It could've been much worse.
I really don't feel like writing this, but I know some people are wondering what the story is. Thursday morning, sometime before 5:30, I got up to use the bathroom (I never used to get interrupted sleep 2-3x a night before the pregnancy...and I have a feeling now that it's started, it will never end). I stumbled to the bathroom, and both Matt and I didn't think anything of it. I'm usually still half asleep anyway. As I washed my hands I noticed I felt disconnected...like I was watching someone elses hands under the sink. Whatever. I was tired, so I went back to the bed. As soon as I laid down on my back, my right arm became numb. You know, like when it falls asleep? Well, I hadn't been laying on my arm, in fact, I was just up walking around and it kicked in when I laid down. Normally, I can just shake my hand out and get that tingly feeling to go away. No matter what I did, there was no relief of that sensation. This only lasted a few minutes, and then my lips, the right half of them, got all tingly and numb. Then it spread to the outer parts of my lips to my face on the right side. Matt was on his way out the door for work, and he didn't think much of the numbness. He thought maybe I slept in a funny position. He told me if I had any more problems to call my parents. Well, my tongue got numb. At this point, I started getting nervous...what if it spread to my throat? As soon as I could feel my tongue regularly, I called my parents.
My mom answered, and I did my best to describe what was happening to me. I couldn't get the words out! I stumbled over all my words, repeating them over and over to try to get them out right. This was worrying me and frustrating me...I literally couldn't talk. I felt so jumbled. I waited for my dad to pick me up and tried watching a little tv. It was early, so only the news was on...and my mind couldn't keep up with the words on the screen. I recognized the words, but I couldn't read them. My dad picked me up, and the radio was on. They were talking about politics and mentioned one of the candidates names. I couldn't focus hard enough to know who they were talking about. I got to my parents' and my mom says we're going to the hospital. She hadn't called Matt yet because she didn't know if I wanted to talk with him. Huh? I could not figure out why she was so interested in contacting this Matt...Matt who? I went to the bathroom and realized that Matt was indeed my husband's name then laid on the couch for a few minutes while my parents got ready. Then it hit me! I went to the kitchen where my mom was and started crying...I had forgotten my husband's name! My parents were quite worried but took it in stride not to worry me more. There were a lot of other confusing scenarios that morning, but I'll save you the boring details.
I got to the Emergency Room just after 7am. 2 IV's (I guess the first one was a dud), a CT scan, an EEG, 7 doctors, hundreds of pokes later, they concluded I had a complex migraine due to the hormones from the pregnancy. They were running the gamut of tests to rule out stroke and seizure. I am to see one more neurologist and possibly have an MRI to make sure everything is ok.
I must admit the emergency room isn't my favorite place to be, but I managed to get a few laughs in. I was hooked up to all kinds of monitors and my mom had me breathe differently to see if anything would change. It started beeping when I laughed, and that made me laugh more...so it kept beeping. Then the EEG...they hook you up to like 30 little wires all over your head. My hair was going crazy like it often can, and I was a site! Then they wrapped my head in gauze to hold the the little probes in place so it looked like I had a head injury. The nurse was fun and laughed along with me...telling me what beautiful hair I had. Matt walked in after getting some lunch (the lucky man), and I'm sure my beauty made him fall in love with me all over again!
That was the day. We're hoping that was my first and last migraine!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Has it begun already?
It's a short one!
I just thought I'd share a few of my cravings so far...yes, they have begun, a little bit anyway. Sadly, Taco Bell, my love of fast food, has taken a back seat. I know, the craziness. I am not too happy about this either. You see, it all went down hill one afternoon I couldn't get rid of the hungry-ness. So, I ate a frozen burrito, and ever since that one "snack" I can no longer think about such things anymore.
Anyway...I have craved:
-McDonald's chicken mcnuggets
-hot dogs
-Spaghetti Os with meatballs
I read somewhere you crave the things you lack in your diet or your nutritional needs. Tell me, folks. What nutrients in these foods am I missing? What nutrients are even in these foods? Ok, possibly the protein, but I think it's a stretch. I don't even like hot dogs, but I specifically craved hot dogs with ketchup, mustard, and onions!! Remember that post about the Slim Jim I so delicately ate? I explain my aversion to hot dogs there.
