Snow.....and OMG, hungry....

We woke up to about 2 inches of snow on the ground. It has continued to fall throughout the day, and I guess we have around 4 inches total accumulation. Andrew loves it! He isn't quite tall enough to see out of the big picture window in our living room, so we hold him up high and he goes, "Oh...." I think he likes it. We also tell him, "cold" and he will occasionally say, "ddd", which is his word for "cold". I just ran outside and snapped these pics of our house looking all Winter Wonderlandish... (EDIT: I fixed my pics. I am so mad that Blogger messed with the image upload thing; as in no matter what size you select and no matter what original file size you have in Photobucket, Blogger still loads them huge and cuts them off on the right!)

In other news, all I am doing lately is eating. I have a crazy appetite! This is not good, considering I'm only 5 weeks along. I did look up the caloric requirements for breastfeeding while pregnant, and it says 700-800 calories on top of what a normal woman should be eating. I don't feel so bad now, but still. I ate 2 grilled cheese sandwiches for supper! Then I ate some cookies, but we won't go into that (they are Health Valley Mini Chocolate Chocolate Chip, and they're organic, so I feel a little better after eating them that at least I'm not eating trans-fats).

Other symptoms: just very, very tired. I'm also started to pee a little bit more. I still feel great--no news in the morning sickness department (although it might help me with my current eating problem).

The Awesomeness of Manheim Steamroller...

I love Manheim Steamroller. I'm also a fan of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. For those of you who haven't had the joy of listening to either of the aforementioned groups, they perform primarily instrumental Christmas music. It's been a tradition in my family to blast Manheim Steamroller CDs while decorating the Christmas Tree and opening Christmas presents. Well, my mom pretty much plays the music from here on out until Christmas, and she really gets moving when she cleans the house (she has those volume knobs in every room, and there are speakers throughout the house. I wish I had that too).

Anyway, I have 4 of the Manheim CDs. I have one bootleg TSO CD someplace, but I'm thinking it skips. I need to get some more TSO to play.

I was driving into work this morning to the tune of "Fum, Fum, Fum" (Manheim) and I mean, JAMMING. I had it cranked, my Focus was probably visibly bumping from an onlooker's view. I LOVE that song! I also love "Oh, Holy Night". It is the song that I used to perform on flute every year back in my church-going days (I was a member of the church choir for quite awhile, which was pretty much the only reason why I attended church--my love of music). That song still makes my mom cry when I play it for her (I just might this year, since I didn't last year). I also love TSO's "Christmas Canon"--seriously who would have thought to turn Pachelbel's Canon in D (an awesomely beautiful song) into a Christmas song. It's so beautiful, you will feel like crying. I also love "Carol of the Bells", one of my all-time favorites.

Or maybe I'm just a dork. You all need to listen to this music so you can see what I'm talking about! I can't wait to run errands for work so I can get back into my car (my commute is only 6-7 minutes, so that doesn't leave me much time to jam)!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for....

1) My husband, my son, and my little bean (and my birdies too)...
2) My extended family and friends...
3) Our health
4) All of YOU who are part of my life...
5) My job that provides for my family...

Results....

are good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Progesterone is at 25. Up from 15 last week. I am so right now! I am also crying tears of joy. This is a HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders. My bean is sticking, my levels are rising! At this point last time, I was just starting to spot, and in another 2 days, the m/c had started. This is so GREAT!!!! LOL, it was the RN for my midwife, and she said she had to wait until she was back in tomorrow, so she said, "All I can tell you is that your numbers are good, and they are above where we like them to be....and you're at 25". Which means, in 5 days it rose 10 points...so in my opinion, that's good! Not that I'm an expert, or anything.

Back to the lab again yesterday...

I tried to post this last night but for some reason, Blogger was being difficult.

Anyway, I had e-mailed my clinic to ask my midwife if we could check my Progesterone levels again. I had been doing some reading and found conflicting results on whether or not breastfeeding affected Progesterone levels during pregnancy. I'd rather not chance it. If they are going up, I can at least breathe a sigh of relief. If they're going down, we can start supplementing Progesterone.

