~*~The BSL Graduate/Stalking Thread JULY!! ~*~

[LZP]

Welcome to the JULY Thread Mamas!!

Looking forward to adding some of our BSLs to the list over here this month!

This is a spinoff of the Bitter Sushi Ladies Thread over on the TTC board. Some of us have very happily made it to the "other side" and we want to be able to keep track of each other.

Our fellow BSL's that are still on their TTC journey like to check up on us from time to time too - which we really appreciate - since they continue to be in the midst of a sometimes brutal and just "NOT FAIR" TTC journey...
 

~Our July Baby!~
Congrats to LZP and Welcome Baby 
Born at 36 weeks on July 18th at 4:04 AM, 7 lbs 2 oz 17.5 inches long

~Our June Babies!~

Congrats to Pinoikoi and Welcome Baby Ursula Marisol
Born on June 23rd at 6:40 AM 8 lbs 10 oz, 21 inches long
Congrats to Lisko15 and Welcome Baby Caleb Benjamin
Born on June 24th at 7:36PM 9 lbs 1 oz, 22 inches long

~Our May Babies!~

Congrats to Jelinifer and Welcome Baby Finnegan Hubert
Born on May 1st, 8 lbs 10 oz, 21 1/2 inches long
Congrats to jillc512 and Welcome Baby Albert Boaz
Born at home on May 4th at 3:29 pm, 8 lbs 11 oz, 20 3/4 inches long
Congrats to Starkyld and Welcome Baby Elliott Marlowe
Born at home May 25th at 9:24AM, 9lbs 8 oz 21 inches long

*~Our February Baby~*
Congrats to Lauren31  Baby Girl 
Born February 7th at 10:40PM, 7 lbs 12 oz, 20 1/2 inches long

And the rest of us... still waiting...

colorbywords - TTC #1 for 13 months, due 8/8/10 .
LZP - TTC #1 for 17 months, due 8/10/10 .
MaerynPearl - TTC #3 (or #1) for 7 cycles over 2 years, due 9/14/10 .
Lyndzies - TTC #1 for 10 months, due 10/4/10 .
Carlyle - TTC #2 after a loss, due 10/10.
MommyNicoleTX - TTC #3 for two years, two losses, due 10/10/10.
YummyYumYumMama - TTC #2 for 1 year, due 11/22/10.
KellyTTC#1 - TTC #1 for 3 years, BFP after IVF, due 12/03/10 with .
Qbear'smama - TTC #2, due 12/15/10.
jessica_s- TTC#2 for 19 mos, 3 losses, due 1/22/2011
Finnegansmom - TTC #3 for 11 mos, due 2/8/2011

 

Our thoughts are with
Nanette56 ~ February 2010 ~
Enigo ~ April 2010 ~
kalamos23 ~ July 2010 ~
We hope to have you back with us very, very soon.




As always, we are sending a whole lot of to you Ladies over on BSL Proper.
PLEASE GET OVER HERE to keep us company!!!!!

Edited by LZP - 12/12/10 at 11:22am

[MaerynPearl]

YAY new thread! Thankies!

As I said, Ill take August! (err I may need prodded to do so... but will TRY to remember)

And... Toy Story 3... wow. I cried so hard at one part I could not even breathe it was horrible! (good movie, horrible crying)

[LZP]

Starkyld

From June Thread

Originally Posted by starkyld

Lisko, Caleb's adorable!

Tear, I'm really sorry to hear your news. I really, really hope something works for you soon.

Elliott hasn't passed his hearing screening for his right ear after five checks. His left ear passed on the second check. I have a congenital hearing impairment myself, so was worried about the baby's hearing before I even got pregnant. My hearing impairment is bilateral, though, so that makes me more hopeful that Elliott's trouble passing the screening is just a fluke and that his hearing is fine. He does respond to sound.

There are lots of pictures of Elliott here, if anyone wants to see.

