My Pregnancy Blog

1 week old - 05/23/07 Thought I would take a "belly pic" with my sweet baby! She is a week old today, and she is absolutely wonderful. Let the diet begin!! I am considering doing a diet blog now. I have really enjoyed my pregnancy blog and I thought it would make me more accountable for this weight loss thing. Joy. *Stay tuned* Averi's Baby Shower Here are some pics from Averi's shower last month. I am linking you over to Melissa's website. Enjoy! Averi's birth story ~ 8 lbs 4 oz ~ 20" Averi's Hospital Pictures At 5:45am on Wednesday (5/16) Jim and I arrived at the hospital for my induction. After getting registered we headed upstairs and got checked into my delivery room. I was hooked up to the IV by 6am. At 7am they started the pitocin. At 8:30am my doctor came and checked me. I was dilated to 2+ and he broke my water. That was kind of uncomfortable but I knew it would get the ball rolling. I kind of lost track of time at this point because the contractions started coming pretty regularly. I was in the rocking chair at first (the nurse said rocking helps bring the baby down the birth canal). Then as the contractions got worse I got more uncomfortable so I moved to the bed. Jim, my mom and my sis were in the room with me and reminded me to breathe and relax through the contractions. I did..but it was tough!!! I was so glad they were there. My nurse was awesome too. At 11am I was ready for the epidural. They checked me and I was dilated to 6cm! SWEET! Well my nurse messed up my epidural order and had to do it over again so while I was waiting she gave me some Nubane (sp?). THAT IS SOME SERIOUSLY GOOD STUFF. I had heard that the IV drugs were not worth it but this one sure was! It didn't take away the pain but it allowed me to make my body relax through the contraction which made them bearable. Plus it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...heehee...like I said...GOOD STUFF. AND it helped me relax when the guy came in to do the epi. I wasn't nervous at all and I HATE needles. So anyway I highly recommend the nubane. Well once I had the epi I was completely relaxed. I mean completely. I felt GREAT! By 1pm I started feeling really nauseous and then I started shaking like a leaf ALL OVER my body. It was crazy and totally uncontrollable. That part sucked. The nurse said it was the hormones and completely normal but it still sucked. The nausea kept getting worse so the nurse decided she would check me....I was dilated to 10cm and ready to push!! HOLY S! Well my epi was at full strength. I couldn't feel anything at all. So the nurse would tell me when I was contracting and I would push like all hell...hoping I was doing it right. Well, 45 min later the doc comes in and gets all set up. I had to have the episiotomy (sp?). But again I felt NOTHING. At 2:10pm Averi came out with a big loud cry! The doctor was doing something to her so all I could see were legs at first. I was pissed! But finally he put her on my chest. It was awesome. She was gorgeous. JUST PERFECT! They stitched me up and left her with us for a good hour. That was really nice. We got to check her out and count all the fingers and toes. Then they took her to the nursery to get cleaned up and all that fun stuff. I ate some chickfila and drank the best Diet Coke in the free world (I haven't had one not even a sip since I found out I was prego!). WOO HOO! Once the epi wore off I was able to shower and was moved to a recovery room. Sydni saw her that night and she was so sweet to her. It was the coolest thing. I really didn't think she would pay much attention to her but she was very interested. She even asked my mom to bring her back to the hospital the next day to see Baby Averi. I am sore and tired but on an emotional high right now I guess. I am the luckiest woman in the world. I have an amazing husband and we now have TWO gorgeous daughters that complete our life in a way I didn't even think possible. I thank God for my life and my family every day. 38 weeks 3 days - 05/13/07 Am I brave or what for posting this bathing suit pic?? I figure it will be a good thing to post on the fridge when I start my MASSIVE diet after Averi gets here. We had our appt last Monday and my doctor decided to schedule an induction for Wednesday, May 16th. I could have kissed him I was so excited!!!! I am dilated 1-2 cm and am almost completely effaced so hopefully the induction won't be too bad. (I have heard they can be quite painful.) Anyway, I feel so much better having a real date that way I can get Sydni where she needs to be with no surprises. I prefer it that way. Speaking of surprises Jim got me the COOLEST cell phone for Mother's Day. I was shocked. I had no idea. I had been wanting one. It is pretty hard to surprise me so it was a really neat gift. So next time I post it should be with a picture of our brand new baby girl. I can't wait! Wish me luck and keep us both in your thoughts and prayers this week. 38 week 3 day belly! 