I might be a worrier, but I would rather catch a potential problem early, before it is too late.

Line Progression

So, I think I can stop worrying so much. At least the line is getting darker!

ETA: I have no idea why it looks all digitized like that. In Photobucket, it looks just fine! Weird.

7 up

7 up!

7 things I can do...
1. Play the flute
2. Dance and not care if I look stupid
3. Fix the copier at work when nobody else can
4. Swallow my tongue
5. Draw
6. Walk really far, really fast
7. Remember dates and other crazy number details without trying.

7 things I can't do...
1. Bake (no desire)
2. French braid
3. Find my way around a new city
4. Stand on my head
5. Run for very long periods of time
6. Sew
7. Have the fan on while I sleep

7 things I always say...
1. "Andrew, do you want to watch your movie?" (Animal Adventures...he loves it)
2. "Boo?" (asking Dragon if he wants to eat)
3. "Andrew, do you want some nums?" (asking Dragon if he wants something to eat)
4. "Andrew, don't touch that!" (Andrew going for our computer cords)
5. "Andrew, NO!" (Andrew attempting to tear the plastic that is over our window--winterizing, for those of you not from the arctic).
6. "Andrew, don't bang on the birds' cages!" (this needs no explanation)
7. "Airplane!" (we live by the airport and Andrew loves planes)

7 things I always eat...
1. Yogurt (must be Brown Cow)--100% agree, Rachel! This is my favorite. Especially the whole milk Strawberry stuff....yum!
2. Cheese
3. Chili (this seems to be our favorite family dish)
4. Homemade spaghetti (because the shit in the can cannot compare to Daddy's homemade)
5. Dove milk chocolate (although I am eating much less now, to cut caffeine out)
6. Breakfast bars (can't think of the brand, but they are really good cherry ones)
6. Oranges
7. Homemade bread-- Daddy has this mean recipe he got from America's Test Kitchen. It is delish!

7 People I tag...
--Anyone who is reading this and/or who has a blog!--

Thank you, everyone!

Thanks for the congratulations. We are so happy right now, and I am hoping this time the bean sticks. I had a blood draw yesterday to do a pregnancy test (like I didn't already know, but they insisted, and a Progesterone level). The test came back + and the Progesterone is at 15. The nurse said that's an average number--I'm right in the middle. She said I was early (yesterday was 3w4d), and they normally don't do this blood draw until a little later--more like 4 weeks or later. I'm trying not to be too concerned. I did carry Andrew to term without a hitch, so I'm hoping this bean is just as strong.

I'm dead tired, so that's good. I'm slightly hungrier than normal. I've peed a little bit more than normal. I've had a few pulsing cramps, sporadically. The breasts are maybe slightly enlarged, but I'm still nursing too...so I don't think they had to inflate too much. Other than that, I have no symptoms. No sick feelings. No boob pains. Not licking the palms. (That last one was just a random thought I had).

With that, I guess just positive thoughts needed! I need to get a little further along before I stop worrying. Last time the spotting started at 15dpo, and continued through that weekend. The miscarriage started that following Monday.

Oh yeah, after I talked to the nurse, she put me through to the appointment desk. My first appointment is December 22nd, and that is with the nurse. We just go through my medical history (really, they can just copy my answers from last time if they want). It's not a "real" appointment. My first real appointment with my midwife is on January 21st. It's a 12 week appointment (which is standard if you're not considered "high-risk"...no early ultrasounds or heartbeat appointments here). I will hopefully get to hear the heartbeat for the first time on January 21st. Gosh, it sounds so far away!

In the meantime, I will be doing mandatory peeing on a stick every 2 days.

10dpo FRER...........

I'm due August 2, 2009!

An interesting read...