[LZP]

Lyndzies

From June

Originally Posted by Lyndzies

starkyld - OMG I love the pics!!! Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

AFM - back from the midwife. She said that there's often not much that can be done about this problem (which I already knew) and also said it's rare that she's seen women in as severe pain as I am in. Lucky me.

She gave me a couple of chiropractor recommendations, which I am going to follow up on. One has "advanced" training in both pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic. Fingers crossed.

Also recommended was binding my hips with a wide ACE bandage when I'm resting and/or sleeping, in addition to the support belt. She said to be in the water (i.e., pools, warm baths) as much as I'm able, since that has been the only time I've not been in pain the past month or so.

Finally, since my case is so severe, she wrote me a script for Percocet. She said to only take it when the pain is extremely severe, and that we'd start there. After my appointment, the pain was unbarable - I can hardly walk, I think from sitting on the exam table while waiting for her - so I took a half of one and am waiting to see the effects. I feel like a bad mother already. I can't believe I am drugging my little girl. But I don't know what else to do right now; all the pain can't be good for the baby, either. And... I trust my midwife. It's just a really hard thing for me to accept, taking meds while pregnant.

Thanks for any words of encouragement. I'm not a bad mama already, am I? I feel so weak.

[LZP]

QBear'sMama, LZP, Maeryn Pearl, ColorbyWords

From June

Originally Posted by Qbear'smama

OMG I feel like I haven't been here in ages; last week I was away for work and this week I have been home with DD and nary a moment to check out the BSLs. Today it is Canada Day so DH is home and I have time to check in with everyone.

Congratulations, Lisko (Caleb is gorgeous!) and Pino (beautiful Baby U!!) I am sure you are both elated and enjoying your new babes! Happy babymoons!!

Lyndzies, I like Cadence, it has been quite a name journey for you and DP. We're going through the same and I have a new fave every week, it seems, that ends up getting rejected for one reason or another. I totally get you not sharing with ppl IRL, we bounce names off of people, but I think if and when we decide, we're not announcing the name until there is a baby to go with. I am sorry to hear about the SPD, I really hope you get relief via chiro and I really don't want you to beat yourself up over the meds, I had to use something similar for a short time when I was preg with DD, I had a fibroid that was degenerating and it was torture; luckily some anti-inflammatories helped more and I didn't have to take the meds for long and you won't either once you find something that addresses the SPD itself.

YYYM, congrats on your boy! My US is scheduled for July 21st and I hope we get to find out. I am getting boy vibes, but I did with DD, too, so we could very well have another girly on our hands!

Lauren, love the pics, she is so cute!!

Starkyld, love all the Elliott pics, I hope his next tests show all is well with his hearing. When will they test again? Surely it is a good sign that he responds to sound...

Mae, love the newest wedding pics, it was so perfect and you, DH and the kidlets all looked beautiful. Glad to hear your financial hiccup is fixed, the timing of these things, eh?

Tear, I am so disappointed at the BFN. It sucks! However, I know that you will be here soon. And Enigo, too!!!

I guess I should post this in the July thread, (don't think there's one yet!) but I have been dying to catch up with everyone!! I might cut and paste if there is one today!!

AFM, waiting for the US on July 21st, hoping to find out the sex, other than that, I've had a pretty restful week off this week with DD, who has been very affectionate about the baby, it has been very sweet. I had some back pain recently but started using a body pillow at night and that has helped quite a bit. I am definitely showing and have grown out of my regular pants for sure! I have been living in skirts and I got a really comfy jersey one from a maternity clothing store, feels like pyjamas and have pretty much been living in it! So that's it, we're good around here. Apologies to anyone I have forgotten...

Originally Posted by LZP

starkyld- I'm going to check out those pics as soon as I finish posting this. can't wait to see your little guy!!