I am happy to report my morning, afternoon, and evening sickness has gone down a lot! Hopefully, it will stay down. I'm sure more highly nutritious cravings are to come! I'm definitely looking forward to the day chocolate sounds much more appealing too! Feel free to share any cravings you've had, or if you haven't, I suppose you could share some healthy snack ideas for me. It looks like I could use them!
I just thought I'd share a few of my cravings so far...yes, they have begun, a little bit anyway. Sadly, Taco Bell, my love of fast food, has taken a back seat. I know, the craziness. I am not too happy about this either. You see, it all went down hill one afternoon I couldn't get rid of the hungry-ness. So, I ate a frozen burrito, and ever since that one "snack" I can no longer think about such things anymore.
Anyway...I have craved:
-McDonald's chicken mcnuggets
-hot dogs
-Spaghetti Os with meatballs
I read somewhere you crave the things you lack in your diet or your nutritional needs. Tell me, folks. What nutrients in these foods am I missing? What nutrients are even in these foods? Ok, possibly the protein, but I think it's a stretch. I don't even like hot dogs, but I specifically craved hot dogs with ketchup, mustard, and onions!! Remember that post about the Slim Jim I so delicately ate? I explain my aversion to hot dogs there.
I am happy to report my morning, afternoon, and evening sickness has gone down a lot! Hopefully, it will stay down. I'm sure more highly nutritious cravings are to come! I'm definitely looking forward to the day chocolate sounds much more appealing too! Feel free to share any cravings you've had, or if you haven't, I suppose you could share some healthy snack ideas for me. It looks like I could use them!
Friday, October 10, 2008
The first look at our little peanut
We had our first ultrasound on Thursday and what a blessing it was to see our little one on the screen. He/She looked like a little peanut. We were able to see and hear the heartbeat...is there anything more incredible than that sight or sound?? As soon as I saw the heartbeat, I have my first hunch at the sex of the baby...but not because of the old wives tale about the rate. The last time I had an ultrasound the doctors were checking for any abnormalities because of my "issues", and though it was good to see "nothing" at the time, how much richer it was this time to see life growing inside me!
In light of this experience, especially for us first-timers, I feel I must share these videos. I have such a love for babies and children and those lives that begin at conception! Listen to Gianna Jessen as she shares her story and so wonderfully and accurately words our need to glorify our Lord and rise up as the men and women He has called us to be for His glory and for the raising of our little ones. I don't begin to do this justice, so please just watch. I hope this moves you as much as it does me.
In light of this experience, especially for us first-timers, I feel I must share these videos. I have such a love for babies and children and those lives that begin at conception! Listen to Gianna Jessen as she shares her story and so wonderfully and accurately words our need to glorify our Lord and rise up as the men and women He has called us to be for His glory and for the raising of our little ones. I don't begin to do this justice, so please just watch. I hope this moves you as much as it does me.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
"Oh, the Places You'll Go" Part 3
*Here's another very long one, but the end of a series...for now!
Yes, Matt is finally home! If you missed the homecoming pictures, feel free to take a little birdwalk to Homecoming #1 and Homecoming #2. Tonight on the news I watched as more soldiers were reunited with their families today, and it just swells my heart with joy.
Oh, and this post really hasn't taken me 2 weeks to get in here...the last one was dated wrong. I guess since I started it one day and came back to finish it days later it published it as being the 16th...really, I think it was like the 26th, but whatever.
So where to begin? There has been some adjustment. When he first came home, I had to get used to sharing the bed again. Before we were married, it was no issue. I was used to sleeping like a straight board on a twin bed. We got married and had a queen sized bed, and I got lost. What do people do with king sized beds? Apparently, while he was gone, I sprawled out. Actually, I think I slept diagonally with my head over on his side and my feet on mine to try to be "closer" to him. He came home, and I didn't sleep so well the first few nights. Now, he started work and leaves early in the morning, and I can't fall asleep again after he gets up. I guess I'm a creature of habit. These adjustments are fine by me...they mean he's home! As I said, Matt started work again. He's at a different company building things for NASA. We think it's pretty cool, but don't ask me about specifics, it's over my head. I must admit I choked up the morning he left for his first day. Maybe it's silly, but honestly, I had to convince myself he was coming home that afternoon...that he wouldn't be gone for months. I taught the same day, so I didn't have much time to myself, which was good.