This is an article from National Geographic entitled "The Pollution Within". It's a little long, but it is very well narrated by a guy who had his blood tested for common household contaminants. It's not a "boring" article, by any means.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/10/toxic-people/duncan-text/1

This is really not a debate, but I just wanted to bring light to an interesting article. If you've already read it, you may pass it up or read it again.

As for us, we do EVERYTHING we can to find healthy alternatives. If it means buying shampoo that costs 2 or 3 times the "regular" stuff, so be it. I'll take a shampoo without phthalates, please! Our shower curtain is made from a fabric, so we don't have to worry about PVC fumes there. We threw away any non-stick pans we had many years ago after some of my online friends lost their birds to PTFE "Teflon" poisoning (seriously, she had 4 birds drop dead within minutes of each other the first time she used her new toaster oven). We have found a nice dish soap by "Earth Friendly Products" that smells like almond. I would use it even if it weren't deemed natural. All off the make-up I use is by Everyday Minerals. After I read about methylparaben and its negative effects on reproduction, that was enough for me (it is a hormone disruptor). The few times Andrew took a bottle of my milk, it was in a glass Evenflo bottle--they really weren't that much more than the plastic ones. The Playtex Natural Nurser is also BPA-free. I got rid of all my trendy Nalgene bottles I used in college, and opted for a BPA-free one (Nalgene makes one made of Polyethylene instead). After all, I chug water all day long at work; I'd rather be chugging it from a bottle that isn't leaching chemicals into my bloodstream.

My point is, maybe one single thing seems harmless, but my belief is that a cumulative effect of all of the above is never a good thing. I can't avoid all the things I breathe in on a day-to-day basis, but I can control what I put into my body at home.

I think the cold is on its way out - FINALLY!

Although he coughed quite a bit last night, keeping me up and worried (I always think he's going to choke on the phlegm), this morning his nose was snot-free. I am hoping that the coughing is the last stage of this cold--now going on about 2 weeks.

In other news, Andrew started slapping at Mommy the other day! :( I was sitting on the floor and he'd come up to me, stand up, and whip his hand in my face--not hard enough to hurt me, but it did hurt my feelings. Also, I love to sneak up next to him when he's doing something, and then he'll look over and my face is right there. Normally he'll laugh or tap his forehead to mine. Last night--push Mommy's face away! I am so sad. But, I do believe his recent annoyance with me is because for the past 2 weeks I've been coming after him with the snot rag, several times a day. Yeah, that's it!

Oh yeah, and he doesn't hit Daddy. :*(

Walking!

I've been waiting for the time to publish this post. I guess I was waiting for him to take off across the room, but since it's been a week now where he's taken 4-5 steps at a time, I guess he's officially walking. Part-time, as it is, but I'll take it.

Go, Andrew! :)

Image overload! :)

All right, so I have had a lot of cute pictures lately and as they start to build up on my camera, I feel the need to update my Photobucket; and consequently, my blog. So here they are. Enjoy!

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Here's looking at you, kid...

Andrew loves to crawl all over Daddy and/or the couch. I caught this moment on film. I love it! :) Every morning, after he watches me get ready for work (he loves the blow dryer), Andrew rushes out to say good morning to Daddy. He goes straight for the nose and puts his mouth over it. Apparently it's how he kisses (so cute).

Ah, this one. I bought him a winter hat and when we were in the store, the two of us could not stop laughing. I put it back on him when we got home so I could get a picture of it.
Just a random of him...
I told Daddy to hold Andrew like a baby, so he did. :) They both got a kick out of it.

In the carseat. He loves car rides.
He was being super cute this day, so I went crazy with the camera.

Oh yeah!

I almost forgot. My new laptop arrived on Tuesday. It's identical to the hubby's--a Dell Latitude D420. I ordered it off Ebay, and it was eligible for LiveCash so I'll get $135 back in cash (they're offering some deal right now; you just have to sign-up for an account at Microsoft Live...read about the deal on FatWallet)! The computer was $530.44 with shipping (shipping was $17.97 and I paid the $2.50 insurance, just because it's a computer), so my cost after CashBack will be about $400. Not bad for a computer that still has remaining warranty. My other one was just too slow and bulky. I love this one because it has a 12" screen. It's also really lightweight and part of the computer is made of metal instead of plastic.