Lyndzies, you are NOT a bad mama. you need to take care of yourself too... not ONLY the baby. And she wants a mama who is not in excruciating pain. I think you're right- all that pain can't be good; I read something somewhere (very scientifically documented, I know!) that pain releases hormones that transfer to the baby, and he/she can sense it. not good hormones like during labor, either.
Take it easy this weekend, and see if you can locate a pool (your neighbors have one, right?). I plan to be beaching myself in the blow up pool in our back yard at least once per day. it reeeeeeeally helped my lower back to be floating a lot on vacation. It actually still feels markedly better even a whole week after!

QBear'sMama- Hi! sounds like you've been busy! looking forward to reading your gender announcement. I thought boy and ended up with a girl... my intuition is totally off. Oh- and i AM wearing pajama pants to work today! (speaking of your skirt that feels like PJs). I dont think anyone is the wiser. they're knee length, cotton/bamboo blend, and HEAVENLY soft!! though they are making me feel a little sleepy...

AFM, I'll start a July thread after I look at Starkyld's pics. the only caveat is, I'm also not-so-secretly hoping to go in July. Probably won't happen; but still, a girl can dream. I guess if that happens, whomever will be doing the August thread could just start it early...? Who is doing the August thread? not that it's that important now, but still: I'm a planner.

Also, DH is home!!! These next few weeks are going to be rough. he's away again next week and the week after, only home on weekends. I hate sleeping alone. I just DONT sleep well, and it's plaguing me that this is the last time that we'll get a good night's sleep for probably many (many) months.... not to mention, i am WAY too lazy to make anything remotely healthy for dinner when it's just me, so I resort to cereal. just NOT good for either of us. maybe this weekend I will go to the store and stock up on things to make for some of my freezer meals. then I can at least have something to do to make me tired, and perhaps even eat some of the meal that night!

OK, thats it for now. off to start July.

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

I will do August (with the hope that I wait for my birthday on Sept. 4th to have her!)

Originally Posted by colorbywords

I don't see the July thread up yet so I am going to post here!

We had our weekly ultrasound this morning and since it had been 3 weeks since they did measurements (they usually just do the biophysical), she went ahead and took measurements.

At 32 weeks, baby was measuring in at 4 lbs 13 oz.

Today at 35 weeks, baby is now measuring 7 and a half pounds!

Now... I *know* that ultrasounds can be off. My DH mentioned the 2 lb +/- at the ultrasound (when my eyes bugged outta my head!) and the tech said that they are really closer to 1 lb+/- (they're perinatalogists so I imagine they have better machines than the regular ob ones?). However, even though I *know* this, it's not stopping me from freaking out a little! I have 5 weeks left! And she gained nearly 3 lbs in 3 weeks. Even if the measurements are off, the growth is there. So even if she was originally 3 lbs and is now 6 lbs... she still gained 3 lbs in 3 weeks!!

So I'm hoping that if she *is* already 7.5 lbs, that her little lungs mature and she comes early! I am not looking forward to birthing a 10 lb baby... if she goes to 40 weeks, gaining at the rate she's gaining, she'll be 11-12 lbs! The tech said they'd do another measurement scan closer to delivery time to "make sure she's not too big to fit through the pelvis." Now I am a firm believer that my body won't grow a baby I can't birth, AND, the perinatalogists aren't even the ones who will be delivering me, so I'm not going to let them bully me into an induction or c section, but I must say.. her current weight gain gave me a shock!

So anyway, just needed to get this off my chest. Any happy thoughts for me?

[LZP]

Sorry for the delay!!!

Sorry about that delay in getting July up. my work comp is being a B lately and not letting me navigate MDC very well. it's almost like it *knows* that I'm not supposed to be on there.....

Mae- WOW! so quick with the thread reply!!! Thanks for volunteering for Aug threadmistress. I'll remind you as it gets closer, but we have some time. glad you liked TS3, I am looking forward to seeing it when it's out on blueray. (we NEVER go to the movies, since DH is so obsessed with his home theater set up at home.)
Thanks for the crying warning, I'm usually an emotional movie-watcher, so add hormones into the mix, and well... I'm going through tissues and hankies like crazy.

