May 22nd was a very special day for Jon and I...the most amazing little sound came out of a machine that solidified there really is a little human life inside of me - the heartbeat. I could listen to this video over and over and over again...truly incredible! My second favorite part is Jon's reaction when he hears it for the first time - so genuine - you can feel the excitement!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Clarisa's Baby Shower
Mid May brought Clarisa Montes (I mean, Smith) out from Vacaville, CA (she owes 4 years to the AirForce as a general pediatrician) to celebrate her baby shower. Clarisa is a great friend from undergrad (Go UA Cats!), and it is just crazy to see her with a big ol' belly. She is loving pregnancy, and I just can't wait to meet Baby Iliana Idalia in early August! Love you, Clari!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Mother's Day
So, mother's day was great - the men cooked a fabulous breakfast, including banana and choc chip pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit, scones, toast, coffee and OJ. A big celebration for 7 and 1/2 moms at our house: Mom (Mo), Mary, Gma Jo Lassak, Dani, Summer, Kathleen, Sue (Dave's Mom), and me (I count as a half)
Mo and Chan
Mary and Jon
Dani and Taylor (her own kids were too busy...)
Tye and Jake
Jossie
Mary, Gma Jo, Summie, Taylor
Ed and Jon
Mary, Summer, Sue
Harry, Kathleen, Paige
Ed and Dave
Ed, Boyd, and Jon
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Matt, Liz and Madeline
March 24th, 2008
-My cousin (Matt) and his wife (Liz) welcomed their first born, Madeline.
-Madeline arrived 8 weeks early; only 3 pounds 13 ounces; went to the NICU immediately
-Madeline arrived 8 weeks early; only 3 pounds 13 ounces; went to the NICU immediately
March 25th, 2008
-Liz passed away from a pulmonary embolism on the way to see her daughter in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the first time after the picture above (delivery). She never got to see her.
This very tragic story is having an incredible impact...
Liz was put on bedrest the final 5 weeks prior to delivering....and Matt kept a blog for updates.
When Liz passed away, Matt summoned up the courage to continue the daily blog:
...even in the midst of his unimaginable grief for Liz
...even in the midst of his overwhelming joy for Madeline
Is it even possible to feel two such opposing emotions...so much sadness, yet so much joy?
Before long, complete strangers began logging on to read his updates
(he is an incredibly talented writer...)
and those complete strangers are now:
-sending packages
-recognizing my cousin on the streets
-and publishing front page newspaper articles about their story "Without Liz"
-sending packages
-recognizing my cousin on the streets
-and publishing front page newspaper articles about their story "Without Liz"
My heart aches every time I think about Matt, Liz and Madeline, yet I go to the blog every single day to see what miraculous avenue Matt (who has lost almost 25 pounds) has been able to turn down today. He is an incredibly brave husband, father, and man!
One day at a time - 6 weeks and counting...
Please visit the blog - after your first good cry (it's therapeutic), you won't be able to turn away...I promise!
Please visit the blog - after your first good cry (it's therapeutic), you won't be able to turn away...I promise!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Taylor Nicole
Here is Taylor Nicole - our new niece!!!
Born May 2nd, 7:02am
BW: 6 pounds 14 ounces
BL: 20 inches
Congrats to very proud parents - Summer and Dave
A Baby Story
So, Jon and I knew that we wanted babies right away after getting married (link to wedding photos)...
But after 9 months of trying and the fact that I had only ovulated 3 times...not real conducive to baby making...I began to worry.
I spoke with my OB, who immediately referred me to Fertility Treatment Center (FTC) and the specialized RE's (reproductive endocrinologists) - they just sound smart!! We chose Dr. Daniel Rychlik.
After a multitude of tests (blood, speculum, ultrasounds, catheters, sperm)
we found out the following:
1. Jon is great - actually better than great - his "little swimmers" were FAB!
2. My tubes, uterus and blood tests were fine, but my stinkin' ovaries had what looked like a million little black dots on them - ok, not a million, but maybe 40-50 on each. Cysts...which were the culprits of my hormones not allowing me to ovulate normally.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - are you kidding me? I learned in medical school that these women are:
...fat (I mean obese!)
