Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy Halfway There!

Here we are, the halfway mark 20 weeks! This means that we only have 140 more days until I could deliver, 16 weeks until the cerclage comes out, and I am off bed rest, and 4 weeks until I hit my first mini goal. (Can you tell I have been counting down). In terms of the baby, her skin is becoming covered with a waxy-like substance called vernix which will protect her skin from becoming scratched or chapped. She is also starting to produce meconium, the result of digestion, which will accumulate in her bowels and eventually pass during delivery or in her first diaper :) Adorable. Now in honor of my 20 weeks, we decided to do one and only one belly photo in front of Sloane's chalkboard. When I was pregnant with Sloane I did a monthly photo to show my belly progress, and at 20 weeks was the last photo I took with her so I never erased the chalkboard and wont. I put them side by side so you can see the difference between the sisters :). I also did a fun little update.

Sloane on the left, Baby Girl on the right

How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain: 5lbs
Maternity clothes? definitely tops, but being on bed rest I mainly rock yoga pants
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: it depends on the night, some nights I sleep like a rock while other nights all I do is toss and turn. It also will depend on the injections and how my butt is feeling after
Best moment this week: bringing jessica with me today to give her a look into the preggo world :) and her first ultrasound
Miss Anything? Life! ha getting up and just doing whatever I please 
Movement: This little girl has her times messed up because she is moving and kicking right when I am going to bed and will not stop. However I have been feeling her so much everyday, Marty calls her the female version of Bruce Lee haha
Food cravings: still buffalo sauce, and then just randoms. Portillos cheeseburger with cheese fries, gyros, and lime Popsicles
Anything making you queasy or sick: brushing my teeth
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: none and thank jesus!
Symptoms: crazy bloody noses, peeing every 15 minutes, heartburn, some rib pain and round ligament pain from my belly stretching
Belly Button in or out? in however it's stretching horizontally
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: honestly lately moody and if you ask my family they'd say I am always moody however now that its getting close to when I had all those problems with Sloane I am beyond nervous and moody and scared
Looking forward to: hitting my first mini goal of 24 weeks. We can do it!


 
Now on to our appointment with Dr. Khater today. Notice the sonogram photo of our "high maintenance" little girl because that's exactly what she was today during the ultrasound. Face down hands over face giving us everything but a cute little profile picture. One of my very best friends Jessica even came with me to see her first ultrasound and this is what her niece gave her Auntie Jess, nothing! I am even weary about showing you all this photo because of how silly it looks but if you can tell its her spine up top and her head to the right and she is facing down. Not one of her best. However we had an amazing appointment today. Cervix is measuring at 4cm (which at this point with Sloane my cervix was only measuring a 2.5cm) and there is no pressure on the stitch what so ever. For the baby's anatomy scan everything looks wonderful. All four heart chambers, brain looking great, eyes, ears, and nose all developed perfectly! We also decided to get the MaterniT21 test done today. The MaterniT21 PLUS test, is a laboratory-developed test (LDT) that analyzes circulating cell-free DNA extracted from a maternal blood sample. The test detects the relative amount of 21, 18, 13 and Y chromosomal material. So we should get the results back in 2 weeks. No matter what the tests shows nothing will change, our doctors just recommended that we get it done. So next appointment is January 14th with Dr. Font and then January 29th with Dr. Khater. Dr. Khater did say that if I feel the need to come in for an ultrasound at anytime in the next 4 weeks to call and they will squeeze me in. These next 4 weeks are going to be mentally and physically hard on me, I am not going to lie but I will remain as positive as I can for this little one. Keep the prayers coming especially now, for a quiet, stable next 29 days :). I hope everyone has a Happy New Year! 2013 is the year for the Mitchells :)







 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

MFM Appointment

Today Marty and I went for our Maternal Fetal Medicine appointment with Dr. Font. We always get to see the little girl however today was a little longer than usual. He checked every bit of her body to make sure she was growing on time, and made sure her heart and brain were developing correctly. In Dr. Font's own words, "She was being "high maintenance" making it harder to see everything." So looks like our little girl is taking after her mama :). Everything looked good! My cervix was still long and closed and baby girl is actually growing about 5 days ahead of schedule. He printed us a few pictures however Marty and I both agreed to not upload those for they weren't her best side ha not really but they weren't very good photos. Very hard to see her, but we will be going to see Dr. Khater on Monday for our 20 week appointment and we should get a ton of new pictures of her! I questioned the braxton hicks I thought I was having and he said that it is a bit early for those and it didn't change my cervix at all, so it could just be from having a full bladder. So I need to make sure I keep drinking over the 64oz of water like I am, and also making sure my bladder isn't too full. I also have a rash on my right butt cheek from the injection from last week. (Sorry but I said from the beginning I'd share everything, the good, the bad, and the embarrassing). It seems as if I got an allergic reaction from the p17 shot and the doctor would like me to skip that cheek and continue on my left cheek until it goes away. It itches like crazy so I have been putting cortisone cream and now starting hot compresses to help the redness and bit of swelling go down. I am 4 injections down and besides the little rash they aren't as bad as I thought. I can handle it :). Oh and I also want to bring you all closer in our journey by introducing you to our doctor. Not only because I love him but because if you've ever see the show Shark Tank, he looks exactly like Mr. Wonderful.