CBW- what if the last US was off in the other direction by 1 lb- so maybe she was 5.5, and now maybe she's 6. they can be (+ OR -) even with the same machine depending on the tech, the mama, the angles, etc... I hope for you that even if everything was totally accurate you caught a glimpse of a really healthy growth spurt, and now she'll even out!! Our little one DEFINITELY had a spurt this week; i feel like she grew at least an inch and at least a pound overnight! it's like all of a sudden growth exploded.

OK, now that i am totally pooped I think it's time for bed...

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by LZP

Mae- WOW! so quick with the thread reply!!! Thanks for volunteering for Aug threadmistress. I'll remind you as it gets closer, but we have some time. glad you liked TS3, I am looking forward to seeing it when it's out on blueray. (we NEVER go to the movies, since DH is so obsessed with his home theater set up at home.)
Thanks for the crying warning, I'm usually an emotional movie-watcher, so add hormones into the mix, and well... I'm going through tissues and hankies like crazy.

If you liked the first one at all (or the second I guess... I never really watched the second tbh) you will absolutely bawl at one part. It was so good, between the crying and the laughing... but wow was it emotional for me toward the end!

[Qbear'smama]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

YAY new thread! Thankies!

As I said, Ill take August! (err I may need prodded to do so... but will TRY to remember)

And... Toy Story 3... wow. I cried so hard at one part I could not even breathe it was horrible! (good movie, horrible crying)

me, too. It was so good and I was surprised at how emotional DH and I got (DD didn't get emotional and didn't noticed us).

[lisko15]

Hi Ladies...

colorbywords - 35 weeks, baby is now measuring 7 and a half pounds!

For me, at 35w6d DS was measuring 5 lbs 10 oz. He was born at 39w5d weighing 9 lbs 1 oz. Rather than thinking he gained THAT much weight in such a short time, I think the u/s was off. So don't worry too much!

As for us... sensitive subject below, but I may be MIA for a bit and wanted to share why...

In the State we live in, they do an automatic screen of 32 diseases on every newborn. One of the diseases came back screen-positive for Caleb. This could mean nothing, as its just the initial screen and could be a false positive. Unfortunately, it seems like they are doing these "screens" on every newborn as somewhat of a research project. (Which really makes me a bit angry.)

However, a pediatric neurologist from the Childrens Hospital here called us Friday and we have an appointment Tuesday morning at 11:00 with her to re-test Caleb, test DH and I (as it is genetic and we would both need to be carriers for Caleb to truly have it) and for further discussion. It all seems so scary, and I don't want to share the disease just yet. The doctor tried very hard to reassure DH that we should not worry and we should not try to research everything we can about the disease. (Easier said than done, when you are calling infant parents on a Friday before a long weekend.) To be able to tell us this, it must be she often sees "positives" that end up being nothing. Various research I did (even though she said not to) seems to say the same thing. She did say that Caleb's screen was only positive after further testing, and not the initial test they do. I am not sure when we will get these final results back, as they are sent out. We should know plenty more after Tuesday.

It is terribly scary though, as the disease has a dismal prognosis, and I'm having a hard time keeping it together. I just keep hoping with everything I can HOPE that it is a false positive, or it somehow only puts him in a very low risk category of developing it someday...

Its truly been an awful couple of days, and it gives me so much more respect for the family we know that has been dealing with not very successful leukemia treatment for their 3 year old DS for the past year and a few months.

I can't help but to look at Caleb sometimes and wonder if I should be careful to love him too much...

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by lisko15

I can't help but to look at Caleb sometimes and wonder if I should be careful to love him too much...

A cousin of mine was born with hydrocephalus and only lived to age 7...

Even knowing from the beginning that she probably would not survive, my aunt (and entire family) gave her as much love as she could. It is not better for you or him to withhold love in the chance that something could happen and he could be taken from you. It is much better to love them as much as possible just in case something happens, so that they know their time on earth they were fully loved.