Dragon is sick...

He's had a cold for a few days now. I hope he feels better soon! When he nurses, he has to take a breath every 5 seconds, so it's constant latching and relatching. He works hard for it though, because apparently he still wants the milk!

I suctioned out his nose tonight and he didn't like it one bit. I don't really know how much good it did, because it seems like it's a never-ending supply of mucus.

Hopefully this weekend he catches a break.

On a side note, I've had a sore throat for 2 days and it's the same one Daddy had. I think it's a separate illness from Dragon's, becuase Daddy's sore throat just went away without a cold. I guess time will tell.

I voted!

I am so excited for tonight. I love election night. I love watching the map of the states turning colors. I love it when they say, "Oh, wait...we have just heard...", and then they give an exciting update about a state being called. I love it when the polls start closing, because I then feel that the end is getting closer.

I was pissed after the 2000 election results and I was pissed after the 2004 election results. I am SO ready for a change and cannot wait until we have a new president!

Get out and VOTE today! This is an historical election.

My little dragon!!!!!!!!!!

Some Halloween pics for your viewing pleasure. I apologize that the pics are kind-of big...I uploaded them "small" but oh well. Hopefully none of you are still using dial-up! If you are, then you have more problems than I can help you with.

Anyhow....I took the day off of work so I'd have a nice 3-day weekend...and I knew we'd be busy for Halloween. I didn't want to have to run around after 4:00, trying to cram everything in.

The first few here are from my work. I stopped in for the 2:00 Halloween party. Sorry this first pic isn't the greatest. Rob took it and it's a new camera...not sure what setting he had it on.


You can see the side of his costume here. Look at the cute little wings!
The back of the costume. That tail is so darn cute!
Everytime Andrew visits me at work, he can't resist playing with the thingies on the side of my desk. You know, they are for putting cords through? Yeah, he LOVES playing with these things. So funny.
My mom took this one with her camera. Not the greatest shot, but I love that he was clapping for no apparent reason.
Finally, have you ever seen a cuter dragon than this??? I took this shot at my mom's house.

Later on, we went back home. I was sitting on my computer reading about all these other moms taking their kids trick-or-treating and I figured, what the heck! So, I asked Rob if he'd want to go, put Andrew's costume back on (it was 7:15, so we still had 45 minutes left of trick-or-treating time), and packed him into the stroller. It was so cute to look down and see this little dragon in the stroller. The look on his face as we went door-to-door (we just went around the neighborhood) was priceless. He would smile at all the people. He even left his hood of his costume on, which surprised me. The ladies ooohed and aaahed over him. This one dude seemed kind-of rude, like we shouldn't have been taking our son trick-or-treating because he was so young. He said, "oh, he looks like he's real into it. Good luck with that..."... WTF? We took him out because he had this adorable costume and I wanted him to experience the dinging of the doorbell, waiting, and then yelling, "Trick or Treat!" He loved that part of it. He couldn't care less about the candy. Poo on him. I will say that 99.9% of my neighbors were really sweet. The best part was when we stoppeed by the neighbors' house (across the road). They have a little boy named Parker who is 2 months older than Andrew. It was fun to see them interact! Andrew would crawl up to him and reach out and touch his hair. Then he'd quickly scoot back and giggle. They were chasing each other around. It was adorable. Parker's mom and I agreed that we have to do a playdate sometime!

That's about all for now. I apologize to my small following of readers that I haven't been very talkative lately. I've been very busy at work and stressed about my messy house. We cleaned today, so now I have peace in my mind. Does anyone else feel that way? That they can have a better day, knowing that the house is clean? Discuss amongst yourselves. Respond back to me on this. :)