Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Failure


Last Thursday 9/18 I had my last 4-week OB appointment. Now I'll be going every 2-weeks until I reach 36 weeks and after that I'll be going every week until the baby is born! I was surprised to learn that I actually LOST weight this month! Only a pound but still, I consider that a victory! Especially after vacationing in Mexico with my mom and eating ALOT while we were there!

I also had my 1-hour glucose tolerance test scheduled for the same morning. I was really nervous about the glucose tolerance test, mostly because I've heard/read horror stories from other pregnant women so I was really dreading it. Because I was so nervous, my wonderful husband insisted on coming with me and staying with me for the whole hour. The test was SUPPOSED to be performed at my doctor's office, ideally at the same time as my OB appointment, however as with everything else at that office, they screwed it up and I would've had to either wait until the lab technician came in at 9:30 (my OB appointment was at 8:00) or go to a LabCorp a few minutes up the road and have the test done there. My husband joked that we would probably get all the way up to LabCorp and not be seen until after 9:30 and that was pretty close... when you're given the sugary drink, you have 5 minutes to finish it and the test begins as soon as you turn in the empty bottle. My test began at 9:29 am. It was actually pretty uneventful and not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The drink, which only came in orange flavor, wasn't something I would go buy out of a vending machine willingly but it reminded me of a flat orange soda or orange flavored Hawaiian Punch/Hi-C. I did feel a little nauseous drinking something that sweet on an empty stomach, but I didn't throw up or even come close to it, thank God! An hour after I finished the drink, they drew my blood and that was that.

Until... yesterday. I got a call from my doctor's office saying that my test results were "abnormal" (your blood glucose level cannot be higher than 139, mine was 151) and that I would need to take the 3-hour test. UGH!!! I am REALLY dreading having to take the 3 hour test, for several reasons:

1. You have to fast for 12 hours before the test. That's a long time for a pregnant lady to go without food! You also can't eat during the test, which means that when all is said and done you will have been without food for about 16 hours! Did I mention that's a long time for a pregnant lady to go without food?! lol

2. You have to sit in the doctor's office for 3+ hours... who wants to do that?!

3. They stick you not once, not twice, not three times, but FOUR times!!!! Before you drink the stuff, then every hour for 3 hours.

4. If I fail this test, I have to meet with a nutritionist and a dietician and will be required to follow a diabetic diet for the remainder of the pregnancy. That does NOT sound like fun at all! Atleast it's only for 81 more days +/

EIGHTY ONE DAYS?! Holy crap!!! It hardly seems possible that we are going to be parents in that short of a time! This is something I've felt ready for my whole life, and yet, I'm not ready!! I was telling Brian the other day that I've always looked at my mother as my go-to girl, the one to go to whenever I have a problem, the one who can fix anything and everything... I'm not that person! Yet someone is going to be looking at me to fix their problems... what a honor, but so scary and almost overwhelming at the same time! What if I'm no good at this?? Everyone keeps assuring me that I'm going to be a great mother, but how are they so sure?? I really hope that I will be as great of a mother as I've been blessed to have.

While my mom and I were vacationing in Mexico, we had the carpet ripped out of our whole top floor and engineered hardwood floors installed. Unbeknownst to me, Brian took the week off work to do some projects around the house: he put new, wooden blinds up in the guest bedroom upstairs, the baby's room, and the kitchen... he stripped and repainted the front step (a BIG job), and the biggest job of all - he surprised me by painting the whole nursery all by himself! We had picked out the nursery color the week before, it's called "Pink Plungs" and boy, is it pink! lol Brian also surprised me by purchasing the matching border to the bedding set we've picked out - it's called "Pink & Green Flower" by Sweet Jojo Designs. We put it up together last week and it makes the room look so cute and girly! :)

Pink Punge is the color we picked for the paint in the nursery!



















Daddy hard at work on the border!



