Mr. Wonderful on the left, Dr. Font on the right

 In other baby news Marty felt her kick last night! We were laying in bed reading (well I was stalking on my phone) and I could feel her moving all around so I had Marty come and put his hand on my belly and within seconds she gave him two hard kicks! I love the look on Marty's face after feeling his daughter moving and kicking. I think it makes it all more real that a tiny human is actually in my belly! Not that he didn't already know this but it definitely connects him to his daughter more. She is for sure her daddy's daughter because she cannot stop moving! I love feeling her moving and kicking all over inside my belly. I am beyond in love with her, and she already reminds me of Sloane. They seem to hit the same milestones as one another and I love it. So the next MFM appointment is January 14th. He wanted to go 3 weeks and I made him go 2 1/2, I feel better about that since I'll be 22 weeks then. Oh I also made my Dad come over and work on putting ceiling fans up in our house with Marty, I have a long list for those two to work on before the baby gets here so I am glad they decided to start early :).


Working Hard!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas from the Mitchells!
 
 


 
Showing Mom how to use her new Ipad
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lola as Ms. Clause
 

Monday, December 24, 2012

Sloane's 1st Christmas

I cannot believe Christmas is already here! That means I am also 19 weeks today. That means many of the baby's senses are developing as specialized areas in the brain are being designated for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch! I am also able to feel her kick from the outside as well. I have been able to feel her moving around for a couple weeks now but it wasn't until this week that I finally felt her give me a good kick from the outside! I have also been having some Braxton Hicks contractions. Maybe 3 or 4 a day for the past week. Nothing to be too worried about at least I don't think. I have been drinking plenty of water, but it will be something we mention to Dr. Font on Thursday. Besides that, my belly is getting bigger and my appetite is in full force :). I cannot wait for dinner tonight at my parents! I hope that everyone has a great Christmas, and from my family to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas!


Mitchell Christmas Card 2012
 
Baby Girl also was in the Christmas spirit. haha
 
On another note, it's also Sloane's first Christmas! Marty and I were just talking last night about what we thought Sloane was up to in heaven. We could only imagine that she is getting excited with all the other children about Christmas coming tomorrow. I can only hope that those children who had the chance to have Christmas with their families at one time are explaining to her just what it is all about. I know it's not possible but I wish we could be celebrating her 1st Christmas down here on Earth with her, dressing her up, giving her hundreds of gifts that she wouldn't be able to play with now but in the future. I wish we could have taken her to see Santa and laugh at her potentially screaming because she was afraid of him. These are the things I think about during our first Christmas without her. I know she is in good hands in heaven and I hope she knows just how much we miss her during these two days. A friend of mine from group sent this poem to me last week and I haven't read it until now. I want to share it with you and when you read it think of my baby girl up in heaven spending her first Christmas with Jesus and all her friends. Merry Christmas Sloane. We miss you more than you'll ever know.

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless
Christmas trees
around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description,
to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away,
We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory
of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious
than pure gold.
was always most important
the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other,
my Father said to do.
I can't count the blessing or love
has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and
Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year

Sloane's Christmas tree, with only her ornaments from family and friends.


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

One month down...5 months to go

Well I have officially completed one month on bed rest. A part of me thinks wow already a month, and then the other part of me thinks ugh just one month, I still have five more to go. However I can't think that way, I have learned to have short goals not long ones. I do miss the everyday "things" I used to be able to do, however I do try and keep myself somewhat busy, maybe not productive but busy ill call it.