We all live with a daily risk of our children being taken from us, even if they have no disease. Its a harsh reality of life. Car accidents, for example, come with very little to no warning whatsoever.

Mothers who have lost their children often feel regret for not loving them enough, so please... no matter if Caleb is healthy or not, give him as much love as you can!

I will be praying that whatever they think may be wrong with him isnt and that all of this worrying is over nothing.

[Lyndzies]

1 - loved Toy Story 3! But, didn't cry. But, could have! Lol.

2 - Lis, I couldn't possibly have put it better than Mae did; please know we are all thinking of you and hoping beyond hope that the worry truly is "for nothing." xoxoxo

3 - Thanks for all the reassurance that I'm not doing anything to harm my baby girl. I am feeling better about the whole thing now. I went to the chiro on Friday, and in addition to a consult and evaluation, we decided I was in bad enough shape that I needed an adjustment right then and there. I felt about 50% better leaving the office, 30% better yesterday, and now I'm back where I started. BUT, I'm going back Tuesday evening, and likely a couple times a week for a bit, to see if aggressive chiro treatment is going to help me.

4 - Completed window treatments this weekend! The nursery is really coming together.

[kalamos23]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

A cousin of mine was born with hydrocephalus and only lived to age 7...

Even knowing from the beginning that she probably would not survive, my aunt (and entire family) gave her as much love as she could. It is not better for you or him to withhold love in the chance that something could happen and he could be taken from you. It is much better to love them as much as possible just in case something happens, so that they know their time on earth they were fully loved.

We all live with a daily risk of our children being taken from us, even if they have no disease. Its a harsh reality of life. Car accidents, for example, come with very little to no warning whatsoever.

Mothers who have lost their children often feel regret for not loving them enough, so please... no matter if Caleb is healthy or not, give him as much love as you can!

I will be praying that whatever they think may be wrong with him isnt and that all of this worrying is over nothing.

I haven't lost a baby after birth but I 100% agree with this and thank you for reminding me of this. With the last baby I lost, I made up my mind that I didn't know how long I would be pregnant and each day I was pregnant with him was going to be a blessing. It ended up that we lost him at 8.5 weeks and found out at 11w. I am SO glad that I loved that baby for as many days as I knew he was around.

I'm have a very large SCH right now and a threatened miscarriage but the baby is hanging on as far as the last u/s showed (showed development on par with where it should be though the HCG fell slightly and the sac is compressed). I am praying every day that this baby is a fighter and thank you for reminding me to treasure every day with this little one.

Love is a scary thing because it can hurt just so dang much, but it is so rewarding too.

Good luck to you, mama - I will be praying for Caleb and you and your DH.

[Lauren31]

Lis-- wow... I just can't believe that they would tell you that and then make you wait that long for the holiday weekend.... that is just crazy to me. I have said many prayers for you and your family that the worry is for nothing and it is just a false positive. This baby though, no matter what, needs you. You are his mommy and you need to love him. He will be with you always and is a HUGE blessing in any form.

[MaerynPearl]

Midwife appointment today went great. Everything is going good and baby is right on track with what she needs to be.

I am up to every 2 weeks now!

I do my GD test in 2 weeks when I go back... i have to eat a protein packed breakfast 1 1/2 hours before my appointment, then we will use a glucometer to see what my blood sugar looks like. Thats it. No glucola or starving myself... really hoping its that simple!

[Pinoikoi]

Finally found this thread!

Hoping for the best, Lis.. was it info from the PKU test?

[Qbear'smama]

Lis, thinking of you and Caleb and hoping that it is a false positive. I can't imagine how scared you are, I pray your little one is ok.

[LZP]

Welcome back from the long weekend, fellow ladies from the US! Hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekends. (exceptions, see below )

Lis, OMG mama, I have no idea what that must be like. I know for sure I'd be doing at least alittle bit of the Dr. Googling myself, so dont feel bad about that part. And, I'm glad to hear that the specialist told you, not in so many words, that it could just be a "marker" and not the actual disease.
Either way, you and your family are in my prayers. Lots of love and hugs to your little Caleb. We're here whenever you can come up for air.
sending strong GOOD NEWS VIBES to you today at your appt!!!!!!!!

