tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42067381587822418722024-02-02T10:15:43.135-05:00Infertility is a bitch.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-3361758473126361532010-09-01T00:06:00.003-04:002010-09-01T00:17:51.982-04:00VOTE FOR MARIUS!!!I entered Marius into iSmile Studio's Beautiful Baby Contest. This is the local studio where we go to get his portraits taken (so we might have a shot!) To vote, click on the link below. You should see Marius's photo enlarged on the right side of the screen. Hover over the upper right of the photo, and a box will appear. Just click the green thumbs up symbol to register your vote. You don't need to register or log in to anything to vote. One vote allowed per IP address. Voting begins today!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://ismile.smugmug.com/ISmile-BEAUTIFUL-BABY-2010/Baby-5-12-Months/12858381_P8C8u#990213840_gEnvK">VOTE HERE!!!</a><br /><br />***PLEASE pass this on to everyone you know, post it on your Facebook, myspace (if anyone still uses that lol), wherever. We need as many votes as we can. We could win this thing!!!!!***Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-54346370931692850502010-04-27T20:28:00.001-04:002010-04-27T20:28:30.638-04:00I can't believe how fastI can't believe how fast time has gone by. A whole year ago today, I started my IVF cycle by taking my first Lupron injection.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-67095375714750267982010-04-09T15:54:00.001-04:002010-04-09T15:54:14.540-04:00On my way out of the hospital. Surgery went well- only took a little over an hour. I'm not feelin too bad right now. Incisions don't really hurt, but i'm sure i'll be feeling more from them later. My only real complaints right now are 1. The gas from the surgery is up in my mid-back/diaphragm area, which is where i felt pain when my gallbladder was still in there (lol), and 2. I'm hungry as a hostage. <p>My only options at the hospital were saltine crackers (never again. Ate my life's fill of those when i was sick these past several weeks), and a turkey sandwich. I opted for the sandwich, which came on some dry-ass bread with a packet of mayo. Since i'm trying to stay away from carbs and don't want the fat from the mayo, i ate the single slice of turkey that was on the sandwich. Lol <p>Since they said i may need a liquid diet if stuff bothers me right away, i'm making my mom bring me to GNC on the way home for some Muscle Milk Light so I can at least get my protein.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-90810272323031427492010-04-02T21:29:00.003-04:002010-04-02T21:36:32.197-04:00Update!Ok, so I know it's been a while. Sorry :( I've been super busy with Marius and really tired. I finally got to have my repeat CT scan and the results are in.... looks like I'm almost back to normal. The neurosurgeon has cleared me to have my gallbladder surgery and to drive! w00t w00t!! I took my car out for the first time in 2 months (after my cousin jumped the battery, then I tried to move the car, the brakes were stuck and I ended up stalling it, so he had to jump it AGAIN). I TOTALLY missed the Subaru. I missed the way it smells inside. I REALLY missed the sound of the turbo. It was so hard having to rely on other people to get me where I needed to go. On Sunday, I'll take Marius for a ride in my car for the first time! It'll be the first time I've ever brought him out by myself! <br /><br />In other news, I've been eating a strict low-fat, high protein diet, and am now 19 pounds down from my pre-pregnancy weight. w00t w00t!!! I just have to get over the hurdle of my gallbladder surgery, then I can hit the gym. I can't wait!! I feel like I have no muscles in my body from having to be so inactive. I'm documenting my fitness journey on another blog: <a href="http://fromhelltohealthy.blogspot.com">From HELL to HEALTHY</a>. Please feel free to follow me and give me your input- I need all the help and support I can get! (Plus, I need to get into some kind of bathing suit shape by September 20th, when hubby and I leave for our Caribbean cruise!)Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-82338690446065430572010-03-05T11:38:00.005-05:002010-03-05T12:34:29.315-05:00What else is going to go wrong?!?!?At about 8:00 last night, I was eating a microwave instant noodles dinner. I've had lots of different varieties of ramen and instant noodles in my life. As I was finishing them, I noticed that my stomach was getting itchy. I looked at it, and sure enough, there was a fine rash there. So I took two Benadryl and sat back down. A few minutes later, I decided to take a shower because I was cold. So I got in the shower. <br /><br />About 5 minutes into my shower, I started getting pain in my diaphragm area and it hurt when I took a breath. It was a tightness, like someone kept sinching up a belt under my boobs, and it went all the way around my back. I got out of the shower. It kept getting tighter and harder to breathe. My first thought was that I was having an anaphylactic reaction. My mom was going to drive me to the ER, but I told her to call an ambulance instead, in case I needed immediate treatment with an EpiPen or something. My throat didn't feel like it was swelling, but it started burning, and I really did not want to take any chances. I have no known food allergies, and I was scared shitless. I seriously felt like something is trying to kill me- I mean, first I get a subdural hematoma, that seems to be resolving itself, then I end up eating something and can barely breathe. I guess that's what I get for buying an 88-cent instant noodle dinner at Wal-Mart. <br /><br />The ambulance arrives, and I get in. They put me on oxygen. They say my lungs are clear. Pulse ox is good. Blood pressure is fine. I feel like it keeps getting tighter around my diaphragm, and I'm doing my best to remain calm and take slow, deep breaths (as deep as I can with the pain). <br /><br />We get to the ER, they put me in a room. No oxygen. And we just wait. The itchiness has gone away, so it looks like the Benadryl is working. But all the tightness is still there, and it hurts like a bitch. I get asked the same set of questions about 5 times by different people: EMT, nurse, med student, resident, and doctor. The med student pushed on different areas of my abdomen to see where I had pain. She pushed on my left side right under my ribcage, and it was tender, but the discomfort went away as soon as she took her hands off me. She repeated it in the same spot on the right side, but this time, there was residual pain for some time after she stopped pressing on me. Then I remembered a couple days ago I had some shooting pains there, but they only lasted a few minutes then stopped and didn't come back. I discussed this with the doctor when he came in. <br /><br />They discharged me and gave me paperwork about anaphylactic reactions and... gallbladder attacks. Yes, that's right. They think I'm having gallbladder issues. Fuckin' LOVELY. More problems are just what I need. I called my doctor this morning and have to set up an appointment to see her, and will probably need an ultrasound of my gallbladder to see what's up.<br /><br />Fast forward to today. I wake up this morning. The rash is still there. I get up, use the bathroom, and then bust out the breast pump. As I'm pumping, I start to get itchy again. What the hell? The food should be out of my system, and I haven't eaten anything else. Strange. Well, I think I have it figured out. I don't think it was the noodles. When I went to my 2 week OB followup on Tuesday, Dr. Burstyn prescribed me metronidazole gel, which is a vaginal antibiotic. I've never had it before. My only known allergy is to doxycycline, which is an antibiotic in the tetracycline family. This new medication isn't a tetracycline. I looked it up, and metronidazole is Flagyl, which I've taken orally for a UTI. But I've never used the vaginal gel before. I inserted it before I ate last night, and when I used the bathroom this morning. So I'm not going to use it again and will continue to take Benadryl and see what happens. <br /><br />An allergic reaction and a gallbladder attack at the same time. I can't win.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-39318493896235759462010-02-26T20:46:00.001-05:002010-02-26T20:46:20.005-05:00special report: I POOOOOOOPED!! w00tspecial report: I POOOOOOOPED!! w00t w00t!Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-54829933881138867192010-02-26T18:58:00.001-05:002010-02-26T18:58:52.111-05:00I think it's the medicines i'm on that are making me so sick, On top of everything else. They had me on Reglan to stop nausea (i always see the class action lawsuits for it on tv. Hesitant to take it in the first place. Doesn't keep me from puking anyway.) i was also on a course of prednisone for God-knows-what. Inflammation or some shit i think. I finished that. They had me on flexeril for my back muscles. Pretty sure i can manage w/ just the heating pad for now. And percocet for pain, which didn't even make me drowsy when i took it. It's only the 5-325 dosage, and i got stronger shit for my endometriosis, which was much more tolerable than this head shit. So now i'm just taking 1 percocet every 4 hrs. Started that @ 5 this evening. We'll see. plus, i haven't pooped in like 5+ days (now i know how my FF girls felt), even w/ a daily stool softener, so i guess i gotta up that to 2 or<br> more pills a day. I'm just afraid of taking too much and randomly shitting myself in my sleep. <p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-72968810200862346682010-02-26T13:45:00.001-05:002010-02-26T13:45:20.202-05:00Not feeling well at all. Wednesday was a good day- i was able to get up and move around a bit, and i helped hubby dress Marius and give him his first bath. Wednesday night i crashed again. I've been throwing up and in crappy shape since then. Constant nausea.<p>Hubby is back in TX. Mom took Marius to his first pediatrician appointment earlier. He's 2 weeks old today. He now weighs 7lbs 4oz, and is 21 inches long. So he's gained 6oz and has grown 1.5 inches in 2 weeks. <p>Ughhhh.... I feel so sick. I'm so tired of this shit. I gotta go lay down or something.<p>This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-56630292532169624452010-02-22T18:30:00.001-05:002010-02-22T18:30:18.782-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0makWtAXNsSXlOOtyyMtijQPXFlp_ONzZWeizn0etUos2fNMEOM5RxOF8vSMpdqT_Bm8ylrcxgJKKBoj-QsVm6Vl9zL9bEq__GfIMg7gcpXXfAHFZ9Kmz_IxFN0vTTJrPrFV3WAy68Y/s1600-h/0220101344a-718783.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0makWtAXNsSXlOOtyyMtijQPXFlp_ONzZWeizn0etUos2fNMEOM5RxOF8vSMpdqT_Bm8ylrcxgJKKBoj-QsVm6Vl9zL9bEq__GfIMg7gcpXXfAHFZ9Kmz_IxFN0vTTJrPrFV3WAy68Y/s320/0220101344a-718783.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441214262898827074" /></a></p>No progress to report today. Still in a shitload of pain. It's better when i'm laying down than when i'm upright, but now from trying to stay down so much my neck muscles don't feel strong enough to support my head when i sit up or stand. I'm just trying to stay positive and push through it. I just keep thinking about getting better so i can take care of Marius. I feel like i'm missing out on everything. He's 10 days old today. I can't believe it. I feel so left out. Everyone else is taking care of him and i can't do shit. He loves spending time with his daddy, and hubby has done such an awesome job taking care of him around the clock. Marius' umbilical stump fell off today, and i couldn't even see. Now he can take real baths and wear outfits with pants, but i can't bathe or dress him :( I'm getting frustrated. I want to do so much with him. I want to take real photos of him with my<br> new camera. <p>I wish I knew what was going on with my girls. Sue, I hope Teagan has arrived by now!<p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-22866800045468839412010-02-21T10:45:00.001-05:002010-02-21T10:45:42.981-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp4hlZl33_OOT_DODeYJB9kvWZx6cU-bObj9Mrz97pn_UmET8SM4YDl7VKDzir6ge1l_pY4R8ns-iHZ9P27XDj2m8vi0j-JDgvjyXO_UcPVnlWUL6pGHE4TFAHjK6iSDvEErO8Tpgfdc/s1600-h/0221101044a-742981.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp4hlZl33_OOT_DODeYJB9kvWZx6cU-bObj9Mrz97pn_UmET8SM4YDl7VKDzir6ge1l_pY4R8ns-iHZ9P27XDj2m8vi0j-JDgvjyXO_UcPVnlWUL6pGHE4TFAHjK6iSDvEErO8Tpgfdc/s320/0221101044a-742981.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440723453502001906" /></a></p>I love my guys :)<p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-69215420242333385022010-02-21T10:40:00.001-05:002010-02-21T10:40:49.298-05:00Still feel like shit. Been using the heating pad on my neck/shoulders, and that seems to help a little. I'm so thankful to have the family and friends that I do. I feel so blessed. I would never have even begun to make it through this without you guys, and I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your love and prayers. <p>Hubby flew in very early Saturday morning, and he is THE BEST FATHER. From the minute he got here, he's been taking care of everything Marius needs and also tending to me. I couldn't ask for anyone better. I'm so in love.