Things I miss the most: (Side note, these things will seem materialistic. Most are however don't judge me please).
  • Morning Starbucks runs. Just getting in my car and getting Starbucks whenever I want. I still sometimes get lucky and Marty or a friend will surprise me but still just being able to get it whenever. Love my Iced Vanilla Chai Tea :)
  • Shopping! I know Marty doesn't mind me not being able to shop, but let me tell you the day we are released from the hospital, the baby and I are going straight to the mall!
  • Sorry this is TMI however I miss pooping like a regular person. Haha not only does being pregnant throw your bowels off but so does bed rest. Lets put it this way, I either cant go or I cant stop going, ugh.
  • Cooking, and cleaning the way I do it. It is so hard having to watch others do everything for you, and sometimes the way you don't like it. Everyone knows how they like their things and its difficult to just have to sit and watch. But that's what I do because I don't want to be any worse of a patient for Marty and my Mom by complaining on how they do things!
  • Seeing Sloane. I had gone everyday since she had passed away and I never missed a day. Then once I had surgery and put on bed rest I haven't been able to go. Especially now I wish I could go and just let her know we are around during her first Christmas. Marty has driven me by and I shout from the car, "Sloane, its mommy remember me!" :)
  • Pampering myself. By this I mean everyday things I used to do. My poor husband has to see me EVERYDAY at my worst. No makeup, hair never done and always wearing yoga pants. I only get dressed when I have a doctors appointment and that's every other week. I cannot wait to look and feel pretty again. Which I'll have to learn how to multi-task since it wont be just about me, it will be about my little girl!
Of course I miss way more than that but those are just the things that came to me as I woke up this morning. I cannot wait until May. I cannot wait to hold my daughter in my arms and walk out of the hospital with her. We will not walk out empty handed. I cannot wait to not get any sleep, I cannot wait to change dirty diapers, breastfeed, and smell like baby puke :). I have never wanted all those things more in my life than I do now. So here is to five more months of laying around, injections, doctors appointments and keeping this baby cooking inside of me!

This photo always makes me laugh up so I thought I'd share since we only have 5 days until Christmas!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012


On, Tuesday, December 18th, we will be having a blogger day of silence. There will be no posts. Only the button that shows you are honoring those lives that were lost, by being silent.
We are also raising money that will go to an organization in the memory of this tragedy. The organization is called The Newtown Family Youth and Family Services. Here is the official description of the support service we are donating to:
"Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area.

ANY DONATIONS MADE TO NEWTOWN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THOSE EFFECTED BY THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING.

Please visit THIS PAGE to make your donation.
Our deepest thoughts and most heartfelt prayers are with you Newtown. We are there in spirit.
Love,
The Blog World
 
Thank you Becca Paro for allowing me to share this :) 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday! So if you have her phone number or see her today make sure to wish her a very Happy Birthday! Every year I say the same thing, and I mean it more and more every year. Especially this past year. Without her I would be lost. I wouldn't have been able to make it through this year without her helping me along the way. I am so glad that Sloane was able to meet her and be held by her grandma. If I am half the mother she is, I know that I have succeeded. So Happy Birthday to the greatest woman I know, and here is to at least 50 more years!

 

 
 

Monday, December 10, 2012

17 Weeks!

Today marks 17 weeks pregnant and the start of my 4th week on bed rest. I cannot believe I have already completed 3 weeks on bed rest. Actually it feels like its been longer but who am I kidding. I get a lot of phone calls and texts asking me, "So what you got going on today/this weekend?" Really? Come on it's the same old everyday, just laying around :). So I thought I would give you a look into my wonderful world of bed rest and just give you an idea of what a week usually looks like.

Monday-Friday: Marty and I will wake up anywhere from 7am-8:30am. (It's usually Marty at 7am and then I am not far behind). Before Marty goes to work he will make me breakfast. Yes I am a horrible eater and I know I need to start eating better, I will. Breakfast can be cereal, glass of orange juice or milk, eggs, toast, waffles and a bottle of water. We mix it up. Marty then leaves for work and I make my way downstairs to the couch where I will spend the whole rest of my day. I am only allowed to use the stairs once. So once going down and once going up. I will then catch up on any shows from the weekend I didn't watch or from the night before. A lot of reality! Lately I have also been online shopping, for Christmas of course! I'll read some magazines, or part of a book that I have started and not finished (I am a terrible book reader), browse the Internet, or take a nap! Marty will stop home for lunch if I don't have any visitors and if he can and make me a quick meal. Lunch consists of grilled cheese, soup, chicken, pizza, left overs the usual. I know I need fruits and vegetables, I am working on it. I'll then do the above activities and wait until Marty comes home from work. We will eat dinner together and watch our shows together and usually make our way upstairs to bed anywhere between 9pm-1030pm. Dinner is whatever my handsome husband makes, pork chops, steak, cheeseburgers, chicken, or meatloaf. He comes up with some good dishes! Sometimes I get lucky and get some company and if that's the case we party! No, but my day then includes gossip and having adult conversations something you miss when your alone a lot of the day. Oh and Wednesdays I always have company, my mother. Lately we have been wrapping presents and she has been doing our laundry :). I know we are so lucky shes close!

I bet that was super exciting to read! I do get out every other week for my doctor's appointments and then one extra day a month when I go see my OB. Other than that I see my bedroom and my living room :).