Maybe you're wondering about that grocery store incident? Well, I pretty much spoiled it at the end of the last post, but I'll share. We went grocery shopping a couple weeks ago. The store was crazy, as this particular store usually is, and there are often people who may not be as considerate as they could be. I will swallow those words in a moment. Matt was pushing the cart...he likes doing that, and I had the list in hand. We were immediately stuck behind an, ohhh, 8 year old boy who had a cart in the middle of the aisle, rocking it forward and back but staying quite stationary, quite in the way. We finally manuevered around him. Matt rolled his eyes at me a bit, but I found it quite funny. Literally, minutes later, Matt's mood must've changed because we found ourselves in the empty, wide aisle that contains the paper products. His boyish self sprang forth and with a running start, he jumped on the back of the cart. It turned out of control to the right (don't carts always turn to the right, or squeal, or something?) and slammed into the toilet paper shelf with a huge bang. He was moving I tell you! I was doubled over in hysterics trying to keep myself from having an accident. He on the other hand, was red-faced. After fits of laughter, I rolled my eyes at him and said, between more bouts of laughter, "and you were annoyed by that little boy!" At least he had control of his cart. I love that man, even when he's silly. Our outings usually contain some sort of unplanned activity. I guess you had to be there.
Other news on the homefront: We moved! I will post pictures later. We moved out of that dark, dank, basement!! This has been a long time coming, and we are so blessed with our "new digs" as my brother calls it. Though we don't have millipedes to keep us company any more, we have a one-eyed black cat that sits at our window and "stares" at us, or winks at us, and meows. Moving right along, we have a large living room and kitchen downstairs. Yes, we have stairs! We're thrilled. Then we have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. We love going "downstairs" for breakfast in the morning! This apartment is very nice...I even thought it was too nice for us when we looked at it. Countless things happened for the apartment to still be available for us, and we're thankful. I even started decorating a little bit. This is a must have safety device when Matt's lifting things above my head...can you blame me after the grocery store incident? Just kidding!
(Yes, I'm still in a youth size helmet, so it's flowery).
Family helped us move, and we had fun giving the grand tour. This is our bedroom, and this 2nd bedroom is going to be our office for starters....BUT THEN:
We found out the morning we moved!! Let me tell you, I think I only got 2 hours of sleep the night before. I was so excited to move, and I was so hopeful to have news to share. People tell me I'm real on this blog, and this just may prove it. This is how I look, at 6:30 on a Saturday morning, after 2 hours of sleep, just finding out I'm pregnant:
We are thrilled!!! This is such a miracle and seems to have the Lord's timing written all over it (that's what Matt says :). I went in for some early bloodwork because I had a history of low hormones. We had tried a year ago, I went for testing, and the Dr. was basically telling me I was pre-menopausal, and I'm only 24. I went the herbal route to try to get back on track. We are just so overjoyed! And get this! We found out our news exactly one year to the day since Matt's fairwell get-together last year, more of a sad time. That was also the day my mom gave me that crib cover to embroider....yeah, maybe that will be done by the time our child graduates from high school! ;) Our due date, as of right now (I think it may change a bit), is May 22. Well, Matt and I met, May 22, 2005. Isn't that cool? We were engaged May 20, 2006, and so on. No, these dates certainly weren't planned by us. Wow, I feel like I could write a book. So, we know it's early to some people to be sharing this news, but we need to make our praise known to the Lord and what He is doing. My early test results came back great! We would greatly appreciate continued prayers. I'm feeling pretty nauseaus and tired these days, but I take it as a good sign. So, yes, the frequent bathroom trips have kicked in, and thus, my laughter at the grocery store wasn't helping things. We are so excited to welcome our first little one into the family!
So, I'm sure we're not done going places. In some ways, this is still pretty much the beginning. Thanks for sharing the journey this far.
Yes, Matt is finally home! If you missed the homecoming pictures, feel free to take a little birdwalk to Homecoming #1 and Homecoming #2. Tonight on the news I watched as more soldiers were reunited with their families today, and it just swells my heart with joy.
Oh, and this post really hasn't taken me 2 weeks to get in here...the last one was dated wrong. I guess since I started it one day and came back to finish it days later it published it as being the 16th...really, I think it was like the 26th, but whatever.