<p>I'm still pumping & dumping. I'm getting between 4-5oz/session. I just hope that my supply stays like this once I'm better and all these drugs are out of my system. <p>More later. xoxo<p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-66885039287394940022010-02-19T13:31:00.001-05:002010-02-19T13:31:19.762-05:00I'm laying in my own bed, snuggling Marius, and it's the greatest feeling in the world. I never, ever, EVER want to let him go again. I swear, just looking at his precious little face and hearing his contented sighs is enough to cure ANY ailment. <p>Tonight, Marius and his daddy will meet for the very first time. It's going to be the most amazing moment, and I'm gonna try to capture the moment on film. Please pray that Kylief gets home safely.<p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-8021315164363032772010-02-19T06:32:00.001-05:002010-02-19T06:32:53.433-05:00I hate trying to sleep in the hospital. It's so uncomfortable.<p>I think my headache is starting to get better. I'm trying to make sure that I get medication as soon as I can around the clock to try and combat it. Up until yesterday afternoon/evening I had a hard time with being upright. I was using the bedpan because every time I stood up, my head would pound uncontrollably. I'm not sure what changed, but last night I was able to get up twice without my pain increasing or my head throbbing, which was awesome. I even seemed to have less pain while in bed. I think I'm still doing pretty well with pain management. I got some sleep earlier, got my pain meds a little after 5 am, then got up to use the bathroom. My head started hurting a little more & pounded a few times, but not like it used to. I think it may have been because I was laying down for a while. I've been sitting upright since then and it seems to be dissipating. I pumped & got a little over<br> 4oz total, which I'm happy with.<p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-91444694229102004472010-02-19T00:20:00.001-05:002010-02-19T00:20:27.327-05:00It's funny how things work out..<p>So we all know how the military wouldn't let hubby come home to see the birth of his son. But he got to see the WHOLE THING on webcam, which was absolutely AMAZING. Then I ended up in the ER, found out I had a subdural hematoma, and they still weren't gonna send him home. In his panic to run and alert one of his superior officers, he managed to seriously injure his foot. He landed on it wrong and has a bad contusion and is in a ton of pain. Now the military says he's unfit to perform his duties for 2 weeks, so it'll set him back 2 weeks in school. BUT.... THEY'RE SENDING HIM HOME FOR A WEEK!!!! It's so crazy how things work out. It sucks that his foot is all messed up, but now he gets to see his son when he's a week old instead of having to wait until he's 3 months old to meet him for the first time! I feel so blessed. Now I can take those pictures I've always wanted- little Marius in<br> his daddy's big ol' hands.<p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-56459520247469844112010-02-18T11:26:00.001-05:002010-02-18T11:26:52.353-05:00I was supposed to go for a repeat CT scan today, but they did a head MRI last night & can actually see the bleed better on the MRI. The doctor hasn't been in to see me yet today, but my nurse this morning said that the blood is still there. She said it doesn't look like it's still bleeding, it just hasn't reabsorbed yet. I'll have to ask the doctor how long that might take.<p>The hospital I'm at now (Ellis) is GREAT. Their nursing staff is amazing & they're so accomodating. My milk started coming in on Tuesday. Ellis doesn't have an L&D unit- Bellevue is their birthing facility a few miles away. The ER I went to was at Ellis' smaller satellite campus, & when we found out they had to transfer & admit me, we asked if they could provide me with a pump so I didn't get engorged & end up with more problems. The pump was in my room when I arrived. I was so impressed. I'm getting about 2oz/breast with each session. I have to dump it, but at least I can keep my supply coming. More later. xoxo<p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-3220332868878259232010-02-17T09:57:00.001-05:002010-02-17T09:57:16.984-05:00Still in ICU. Doctor just came to see me, so hopefully I'll know more soon. Morphine & phenegran didn't work to ease any pain, they put me on dilaudid, which they say is stronger than morphine, and that's not even BEGINNING to touch the pain. It's not having any effect at all. I hate this. I miss Marius. I should be bonding with him. I've only managed to change 2 of his diapers in the 5 days since he was born, and both of those were in my postpartum room @ Albany Med. I hate this shit. He needs me and I can't be there for him.