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Monday, April 11, 2011

Book Review



A New York Times bestseller. Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life. Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

I read this boon in about a week...It was very well  written and kept my attention. It is sad, I will worn you, not many happy thoughts but a good reminder of the Holocaust. I was unware of what happened in France during this time, so it was interesting to read a bit of history. I would recommended this book! Maybe something with a little more cheer next time!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

First Trimester Recap

Since I was in no mood to journal during my first trimester I decided to write a mini recap so at least I will have something to look back on (does this make me a bad mother already?!)

January 9...First positive pregnancy test...5:30 am before I went to work. I have no idea what made me decide to take one, but I did and it was positive. I turned the light on at 5:30 and said "Welp, I am pregnant" Mark answered slightly annoyed " Really, let me see" He was not convinced it was a positive test ( It had lines not the digital) He claimed he had to see the word pregnant to believe it. So off to work I went, stopping by Kroger, buying 4 more pregnancy tests. I went to work and used two of them...The word pregnant popped up... (insert smiley face here!!) I text Mark a picture of the test and it wasn't until I got home that night did he actually start believing it, as I peed on every pregnancy test I could get my hands on. What a wonderful memory I have of this evening...We were thrilled.


January 11...Called my OBGYN....long story short I had an early loss in November so  I was slightly worried that maybe something else besides pregnancy. When I talked to my OB he informed it was possible I could be pregnant already and wanted me to come in and have my beta levels drawn to see what was going on. So in I went for blood work, told the lab at my work it was STAT and within an hour I got the results...289= pregnant. I wanted to scream. The real test is if the the beta levels double within 48 hrs, that means that things are progressing normally. My beta levels with my miscarriage were never over 100, anything less then 5 means you are not pregnant, but the doubling is what they look for..

January 15...Saturday, we were headed to Cincinnati for my nephew Evan's birthday party, I knew I had to get to the lab and get my results so I could rest assured (I am nuts, I know) So Mark took me early in the am and once again I put a STAT order on the results. A couple hours later I was staring a 723...more then doubled...we were headed in the right direction. I can't explain the relief I felt, knowing that it was a pregnancy and not something from my miscarriage....off to Cincy we went and decided to just tell my family...we wanted to tell face to face and we wanted everyone to be able to be happy with us. My family was such a support during the rough time in November, we just wanted to be happy. Our family was thrilled to say the least! The next step with the OBGYN was to come in an early ultra sound to confirm everything...

January 27...First appointment at 6 weeks...I was so anxious for this,  I was convinced something would be wrong....Mark wanted to shoot me I was so nervous. So we go in the appointment and I am shaking. He starts to do the ultra sound...confirms the pregnancy and says if I would hold still we should be able to see the heart beat...Mark had to hold my legs still...HOT I know...and there it was a tiny circle, with a fast flicker...our babies heart beating...one of the most amazing moments in our relationship.



January 27- February 28th: weeks 6 through 10...lots of sleeping, lots of anxiety, lots of nausea, a little vomiting, a lot of terrible tastes in my mouth, a lot of sleeping, a lot of just feeling like crap. My worst time was in the evening, about 5pm on, I was done..just wanted to go to bed..was nausea and had terrible metal mouth...blah! I survived, it could have been worse I know, but not fun at any point!

February 28th- 10 week appointment, first "official appointment". We got to hear the heartbeat at this appointment. At first he just wanted to Doppler me, but I demanded another ultra sound...I'm crazy I told you. So we got to see baby, how different it looked from 6 weeks, see and hear the heartbeat...overall an awesome appointment. I did not cry...which was so surprising to me, I just sat and looked...Mark was so excited! Got my blood work, everything checked out fine.

Feb 28 through March 15- weeks 10-12...pretty boring, lots of sleep, lots of night time bloating, lots of bad tastes in my mouth.

March 15- We opted to do the First Trimester screening for down syndrome and other birth defects...blood work and an ultra sound. I went by myself, thinking this would be no big deal, Mark wouldn't miss much. Boy was I wrong...this is when I officially fell in love. I was told to drink a little caffeine or sugar before going in to help make the baby move, after chugging 16 ounces of orange juice, baby was doing circles...sorry baby. It was moving around, staring right at us, heart beating..all I know is that is was amaazing. I can't explain it...this is when I first cried and thought "I love you" ...I wish Mark would have been there!!


That pretty much sums up the first trimester. It was a lot of doctor's appointments, a lot of anxiety and a lot of orange juice! I survived and now onto the 2nd trimester...which I have heard it fabulous!