Sweet JoJo Designs Pink and Green Flower













Now all she needs is some furniture! Actually, she HAS furniture... we just need to put it together. We've had her furniture for about 7 weeks now, it has been sitting in our living room in the boxes it came in while we were waiting for the floors to be done.  My Mom & Grandma bought the crib and Brian & I bought the dresser/changing table.  Now that the floors are finally finished, the boxes have been moved up to the nursery and now we've just got to find the time to put the furniture together. This is what it will look like when it is put together.
 
convertible crib

changing table/dresser






























Because of my thyroid issues, we are having ultrasounds every 4 weeks to monitor Baby McG's growth.  So far she is measuring exactly where she should be, not ahead or behind.  My endocrinologist says he doesn't expect that to change because my thyroid issues are being monitored and controlled with medication, but I don't mind the extra monitoring just to make sure.  At our last ultrasound on 9/5, she weighed a whopping 1 lb 14 oz!  I can't wait to see what she weighs at our next ultrasound on 10/3!  Her movements are getting stronger and stronger every day, it really is such a neat feeling that I'm so thankful to be experiencing.  Anyone who has experienced this miracle of life and doesn't believe in God... I don't know what else to say about that.  I am completely amazed at the things my body has been able to do and how this tiny life has grown inside me! 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Baby McG is...

a... McSHE!  It's a girl!  😊


We actually found out almost 2 months ago, which seems crazy when I think about it!  We went for a gender scan ultrasound while we were visiting my in-laws in Chicago.  The place we went to was called MyBabyBump 3D/4D and we brought Brian's Mom, his Aunt Mary, and his 2 sisters Erin & Natalie with us.  It was so exciting to find out what this little person is going to be, it just makes things that much more real!  😍 

I didn't want my family to feel left out so I had hired someone to bake a dozen cupcakes and I called her as soon as we found out so she would know to fill them with blue or pink buttercream frosting.  I had my mom pick the cupcakes up from her that afternoon and then that evenjg, everyone (my mom, grandma, sister, nieces, nephew, father & aunt) gathered at my mom's house for the big reveal.  Before they bit into the cupcakes altogether, everyone gave their final predictions.  Brian & I were able to SKYPE with them to see everyone's reactions.  It was a fun way to share our happy news!  😊


We are now 25w5d and we can't wait to meet this little girl!  Only about 14 weeks left (give or take) until we become parents and our lives change forever... in the best way possible!  I can't believe that I'm going to be someone's Mommy!  

A few months ago they reclassified me as high risk due to a few different reasons:  1) the fact that I was overweight pre-pregnancy, 2) my back problems, 3) my thyroid issues.  All that really means is that they're going to monitor me more closely which is perfectly fine with me!  Because of the high risk classification and the fact that I have a thyroid problem, they're requiring that I come in for growth scans every 4 weeks so they can measure the baby and make sure she has been growing appropriately (so far, so good) - my next growth scan is the day after tomorrow and I can't wait to see how big she is or how much she weighs!  I love seeing her and hearing her heartbeat, it will never get old to me!  

I'll post another update after my ultrasound (no, really... I will!) - lately I've been reading over my old blog posts and reminiscing about memories that I had forgotten about.  It makes me wish I had been better about keeping up with this blog but it's never to late to start!  😊

Friday, June 27, 2014

Baby On Board

Hello there, Blogland!  I know, I know... 13 more months have passed with not so much as a peep from me.  I'm a terrible blogger, what can I say?  I really have the best of intentions but I'm not sure what happens, it's like I blink and another chunk of life has passed me by!  S-L-O-W  D-O-W-N, life... S-L-O-W  D-O-W-N!!

I'd like to say that not much has changed since my last blog post but who am I kidding?!  SOOOO MUCH HAS CHANGED!!!  First and foremost, my husband Brian and I are expecting our first baby!  I am 16 weeks pregnant today and we are very anxiously awaiting our little one's arrival in December (12/13/14 is our super cool due date!)  In just 5 short very long days from now, we will be finding out if BabyMcG is a HE or a SHE!  I can't wait!  This is a road I wasn't sure I would ever travel, so to say that I am ecstatic would be an understatement! 

Looking back, what a whirlwind of a ride it has been.  This year, 2014, is monumental for us in so many ways.  We celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary, Dispatcher #33 turned 33, in a few months we will be celebrating 5 years together and just a few months after that we will be welcoming our first child... I think 2014 is going to be a very hard one to beat! 