<p>This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-37760181663145139872010-02-16T22:44:00.001-05:002010-02-16T22:44:10.765-05:00Admitted to Ellis hospital neurosurgeryAdmitted to Ellis hospital neurosurgery unit. Headache wasn't a spinal- It's a subdural hematoma. Dr will see me in the a.m.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-31913677603415083402010-02-15T20:16:00.002-05:002010-02-15T22:50:31.204-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshmeHYesRsvyVxWGjjY3OHTdPea-zyiM2iri8G7DhOyCrD_ktj6U4bVtZwRmcQ90BKuUejV3929tnS8Go_3iAA7alhzSPqrBefFdMXqvWTEhLnUrIFQDPZFHQlFbzgvR6n9yCqtw-mDM/s1600-h/0214100837a-794459.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshmeHYesRsvyVxWGjjY3OHTdPea-zyiM2iri8G7DhOyCrD_ktj6U4bVtZwRmcQ90BKuUejV3929tnS8Go_3iAA7alhzSPqrBefFdMXqvWTEhLnUrIFQDPZFHQlFbzgvR6n9yCqtw-mDM/s320/0214100837a-794459.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438644050958572594" /></a></p>Hey guys. Can't get on the computer. Spinal headache is KILLER, like I have helicopters in my head. New medicine today, so hopefully I'll get some relief soon. <p>Marius is doing well. I'm so freakin' smitten it isn't funny. He's so perfect in every way, and although I pushed him out and have a couple stitches to prove it, I STILL can't believe he's mine. Kylief and I made this perfect little tiny person, and damn, doesn't he look like a mixture of both of us. His hair is the exact same color as mine- it looks black, but it's actually really really dark espresso. The shape of his lips is the same as mine, but his mouth isn't narrow like mine- it's wide like his daddy's. He's got the same exact ears as Kylief (everyone always comments on how small Kyllief's ears are. Everyone has commented on how cute Marius' are.) He has long fingers and big feet like his daddy. AND he didn't come out white! Lol <p>Full birth story later. Hope all my fellow moms & expectant moms are doing well! xoxoAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-13436822687145394372010-02-13T19:35:00.002-05:002010-02-15T22:51:06.786-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkngTMQJzWDKYXGrA8kLBpxU_zZEILti_HPNMxErOV2OErWe-wvpScDrs0v8ySuaEDWcmR4_NJVZq2C3u2St1ffA6mUscIlBRsi0lAfgQ4M5Y11MHWa4DqRYmcfZpYCsU3HaGDRlArKcE/s1600-h/0213101340a-723916.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkngTMQJzWDKYXGrA8kLBpxU_zZEILti_HPNMxErOV2OErWe-wvpScDrs0v8ySuaEDWcmR4_NJVZq2C3u2St1ffA6mUscIlBRsi0lAfgQ4M5Y11MHWa4DqRYmcfZpYCsU3HaGDRlArKcE/s320/0213101340a-723916.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437891265732053570" /></a></p>Running on 3 hours of sleep (3:30-6:30am) and a wicked spinal headache. Full birth story and better pics later. Here's a teaser to hold you over. Introducing Marius Akuma Tucker. 2/12/2010, 10:19pm, 6lbs 14ozs, 19.5 inches.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-25158966063589724342010-02-12T18:34:00.001-05:002010-02-12T18:34:51.312-05:00Still pluggin along over here. They broke my water around 2:15pm, I was 2-3 cm dilated. Boy, did that feel NASTY!!! Fluid just kept gushing out and it felt like I was peeing myself. After that happened, the contractions really started coming harder and faster and got painful, to the point where I had to breathe through them. I asked for an epidural, waited, asked again, waited some more, still nothing. It took ridiculously long for the anesthesiologist to finally make it to my room. Then, of course, my spine had to be difficult. I have a deep arch, so no matter how much I pushed back to open up the space between my vertebrae, it just didn't open very far. They FINALLY got it in after like half an hour of super painful contractions. They checked me after I got comfortable and I was 4cm, 90%. That was at about 4:00. Let me tell you, I have a high pain tolerance, and labor without an<br> epidural hurts like a BITCH! lol Now we just wait some more... Hair still looks fabulous.<p>This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!