Monday, April 4, 2011

15 Week Appointment

I had my 15 week appointment last Friday...everything went well. I met with another OBGYN in the practice and that was something different for me. I don't do well with change...haha. The biggest change is that she is a woman and my usual doctor is a male...such a difference! Females are so much more sensitive and willing to listen...it caught me off guard! Im used to my male in and out...answers my questions matter of fact and tells me to just fricken relax (pretty much sums it up!) It was a nice change of pace, but will be looking forward to my regular OB next time. Appointment was pretty boring, weight check, vitals, pee on your hand in a cup  and listen to the heartbeat...which is always exciting...except for the fact that 2 days prior my friend and I at work snuck down to triage and asked to borrow their doppler. We preceded to doppler each other...with not much success...had to call another nurse who knew what she was doing and then finally we found them...ahhh beautiful little heartbeats. Such a fun experience! Here is a little synopsis of week 15...sorry no pictures yet, we are just not into taking them, maybe this week!

How far along: 15
Total weight gain/loss: + 4lbs
Maternity clothes: umm no...at night time extremely bloated. Have worn them, but mainly just unbutton top button.
Stretch marks?: No...covering my body in Mamma Bee's oil lotion every night.
Sleep: Pretty good...could be worse!

Best moment this week: Triage heartbeat fiasco...haha!
Movement:  Not yet, swore I felt something about a week ago, but probably too early
Food cravings: Still orange juice and any kinda of fruit...heaven!
Gender: Still planning on not finding out. Im still convinced it is a girl.

What I miss: Wine (is that bad?) Being able to stay up late without being miserable, energy
Milestones: Nothing yet I think... Baby is the size of an orange!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

New Favorite CD...

I bought a new CD of a new artist I just came across and I am in love...It has been on repeat in my car for over a week now and I'm not planning on changing it any time soon... Her name is Adele and she is comparable to a Joss Stone, a strong female voice with good lyrics...check her out!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

It's Official...

I am PREGNANT!!! I officially got outed at work this week in the lunch room and since that day numerous people at work have approached me saying they have heard the good news...So I figured the last place to announce it was my blog. I turned 14 weeks this past Friday and it is such a relief to say that I am in my second trimester. It has been a long couple months with a roller coaster of emotions, but I must say I am just truly filled with joy and excitement.  I am due September 23, a perfect fall baby...my favorite time of the year...LOVE IT! Some you may be wondering what I am going to do about school and my response to you is that I'm just going to do it...I will have 2 online classes on maternity and people may think that's crazy, but I will just figure it out. I will get it done, it may not be perfect but taking a semester off is not an option. So that is that!

Now onto a few details...I found out I was pregnant in early January I was probably only about 4 weeks...Mark and I were thrilled. Had an early ultra sound at 6 weeks, could see the heartbeat but could not hear it, I had an ultra sound at 10 weeks, we could see the baby move, see and HEAR the heartbeat...pretty cool. I had a 3rd ultra sound for some screening purposes and that baby was rolling in circles, moving all over the place and that's when I officially fell in love. I think it really hit me at that appointment that this is really happening. I am so excited! There have been a lot of emotions this first trimester, maybe another post at another time, but right now I'm reveling in the fact that I am over filled with joy. So now it's official...I think everyone knows and I'm starting to feel okay with that. I wanted quite a bit of privacy at the beginning, but now I'm just going to enjoy it. And and now introducing my little alien...


Monday, March 14, 2011

What's for DInner...

Mark was requesting meatloaf for dinner this week....meatloaf??!! REALLY?!? I can't remember the last time I ate meatloaf, let alone an attempt to make it!  So with some new found energy I looked into blogger world and found a million and one recipes. I adapted a few recipes into one and went for it...I'm not going to lie it did not look very appetizing but it was yummy!!

Here is what I did:

1.5lbs of ground beef
1 chopped onion
3/4 c. breadcrumbs ( I used Italian)
1/2 c. chicken broth
I added sage, salt, pepper, and garlic salt a pinch at a time
approx 1/2 c ketchup
3 eggs

I mixed it all together, put it in my loaf plan and topped with more ketchup. Baked at 375 for 1hour and 15 minutes.  It was moist and delicious. Served with sweet potatoes and green beans! I have one happy husband tonight! I had to blog about it so I wouldn't forget what I did! It feels good to be back in the kitchen again!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Fat Tuesday

Today is Fat Tuesday....that means tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent and the Easter Season. I must admit I would rather be in New Orleans celebrating Mardi Gras then sitting at home in a sweatshirt and sweatpants trying  to figure out the probability of some random medical testing I do not care about for my stats class. Oh to be at the Mardi Gras parades stuffing my mouth with delicious treats...instead I am going to walk on the treadmill...I guess this is life. You don't always get to do what you want or what you dream of because of the day to day tasks of life. But when I start to think about all the stuff I can't do I remind myself of the stuff I CAN do. I am pretty lucky in my life. Making a list of the things I am blessed with and thankful for is a great reminder of the fabulous life I live everyday (even though it doesn't always feel that way) So today I am throwing my own Mardi Gras celebration...I am actually going to make dinner tonight since I have been seriously lacking in that department and make a yummy treat to celebrate Fat Tuesday...Then it is time to focus on Lent and what I will be giving up/or promising to do 40 days. I have no idea what to do this year I am hoping I can come up with something meaningful.  Are you doing anything for Lent?