Brian is who encouraged me to start blogging again, as a way to document the happenings of our pregnancy and the changes that are taking place in our lives.  And so that what I plan to do, for atleast the next 24 weeks but hopefully even longer so I have something to show our baby one day!  :)

Today, June 27th, is my husband's 33rd birthday.  In a few hours we will set out on a 12 hour drive to Chicago to visit my in-laws for a week or so.  As much as I dread the long car ride, I'm looking forward to spending that time with my birthday boy!  :)


ultrasound pictures:  6w0d, 7w4d, 9w0d

our 1st ultrasound @ 6w0d - we got to see the tiny heartbeat!
 
I have waited A LONG time to be able to say these words!
 
our little leprochan's 1st outfit that I bought

Saturday, May 25, 2013

She's baaaaaaack!

I cannot believe that it has been almost 2 1/2 years since I last blogged... that's crazy!  Well, I'm back and I'm better than ever!  I have experienced so much life in these "missing" months and there's no way I could possibly recap everything without missing something... the most important change in my life is that I am now a wife!  Brian and I were married on Sunday, March 24th 2013 at Top of the Bay on the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, surrounded by our family and friends.  It was a great day and we are overjoyed!  :)
 
 
After the wedding, we enjoyed a weeklong honeymoon in Punta Cana, Domincan Republic and stayed at a resort called Majestic Elegance.  It was the first time either one of us had ever experienced something like that and it was wonderful!  We went on 2 different excursions, swimming with the dolphins and snorkeling/reef explorer.  We made lots of memories that I know I'll never forget! 
 
It's hard to believe that we are almost halfway through 2013... time is FLYING and it's almost scary how fast life seems to be passing by!  I am now 32 years old (how did THAT happen?!) and I just started my 13th year of dispatching.  I have developed a love/hate relationship with my job... most days I love what I do but I do have the occasional day where I hate this job and everything about it.  But no matter what I'm feeling on any given day, I can't imagine myself doing anything else. 
 
Stay tuned for more blogs in the (near) future!  :)
 
 

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Well hello there, 2011...

Happy New Year!!! Am I the only one who can't believe that it is 2011 now?!

2-0-1-1

A.K.A. the year I turn 30... THIRTY! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm hoping for a happy, healthy, successful year... not just for me, but for all of my family and friends too. In true Nikki style, my year has started out with a bang (already!) - it's time to hit the ground running!

I was fortunate to be able to take holiday leave on New Years Eve, which is awesome because I think ringing in the new year at work is a form of cruel and unusual punishment! LoL
To celebrate, Brian & I hosted a small get-together at our house... my Mom, Grandma, my niece Hannah, my sister Kelly and her boyfriend David came over to hang out. We had a pretty decent spread of different snack foods... my mom brought crab dip, I made some queso blanco dip, 'lil Smokies in BBQ sauce, bacon wrapped 'lil Smokies sprinkled with brown sugar, etc. We ate and talked and laughed and played Wii Sports bowling... Brian even bought some champagne for a toast at midnight! It was a really nice time and I wouldn't have chosen to spend it any other way... it was a great way to start my year, surrounded by people I love! :) We also took a bunch of photos to go along with the wonderful memories... I can't wait to frame some of these! :)

Myrtle Jean even joined us for a little while! :)
4 generations! :)
Mom and her girls! :)
I love this lady! :)
I love this lady too! :)
me and my "big" sister... I might be bigger but she'll always be older! LoL
our midnight toast... to many more years together! :)
isn't my mom pretty?! :)
Mom-Mom and her girl Hannah :)
Mom's Mii looked just like Michael Jackson... and his/her name was "MJ" LoL
Mom & Hannah got very competitive with their bowling! LoL
Grandma, the self-proclaimed Steelers fan, keeping warm under a Bears blanket! LoL
Kelly & David

Saturday was a lazy, unproductive day for Brian & I but atleast we got to spend it together. We actually got to spend 5 glorious days together before we both had to return to work... I guess the saying is true, all good things must come to an end. :(

