwing her a party - and it was at her house!  It was a wonderful night.  She had a great turn out for her party.  

Angie with her cousin, Tyler, who also was celebrating his 16th birthday.  

Angie pulling up to find 40 people in her garage.  She was shocked!!

Ranina & Missy

Yesterday, I was 11 weeks pregnant.  I am still getting bigger and bigger.  I have an ultrasound and a doctor's appointment next Tuesday, June 9.  I keep sharing the side view pictures of myself, because I look a lot smaller from the side.  I am very wide from the front.  

OLEVA REPORT

I feel terrible that I am so behind on this.  Mom had chemo last Wednesday and again today.  Jeff took her to both of those appointments.  To make a very long story short, the clinical trial drug that she has been taking has caused way too many problems.  She had a Muga scan of her heart last week and it showed that her heart volume has decreased.  They believe that the trial drug has caused this and it also caused the blood clot that she previously had.  Therefore, NO MORE TRIAL DRUG.  

She also believes that it is the trial drug that has made her feel the worst, so she is okay with this decision.  Last week, she started the second round of chemo drugs.  She will take one drug only every week for 12 weeks.  She only has 10 weeks left.  She says that this drug doesn't make her feel as bad as the previous drugs.  She and Jeff stopped by to see me today and she didn't seem like she felt very well at all to me.  I will go with her next week.