37 weeks 3 days - 05/05/07 Its getting closer!! At my appt last Monday my doctor said that I was 1cm dilated and 75% effaced! WOO HOO! PROGRESS! He even said he wouldn't be surprised if she made an appearance in the next 10-14 days! SWEEEEET! I am so pumped. We go back on Monday so keep your fingers crossed. I am hoping he will schedule on induction date. We went to the Heart Walk and Corporate family Day at work today. I was hoping all the activity would bring on baby but no such luck! 37 week 2 day belly! 36 weeks 3 days - 04/29/07 I swear this has been the longest month of all time. Here I am...still. Good news is at my doc appt last Monday he checked me and my cervix is soft and I am a fingertip dilated!! WOO FREAKING HOO!! He even said he felt her head! How wild is that! I am on weekly appts now so I go back on Monday to be checked again. Will keep you posted! 36 week 2 day belly! Here are some belly pics before Averi's shower on Saturday. The shower went great, and she got some really cute stuff. Thank you so much to everyone for coming and the great gifts! I will post pics of that soon. I didn't take many. I will get copies of Melissa's. 35 weeks 2 day belly! 34 weeks 3 days - 04/15/07 Hello all! Well, tomorrow my due date will be a month away! I wish I could say "wow time flies", but I would be lying!!! This has been the longest 34 weeks ever. However, there have been fun parts too so I am ok with it. I have said from the beginning that I am not doing this again. But you never know...lets just say I won't be selling the crib any time soon. heehee I might be singing a different tune after I experience this whole labor and delivery thing. Anyway, I am trying to keep positive thoughts. 34 week 3 day belly! 33 weeks 4 days - 04/09/07 This is our new picture! Her face isn't as smushed but the picture seems a little fuzzy to me. Anyway, its her profile. Shes facing to the left. And she has big ole fat cheeks :) 33 weeks 3 days - 04/08/07 Now I have turned the corner of looking pregnant to looking fat again! UGH! Not much longer now right? I have to admit I am now seriously looking forward to this being over with. I am starting to have problems sleeping...with this belly I can't imagine why. So being tired and fat sucks worse than just being fat! HA! We get to see her again tomorrow at my doc appt so that makes me feel better :) 33 week 3 day belly! 32 weeks 5 days - 04/03/07 Well here she is!! Her little face was pressed against the placenta the entire ultrasound. That is why her nose is squished up :) He is going to try again next week to get a better picture. Hopefully she will cooperate a little better! He said she was measuring about a week ahead and said my due date was more like 5/16 (my Dad's birthday!) not 5/25 so thats exciting. He also said it looked like she weighed 5lb 7oz :) So shes a little chunk! 32 weeks 3 days - 03/25/07 I thought I would add a front shot too. My belly looks all cockeyed!! HA! She must be in a weird position or something. Anyway, things are going really well. I have been feeling pretty good for the 3rd trimester I think. Tuesday we go in for another 3d/4d ultrasound. I can't WAIT!! So hopefully I will be posting some pics in a couple days. 32 week 3 day belly! 31 weeks 3 days - 03/25/07 Hello all! Wow am I big! She is a mover and a shaker lately too. My belly has been jumping all over the place this week mainly in the evenings (after some frozen custard..yum!). Speaking of which, my glucose has been testing just fine. I have some occasional spikes but I am beginning to identify what sets it off so hopefully I can continue to control it with diet and not have to have insulin shots...ugh. The dietician said it could get really bad in the last 4-6 weeks no matter what I eat and then we would have to look into insulin. (lovely) 31 week 3 day belly! 30 weeks 3 days - 03/18/07 Thought this would be interesting...this is 10 weeks, 20 weeks and then today 30 weeks! As an update, its official I have gestational diabetes. fun. ugh I have to watch my sugars and carbs b/c my body isn't processing glucose correctly because I am pregnant. So I have to stick myself 4 times a day a to make sure my glucose isn't over 140 an hour after I eat. I really haven't had too much trouble. Its just a pain. 29 weeks 3 days - 03/11/07 Well, the big news this week is that I failed my 1 hr glucose tolerance test!! I was SO upset. Its where you go in an drink this really sugary drink then they draw your blood exactly an hour later and test how your body processes the glucose...to see if you could be developing gestational diabetes. You can only score a 140 and I scored a 148. So, I flunked but just barely. This happened on Monday (I found out the results on Wednesday.) So, on Friday I had to go to a lab downtown to do a 3 hr test. Its the same process except this time they have to draw your blood when you first get there then every hour for 3 hrs after that!! Needless to say it was a crappy Friday! I should find out the results on Monday. 