Today we did have an appointment at my MFM Dr. Font and everything looks great! My cervix looks good and he said there was plenty of fluid around the baby and she was kicking and moving like crazy. He said to keep doing whatever I've been doing, so nothing :). Our next appointment is December 27th when I will almost be 20 weeks, Halfway there! I also received my second 17p shot and this nurse (who was not Debbie) I think thought that my butt was a dart board, because she went straight for my cheek jamming it in! Hurt like hell so I am now laying down on my other side since its burning. But I'll do anything for this little girl! Marty also let me go see Sloane. I haven't seen her in a couple weeks so it was nice to go talk to her and give her a kiss, something I used to be able to do everyday. She is all decked out for Christmas that's for sure! She has her tree all decorated, and her little snowman from Grandma, and you can see she is all warm with her winter blanket.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Visitors for me & Sloane :)

Today was quite the busy day for me and Sloane! First I had an early morning visit from one of my best friends Taryn and her daughter Dolly. They came bearing gifts for me, the baby, and for Sloane! We were able to have a nice little visit which also included Dolly dancing around and shaking her tooshy for us :). They also were able to go see Sloane and as soon as Dolly got out of the car she ran straight for Sloane's grave. Taryn was able to capture some adorable pictures.

 
Marty and I also ordered a Christmas blanket for Sloane and it came in today. My dad was able to pick it up for us and brought it straight over to Sloane to keep her nice and warm this winter :).
 
 

I am also ending this blog with the cutest gift Taryn bought for me. A while back she was shopping and saw this doll in the toy aisle. As she looked closer she noticed that what she thought it said was true. I present to you Sloane as Lollipop Swirl :)

 
I am missing Sloane a lot especially now during the holidays, but just being able to decorate her grave and having all these things to remember her this Christmas I am able to smile a little knowing she is not only SO loved by her daddy and I, but also all those around us. I hope you're having a great 25 days of Christmas up there Sloaney! xoxo

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Shots, Doctor Appointment, and VIDEO!

I started my long awaited P17 injections yesterday. We knew this was going to be apart of this pregnancy even before we were pregnant. P17 or hydroxyprogesterone caproate is a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone. The thought behind getting these weekly injections is that they should prevent pre-term labor and calm the cervix. They are sent to my house monthly in pre-filled syringes, as shown below.


My amazing nurse (Debbie Mazzoni) came to my house and gave me my first injection :). Id like to say that everything I googled and heard about these shots were true, however piece of cake. Not bad at all. It is injected into my upper butt area and really didn't hurt like I had heard or thought it would. Now, that could be because I have a large butt haha however it burned for a minute and today I am just a little sore. So lets hope its like that every Monday!

We also had a doctor's appointment this morning at my regular OB Dr. Khater. We also had another ultrasound so we could take another peek at our little princess. She was in probably one of the most awkward positions we have seen, upside down head down. Shes still a girl :) and is growing right on track!

Now a video from our ultrasound last week. I mentioned it before about having trouble saving it, still having trouble so I just taped it from my computer so excuse the quality and please excuse Lola barking right at the end. It was difficult keeping her quiet for a full 10 minutes, what was I thinking!

Click and Enjoy :)
http://youtu.be/Id2I8T-lg0A

Saturday, December 1, 2012

25 Days of Christmas

Being on bed rest during the holidays is actually really good, time wise. The holidays make bed rest go pretty quickly. I cannot believe it is already December 1st. That means a few things, I for sure need to get my online shopping completed, decorating at the Mitchell household is in full effect, and ABC family channel starts the 25 days of Christmas movies! Home Alone, Elf, A Christmas Story, doesn't get much better than that. Especially when you watch TV most of your life. I also have found a few hobbies that I can create while sitting of course. Thanks to Pinterest I found a cute way to make a holiday monogram letter for our front door. I wanted something different instead of the usual wreath.


http://pinterest.com/pin/110830840799502411/
I could have done a better job with gluing the cranberries however after 4 hours of multi-tasking trying to position them correctly on the M and watching General Hospital posed quite the problem :). Also I blame the photo, it looks a lot better than that. Another hobby I can do is wrap gifts! So my mom has been hauling over the Christmas goodies for me to wrap. So far so good. Other than that I can't do much decorating, I have had to leave that up to Mr. Griswold Mitchell :) and he has done a really great job.
 
 
Front Porch lights
 

Our mantel is my favorite. Last year I searched high and low looking for that reindeer on the left from Pier One. I couldn't find it to save my life so I gave up, until this year's Christmas commercials aired and it was back! I begged Marty to go pick it up for us and he did! It holds all the Christmas cards I cant wait to start receiving, so send them on over!
 
Handmade wreath by Marty :)
 
I almost forgot. In my creative work mode I came up with a centerpiece for our dining room with the extra cranberries and burlap. Not bad for something that took 5 minutes.