So where to begin? There has been some adjustment. When he first came home, I had to get used to sharing the bed again. Before we were married, it was no issue. I was used to sleeping like a straight board on a twin bed. We got married and had a queen sized bed, and I got lost. What do people do with king sized beds? Apparently, while he was gone, I sprawled out. Actually, I think I slept diagonally with my head over on his side and my feet on mine to try to be "closer" to him. He came home, and I didn't sleep so well the first few nights. Now, he started work and leaves early in the morning, and I can't fall asleep again after he gets up. I guess I'm a creature of habit. These adjustments are fine by me...they mean he's home! As I said, Matt started work again. He's at a different company building things for NASA. We think it's pretty cool, but don't ask me about specifics, it's over my head. I must admit I choked up the morning he left for his first day. Maybe it's silly, but honestly, I had to convince myself he was coming home that afternoon...that he wouldn't be gone for months. I taught the same day, so I didn't have much time to myself, which was good.
Maybe you're wondering about that grocery store incident? Well, I pretty much spoiled it at the end of the last post, but I'll share. We went grocery shopping a couple weeks ago. The store was crazy, as this particular store usually is, and there are often people who may not be as considerate as they could be. I will swallow those words in a moment. Matt was pushing the cart...he likes doing that, and I had the list in hand. We were immediately stuck behind an, ohhh, 8 year old boy who had a cart in the middle of the aisle, rocking it forward and back but staying quite stationary, quite in the way. We finally manuevered around him. Matt rolled his eyes at me a bit, but I found it quite funny. Literally, minutes later, Matt's mood must've changed because we found ourselves in the empty, wide aisle that contains the paper products. His boyish self sprang forth and with a running start, he jumped on the back of the cart. It turned out of control to the right (don't carts always turn to the right, or squeal, or something?) and slammed into the toilet paper shelf with a huge bang. He was moving I tell you! I was doubled over in hysterics trying to keep myself from having an accident. He on the other hand, was red-faced. After fits of laughter, I rolled my eyes at him and said, between more bouts of laughter, "and you were annoyed by that little boy!" At least he had control of his cart. I love that man, even when he's silly. Our outings usually contain some sort of unplanned activity. I guess you had to be there.
Other news on the homefront: We moved! I will post pictures later. We moved out of that dark, dank, basement!! This has been a long time coming, and we are so blessed with our "new digs" as my brother calls it. Though we don't have millipedes to keep us company any more, we have a one-eyed black cat that sits at our window and "stares" at us, or winks at us, and meows. Moving right along, we have a large living room and kitchen downstairs. Yes, we have stairs! We're thrilled. Then we have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. We love going "downstairs" for breakfast in the morning! This apartment is very nice...I even thought it was too nice for us when we looked at it. Countless things happened for the apartment to still be available for us, and we're thankful. I even started decorating a little bit. This is a must have safety device when Matt's lifting things above my head...can you blame me after the grocery store incident? Just kidding!
(Yes, I'm still in a youth size helmet, so it's flowery).
Family helped us move, and we had fun giving the grand tour. This is our bedroom, and this 2nd bedroom is going to be our office for starters....BUT THEN:
We found out the morning we moved!! Let me tell you, I think I only got 2 hours of sleep the night before. I was so excited to move, and I was so hopeful to have news to share. People tell me I'm real on this blog, and this just may prove it. This is how I look, at 6:30 on a Saturday morning, after 2 hours of sleep, just finding out I'm pregnant:
We are thrilled!!! This is such a miracle and seems to have the Lord's timing written all over it (that's what Matt says :). I went in for some early bloodwork because I had a history of low hormones. We had tried a year ago, I went for testing, and the Dr. was basically telling me I was pre-menopausal, and I'm only 24. I went the herbal route to try to get back on track. We are just so overjoyed! And get this! We found out our news exactly one year to the day since Matt's fairwell get-together last year, more of a sad time. That was also the day my mom gave me that crib cover to embroider....yeah, maybe that will be done by the time our child graduates from high school! ;) Our due date, as of right now (I think it may change a bit), is May 22. Well, Matt and I met, May 22, 2005. Isn't that cool? We were engaged May 20, 2006, and so on. No, these dates certainly weren't planned by us. Wow, I feel like I could write a book. So, we know it's early to some people to be sharing this news, but we need to make our praise known to the Lord and what He is doing. My early test results came back great! We would greatly appreciate continued prayers. I'm feeling pretty nauseaus and tired these days, but I take it as a good sign. So, yes, the frequent bathroom trips have kicked in, and thus, my laughter at the grocery store wasn't helping things. We are so excited to welcome our first little one into the family!
So, I'm sure we're not done going places. In some ways, this is still pretty much the beginning. Thanks for sharing the journey this far.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)