On Sunday, Brian & I had planned to have some friends over to watch football. My friend Jon is a Cleveland Browns fan and since they were playing the Steelers this week, I thought it would be fun to watch the game together. So Jon & his fiance Amy came over and we hung out and watched the game... and then after that we watched the Bears game too. Brian & I love having "double dates" with other couples... we almost had one on Saturday with My Maria (one of my best friends and my former partner in Paramedic class) and her husband John but unfortunately that fell through... we'll definitely have to try again soon! :)

Monday was the dreaded first lecture of the winter mini-mester at school... as much as I dreaded going back to school, I know it's a necessary evil. Only a few more months until all this hard work finally pays off... graduation is scheduled for May 26th at 9am! The 4.0 GPA that I was surprised with last semester gave me the push I needed to keep on trucking! The next few months are going to be tough but I know it'll be worth it...

So that's about it for right now... not too much else going on except work, school & clinicals.

Until next time... :)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

71 days

It has been 71 days since I last posted... so much has happened in those 71 days that I think it's impossible to even try to remember it all! My plan right now is to continue my little "siesta" through to the new year and then start fresh.

See ya in 2011! :)

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

How much is that doggy in the window?

My boyfriend is a dog lover. His family had a dog(s) for as long as he can remember. His experience with cats is very limited, but somehow he has learned to love my crazy cat Myrtle.

I am a cat lover. I have had a cat(s) for as long as I can remember. My experience with dogs is very limited, but that is about to change...

Brian & I have been talking about getting a dog for a few months now. I know that, for a long time, Brian has craved the companionship,affection, and unconditional love that a dog brings to your life... but he realized that living alone and in a small apartment was not a good situation to bring a dog into. Now that he has a house of his own and we're building our life together, we feel that the time is right to add a dog to our little family. For several different reasons, we agreed that it was probably best to get a dog that was on the smaller side. We also thought it would be good to get a dog who was about a year old, so that we didn't have to go through the process of crate training and/or housebreaking it. So we've been looking. And looking. And looking some more. What we found was a heartwarming story about a beagle named Savannah who'd given birth to 8 puppies under some less-than-desirable conditions...

Savannah's owners were under the impression that she was a purebred beagle, so when she was just 7 months old herself, they mated her with another purebred beagle with the intention of selling their puppies in Trinidad (apparently they're worth alot of money over there?) - that was until someone informed them that Savannah was actually NOT a purebred beagle... she was also part hound. So these responsible owners took a very-pregnant Savannah and dropped her off at an animal shelter. The animal shelter didn't feel that their facility was the best environment to deliver and raise a litter of puppies in, so they contacted the Fallston Animal Rescue Movement to see if they would be willing to take Savannah and care for her and the puppies. Thankfully, they agreed and on August 19th, Savannah gave birth to 8 little puppies. Unfortunately, one of the puppies didn't make it but the other 7 did! Brian submitted an application and has been watching these puppies on the F.A.R.M. website for several weeks... this past Saturday was the first day they puppies were being brought out into public for people to see, so we went there almost as soon as they opened. We actually got there before the puppies did! A few minutes later, they brought in these 7 little wiggly balls of fur and they were SOOOO cute!!!!! Brian picked one of the puppies up and handed him to me... I got some puppy snuggles and lots of puppy kisses! We held that first puppy for awhile and then put him back so we could check out his brothers and sisters. As soon as we put him back in the pen, he stood up and was whimpering and almost reaching for us with his little puppy paws! We held a couple other puppies but it was pretty clear to us that the first dog had already captured our heart! All of the puppies were adorable, but that first puppy seemed to have the best personality of them all. When we picked him up again, his little tail was wagging a mile a minute! Brian & I agreed that we had found our little guy...

Because he's only 6-weeks old, we couldn't take him home that day... we were sad to leave him, but we're anxiously awaiting October 16th so we can pick him up and bring him home! :) When we left, we headed over to Pet Smart to buy him some presents to welcome him home... now comes the hard part - we have to work on picking a name that we can both agree on! LoL

Here are some pictures and a video of the no-named puppy! :)


all that excitement wore this little guy out!

I wonder what he's dreaming about?

getting to know his Daddy :)

puppy kisses!!

snuggling with his Mommy :)

look at that little face!!!




saying hello to his family in Chicago! :)