Kalamos, I am SOSOSOSOSOOSO glad to see you still here. I read your post in your DDC, and couldnt respond, bc i was too busy trying not to cry at my desk for you. I was heartbroken. This is great news. Not that a SCH is good... but I'm sure you already know that lots of mamas, here and otherwise, have had them with little to no ill-effects on the baby. (mama's emotional state is another story!!) stay strong, and do exactly what you're doing: Love that little baby with all your might. Sending up many prayers for you and your family too.

Lyndzies- beautiful progress! what a lucky little girl your DD is already!! I love the colors. Did you make the drapes and ballon shades, or did you somehow find the *perfect* colors somewhere?!

Mae, glad to hear the appt went well. and really glad you dont have to drink that disgusting drink! thank goodness, I only had to do the OJ instead of the gross stuff. (and thank goodness my heartburn hadn't set in at that point!)

AFM, baby furniture arrived this weekend!! finally. I was able to put the clothes away that i've been washing and folding (and re-folding). Realized the crib bumper just wasnt going to fit in the crib - thankfully before I washed it. so, we took that back to the store, where the manager VERY rudely told me that it was a 30 day return policy, no exceptions. I just started laughing and said, "But of course, you'll give us a store credit, right?" what a ridiculous policy, when they still had that same piece for sale out on the shelves- I even packaged it up exactly the way it came! (AND with baby stuff, who on earth things that a mama has time to run right back out to the store if something doesnt work out?!) She did end up giving us the store credit. Who knows what I will do if this baby is a boy- looks like we're holding onto the other bedding pieces!! got a lampshade with the credit, and it doesnt fit our lamp. go figure. this lamp has been my nemesis ever since we decided to use it.
Oh, my trivial "problems."

Spent a good 2 hours in my blow up pool each day this weekend. DH did all the prep for our BBQ on Saturday, and I have to say, he id an OK job. I can see letting some of the control go more often. It was heavenly floating, and even getting to float on my belly for a while. my hips feel soooo much better with that bit of relief from gravity.

the only observation that I have that is a bit negative is that I'm starting to swell. I think I didnt drink enough water yesterday. maybe a cup of coffee and then LOTS of water today will help reduce it. my wedding rings are making me have sausage fingers. eww. The joints in my fingers actually hurt from the pressure. not good when my job is typing, writing, etc...

Hope everyone gets LOTS of good news this week, and that all of us in the great northeastern US can survive this g-daweful heatwave stuck over us!! it's supposed to be 100 today i think. where is the sweating smiley?

[MaerynPearl]

aww lzp sorry to hear about the heat!

Odd how I am down in NC and its going to be a pretty comfortable 94 degrees (or... am I just getting used to it?)

97 tomorrow... hate to see what THAT heat index looks like. The second or third day I was down here the temp was only 94 but the heat index was nearly 110!

[Lyndzies]

LZP, I'm with you. This heat is TRULY unbearable (and I'm not one to usually complain about the weather). It's 102 in Philly (where I work) and 105 in Mt. Laurel (where DP works). UGH!

Lis - check in when you get the chance, mama. Thinking of you.

Just wanted to let you all know (because I know you were DYING in anticipation!) that it appears baby girl for real has a name:

Cadence James aka Cady, Cady James, CJ, Caden, Cade, Turkey, Pumpkin, etc.

We had a meeting with our lawyer and had to include her name on some paperwork, so it feels much more official now. Of course, it's not official-official till it's on a birth cert, but still. AND, my lovely MDC ladies are the only ones who know. Which is AWESOME.

Second appointment with chiro tonight... hopefully will get some more relief. !

[Qbear'smama]

Lyndzies and don't forget Cady J (for a nickname)