<p>To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/picture">www.verizonwireless.com/picture</a>.<p>Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-83473825177497697702010-02-12T12:59:00.002-05:002010-02-12T13:07:39.745-05:00Apparently I started on 2 milliunits of pitocin, and now I'm up to 20. Contractions are every 2-4 minutes (I had no idea, I'm not feeling them like that). She said we're where we want to be with frequency, we just have to get them stronger. <br /><br />I asked if they were gonna do an internal exam, and she said they will when I'm ready for an epidural. I don't feel like I need one, but I maybe I should just to get it over with? I just want to know if there's something going on down there!Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-81429451425725513332010-02-12T12:15:00.003-05:002010-02-12T12:23:51.588-05:00Ok, so far this isn't too bad. We had kind of a rocky start - initially, the nurse tried to put the IV in the back of my left hand, but I have difficult veins as it is, PLUS I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight last night, so the dehydration didn't help any. So she ended up blowing out the vein in the back of my hand and had to put the IV in the side of my wrist. I got here at 7:30, and the IV wasn't in until 9. Pitocin didn't start until around 9:30. <br /><br />The nurse has increased the pitocin every half hour. I don't know what dose I started at, or what I'm at now, but I can feel the contractions getting stronger and more regular. I'm also feeling them more in my pelvic girdle, as opposed to the overall abdominal tightness I felt in the beginning. <br /><br />My mom, mother-in-law, and Lexie are here with me, and we're all just chilling here, talking and laughing. Hubby and I tested the video connection and it seems to work ok. I'm so grateful that I was able to do this while he's off duty. It still sucks that he can't be here, but let me tell you, he looks just like any expectant father you'd see pacing the halls of the hospital.<br /><br />This is still so surreal.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-43387139423824344452010-02-12T07:03:00.001-05:002010-02-12T07:03:48.908-05:00Leaving for the hospital. Bright-eyedLeaving for the hospital. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (we'll see how long that lasts). Starving, but my hair looks FABULOUS.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-38520317429870113122010-02-11T21:18:00.003-05:002010-02-11T21:35:54.377-05:00Reflections...I can't believe that in less than 24 hours I'm going to meet my son. This is something I've been waiting for for SO long, and it's just so surreal that it's really going to happen. Tomorrow. <br /><br />It seems like just yesterday we were going through IVF. It seems like just yesterday that I got the phone call from CNY, informing me that I was pregnant, and then I called Lexie, crying so hard that she thought I was saying I WASN'T pregnant. I can't believe it. <br /><br />Tomorrow, our lives will change. Forever. I will bring another human being into this world. A little, tiny, dependant human being, who is a piece of me and a piece of Kylief, all melded into one little person. It's unbelievable. <br /><br />This whole pregnancy has felt so surreal, and tomorrow it will hit me, smack dab in the face, that this is the real deal. It's really happening. Right now, I still can't process that. Right now, I feel like I'm going to wake up from a good dream and all of this will disappear. <br /><br />I can't wait to meet my little man, and hear him cry, and see his face for the first time. I wonder what he looks like... Does he have a head full of hair? Who's features did he inherit? What color is he? How big are his feet? I will find all this out tomorrow. I can't wait. <br /><br />Marius, I'm so excited to meet you! I love you, my little cocoa puff!<br /><br />Tomorrow, please follow me over to <a href="http://babymarius.blogspot.com/">Our Little Man</a>, my new blog where I can show off Marius and share with you the immense joy (and trials and tribulations) of motherhood.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206738158782241872.post-90692490103246230402010-02-11T15:06:00.001-05:002010-02-11T15:06:40.901-05:00No change. Still 1cm, 80%.No change. Still 1cm, 80%. Induction scheduled for 0730 tomorrow morning.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09723246040770559085noreply@blogger.com0