29 week 3 day belly! 28 weeks 2 days - 03/03/07 I think the close ups are better. You get an idea of how round I actually am getting! And I don't have to worry about hair and makeup either :) Not that I really was before..haha 28 week 2 day belly! 27 weeks 2 days - 02/24/07 Hi everyone! Well, here I am! THE THIRD AND FINAL TRIMESTER!! I can't believe how exhausted I have been. Tell me its May...ugh 27 week 2 day belly! 26 weeks 3 days - 02/18/07 Grrr...I feel large! Averi is moving all over the place and that has been so fun. :) Sydni is doing really well in her big girl room so I am getting the baby room changed back for a baby. I can't believe we are going to have a little one around here again. SO EXCITING!!! 26 week 3 day belly! 25 weeks 2 days - 02/10/07 I think I am actually looking rounder! The girls on my birth board call it a "D" belly instead of a "B" belly. ha! Anyway, we had a doctor's appt on Monday. Nothing new to report...I am bigger! Thats for sure! Dr. Glover said "Looks like you had a good Christmas!" (which I did...damn fudge) My next appt is the glucose test where they will test me for gestational diabetes. I have heard that test isn't fun. You have to drink this nasty orange drink or something. I will let everyone know how it goes! On a side note, I am not entirely sure when I officially enter my 3rd trimester. I have heard varying weeks from 24 to 28. So I will just say I am almost in the home stretch! 25 week 2 day belly! 24 weeks 3 days - 02/04/07 Well, I had some people making fun of the fact that I have been wearing the same outfit for all my belly shots! But I was doing it on purpose! Anyway, I decided to mix it up a bit with this other outfit...I look better in black anyway. 24 week 3 day belly! 23 weeks 3 days - 01/28/07 Nothing new to report...belly bigger...scale higher...I am still feeling her move quite a bit and thats really awesome. But at the same time it sucks too because when I don't feel her for a few hours I get all paranoid! Again thank goodness for the doppler! I whip it out and find her heartbeat. Then I feel much better. 23 week 3 day belly! 22 weeks 3 days - 01/21/07 Jim finally got to feel Averi move this week! WOO HOO! It was pretty exciting :) There were even some mornings when I could sit in bed and see my stomach move...pretty cool! Is it May yet??? 22 week 3 day belly! 21 weeks 3 days - 01/14/07 Hello everyone! Here we are! The big story this week is that I have been feeling more consistent movement...basically every day! That is so exciting. Its the best part of the pregnancy so far. (think I have already said that...) The belly is poking out further...as you can see. I felt so cute today and when I saw this pic I was like...oh...lol! Good news is I am feeling more pregnant than fat...bad news is I still look fat. haha I have been going through all of Syd's old baby clothes!! That has been so fun! I can't believe she was ever that small. I will be able to use quite a few things from Syd's stash but not everything since Syd was a December baby and Averi will be a May baby. TOTAL OPPOSITE SEASONS! Oh well, the shopping is the best part anyway. heehee One other thing...Kelly went in labor this morning!!! So hopefully we will be meeting Miss Reaghan Skylar White by the end of the day! Keep both of them in your thoughts and prayers...I will post pics ASAP! 21 week 3 day belly! 20 weeks 5 days - 01/09/07 Well, the mystery has been solved! BB is a GIRL!!! Here is a 3D pic of our new babygirl, Miss Averi Elaine Bottjen. The doc said she is measuring perfectly! We couldn't be more thrilled. Sydni is going to have a baby sister! In case you need some help deciphering the pic...its a shot of just her profile. She is facing to the right. If you still can't see her then you will just have to trust me. She is perfect. :) 20 weeks 3 days - 01/07/07 Hello all! Here we are at the half way mark! WOO HOO! You have no idea how slow the first trimester was...but honestly since I hit 12 weeks its really picked up! If I can just make it 2 MORE DAYS hopefully Jim and I will be looking at the litte BB and knowing HE or SHE ....FINALLY. Guess the only thing that has happened since last week is New Years Eve. Jim and I did absolutely nothing! And it was kind of nice. It was a very relaxing weekend. We will make up for it when we ring in 2008! Hopefully I will be making a SPECIAL POST on Tuesday with ultrasound pics! 20 week 3 day belly! 19 weeks 3 days - 12/31/06 Well, I think my belly actually looks SMALLER than last week! What is that all about it?? Not that its small by any means, but it isn't as "poochy" as the 18 week. Guess I shouldn't complain. It certainly wasn't from a lack of eating of Christmas...oh my! I am starting to feel more regular movement. It is mainly at night right before I go to sleep. It is by far the coolest thing so far about being pregnant. Oh yes, and before I forget we have decided on NAMES. Thats right...Everyone better tell me they just LOVE OUR NAMES whether you do or not. Blake Elliott Bottjen (Blake because we like it! And Elliott after my great-uncle) or Averi Elaine Bottjen (Averi because we like it! AND its almost like the WAY too popular Ava that we really wanted. AND it ends in an "i" like Kelli and Sydni. And Elaine is my mom's middle name and my middle name) So there you have it. We can not WAIT til Jan 9th when we will (hopefully) finally know if our little "BB" is Blake or Averi. 19 week 3 day belly! 18 weeks 2 days - 12/23/06 This picture was too cute. Every week as you know I take a belly pic. Well, this day Sydni thought she should share her belly too :) I think I have her beat by a few pounds! 18 week 2 day belly! 17 weeks 3 days - 12/17/06 Well, I went in for my appointment on Monday. Good news is we got to see BB and he/she was all over the place...flipping and turning. But he/she was so active that the doc couldn't get a good look at the goods. :( Either the cord was in the way or at one point the baby had his/her hands down there! UGH! Oh well...My BIG ultrasound is Jan 9th so I better find out then or BB and I are going to have a little chat! So the gender countdown continues... 17 week 3 day belly! 16 weeks 2 days - 12/09/06 Hi everyone! Well here I am...bigger...ugh. But thats a good thing..right? Not much to report this week. I am VERY ANXIOUS for my appt on Monday. Thats when doc will do an ultrasound for us to find out BOY OR GIRL!!! He is putting it in an envelope for us to open later...I don't know if I can hold out very long though. 16 week 2 day belly! 15 weeks 3 days - 12/03/06 So I had a breakdown Saturday on the way to Walmart. Just started bawling about my huge boobs and fat tummy. It would be different if I actually looked pregnant...but I don't. I just look like I have had one too many doughnuts. UGH. Anyway, I went shopping today to make myself feel better and it worked. :) Got some cute jeans and new shirts. So I feel better. 15 week 3 day belly! 14 weeks 3 days - 11/26/06 Hello all! Well, not much to report other than a growing belly! BB sure did enjoy Thanksgiving as you can tell. Things are going well. We are just counting the days til the big ultrasound. I had to break down and buy new bras today. I just couldn't squeeze into my old ones anymore... not even my fat bras. UGH. Oh well, guess it goes with the territory! 14 week 3 day belly! 13 weeks 3 days - 11/19/06 The 2nd trimester! 1/3 of the way there! I have been feeling much better in the evenings. I am still not 100% but I am not puking every night so that is nice. We had our first family dinner last night since I found I was pregnant. So that was nice to get back in our routine. 13 week 3 day belly! 12 weeks 1 day - 11/10/06 I am sucking in I swear! I wish it was a little rounder and looked more like a baby than me just eating too much. UGH Then I don't think I would mind so much. Hopefully soon it will even out. 12 week 1 day belly! 11 weeks 2 days - 11/04/06 CRAP I am getting bigger!!! This picture you can really tell...and I am sucking in like crazy! ugh...I bought a couple maternity shirts last week. They are really cute! I need to invest in some pants though. We have listened to the baby's heartbeat a few more times :) Its been 168 steady. Its such a relief to have that at home. 11 week 2 day belly! 10 weeks 3 days - 10/29/06 Well, still not feeling the greatest but it is slowly getting better I think. We were able to hear BB's heartbeat at 10 weeks with a doppler we have at home. It was the coolest thing in the world! Jim found it in about 10 minutes! It was 168-174 BPM. YEA! 10 week 3 day belly! 9 weeks 2 days - 10/21/06 Wow am I sick...lol. I puke every night now. FUN. I have decided to just limit myself to toast or a bagel at night. That seems to be the only thing that I can hold down after 6pm. But if BB is happy then I am happy :) 9 week 2 day belly! 8 weeks 4 days - 10/16/06 We had our first REAL doctor's appt...besides all my freak out ones and the boring consult visit. They finally weighed me. Joy. I will never eat again. They did an exam and another ultrasound. BB looks perfect!! We got to hear the heartbeat and even got to see the little kiddo kicking around in there. COOL! Here is my ultrasound pic!! 8 weeks - 10/12/06 We are at 8 weeks now! I have been really sick to my stomach this week...mainly in the evenings. That part is tough. I only want to eat certain things. Its just so odd because usually I will eat just about anything. 8 week belly! 7 weeks 4 days - 10/09/06 Well the spotting returned again today and this time it was darker so I called the doctor right away, and he was able to see me. They did another vaginal u/s and again the baby is just fine!! :) :) :) We even got to hear the heartbeat. By far the coolest thing EVER. He said my cervix is "perfect", but the cysts caused me to have a "weird vagina" causing the spotting. Sounds like I am going to have to deal with this for the entire 9 months. I was hoping it would GO AWAY. I did end up getting a pic of my cute little blob though :) Yes, it is a baby! 7 weeks - 10/05/06 Not much has happened this week...other than I am gaining weight!! I read online somewhere that "desireable" weight gain for the first 3 months is 3.5 pounds. YEAH RIGHT! I did have a little spotting on Saturday while we were in Eureka but I tried not to get worked up about it. It stopped by that night. That will stress me out for 9 months thats for sure. Week 7 belly shot! 6 weeks - 09/28/06 I had my first official doctor's appointment today. It wasn't all that exciting. I didn't even get to meet with the doctor. We met with the finance lady to find out how much little BB is going to run us. Its not bad really. Our insurance is really good. We only owe the doc $198 and we will owe the hospital around 2k. I am feeling pretty good in the mornings. Its just the afternoons and evenings that I feel like crap. REALLY tired and REALLY nauseous and REALLY bloated (as you can tell). I am hungry..but once I eat I feel terrible. I don't mind though. As long as BB is ok!! Week 6 Belly shot! 5 weeks 5 days - 09/26/06 I had a bit of a scare Monday night. I had some spotting. Without getting into GREAT detail it wasn't that bad but from past experience with my friends' miscarriages I knew that it wasn't good. I cried ALL night and ALL the next day. Jim was so wonderful and supportive. :) I don't know what I would do without him. I was able to miss work on Tuesday and make an appt with my obgyn that afternoon. Come to find out everything is FINE!!! Jim took me to the doc, and I got to have an ultrasound done. We even saw a tiny tiny flicker of a heartbeat! You will never know the relief I felt. The spotting was because of a couple cysts I have and aren't a problem. I have barely spotted since Tuesday afternoon and I am so relieved. Here is BB's first official photo! He/She better get ready because as you all know I am a picture fanatic! 5 weeks - 09/21/06 Another week down! And all bad habits still gone! I have done rather well if I do say so myself. Although, Jim may think differently. I was a little cranky that first weekend. But it was a lot for me to process all at once! I am good now though. I don't even want any of those things. As long as this baby is healthy I will do just about anything. :) It was so strange the couple weeks before I found out. I had cramps like normal and I felt like I was going to start any day... but I never did! Even for a couple days after I took the test I still had cramps. And every now and then I will have a cramp but I have figured out its just gas. LOL Whew!!! I didn't know pregnant women got gas this bad! HA! I had severe heartburn Tuesday night and was up most of the night sick to my stomach. But other than that I have felt fabulous! I am bloated. BIG TIME. Some of my clothes don't fit anymore. I had gained about 5lbs last month and I couldn't figure out why! NOW I KNOW! I guess I am retaining water and all that fun stuff. I am trying to keep a close eye on my diet. We all know how crazy that can be sometimes. We haven't told Sydni. She wouldn't really understand anyway. We are planning on moving her to her own big girl room by the first of the year. Wish us luck with that one... This is belly shot week 5! 35 to go! 4 weeks 2 days - 09/16/06 Well, I have known about BB (we are calling the baby BB for Baby Bottjen) for 2 days now!! :) I could not be more thrilled. I have quit the smoking...cold turkey. No more diet cokes. No more coffee and no more iced tea (just decaf). :) The first weekend I find out...what do we do?? Go to our favorite pizza bar and I get to watch my friends drink pitchers of Coors Light. They suck. Of course Kels was there with me doing the water thing. This is me that night...can you sense the sarcasm in my face???