...hairy (I mean manly!)
...full of acne (I mean full blown teen!)
Well, much to my chagrin, the skinniest women are actually the more severe cases from a hormonal/pregnancy standpoint..."gggrrreat, I thought" (sarcastically)...I'm not fat, but I can't have a baby on my own.
Do you know how much money I wasted on birth control?
A few tears - ok a trillion tears later...it was time to get these hormones back on track and make a baby. We were warned that it was a very tedious process and that with all my cysts it was likely to take awhile to minimize risk to both future baby(ies) and myself.
So, I started the medication - apprehensive about the mood swings/hormonal rages, nausea, cramping, and weight gain - side effects I read tirelessly about prior to starting the medication. I was lucky - no side effects - I felt like a million bucks (Jon may have a different story (?mood swings), but I'm sticking to mine...)
We went in for an ultrasound to see if any eggs had grown - ONE!
One little chance at pregnancy this cycle...we knew it was slim, but better than none (my doctor was impressed that I did anything the first round of medication)
A week later, another ultrasound to make sure it was growing....it was perfect!
36 hours later (after a couple estrogen pills to increase my lining), I gave myself a shot (yes, a needle) straight to the abdomen to make my little egg release and travel down the fallopian tube waiting for a "little swimmer" to find it.
The next day, 2 hours before I arrived, Jon went ALONE into a room, full of porns, and handed over his "baby makers".
Luckily, technology was on our side, as the "baby makers" were all cleaned up, washed up, and only the best 68 million...those swimming straight ahead...were chosen for the big journey. Seems crazy that it wouldn't work...but we knew the statistics were only about a 8-15% chance of working the first cycle of IUI (intrauterine insemination).
I arrived...legs in stirrups...and the job was done...by a female, nonetheless. Jon was already back at work...
I sat in the room, pelvic tilted, for the next 10 minutes dreaming, praying, crying, and clinching a very special wishbone from Argentina (thanks Dani).
We had to wait a full 2 weeks to take a pregnancy test...as all the hormones I had been taking could lead to a false positive...so even in the midst of excitement and holding on to the 30 seconds of nausea I had felt 1 of 14 mornings...we waited the full 2 weeks...
We awoke that morning at 5:30AM...I did my thing on the stick and walked away.
Jon stared the entire time...I pleaded for him to walk away...he couldn't.
One line...then two lines...we were PREGNANT!
First cycle - AMAZING!! I cried the ugly cry - but all happy tears! I started jumping up and down - Jon said "no jumping" - and we kissed and hugged and made plenty of phone calls to immediate family members who knew the "big pregnancy test" was today! What a perfect day!
One blood test, then two blood tests later confirmed the pregnancy, but also signaled multiples (as the Hcg hormone was quadrupling)...
At 6 weeks, we had our first ultrasound...and 1 little beating heart was the most amazing thing my eyes had ever seen! The doctor said it was early for the heart to be beating - "strong baby" - strong, but also very, very loved!!
So that's it...now 5 weeks after that (11 weeks and 1 day - 202 days to go...) the morning (moreso evening) sickness has resolved...no more anti-nausea medication, no more pickles and Captain Crunch, no more bedtime at 7pm...I feel great. And it's exciting to see my waistline expanding a bit...even if it is bloating! (thanks, BabyCenter)
We will actually hear the heartbeat (only saw it at 6 weeks) for the first time on May 22nd (back at my regular OB now)...How exciting!!
Oh, by the way, due November 26th. Yes, both Jon and my nephew's (Tysen) birthday too!
But after 9 months of trying and the fact that I had only ovulated 3 times...not real conducive to baby making...I began to worry.
I spoke with my OB, who immediately referred me to Fertility Treatment Center (FTC) and the specialized RE's (reproductive endocrinologists) - they just sound smart!! We chose Dr. Daniel Rychlik.
After a multitude of tests (blood, speculum, ultrasounds, catheters, sperm)
we found out the following:
1. Jon is great - actually better than great - his "little swimmers" were FAB!
2. My tubes, uterus and blood tests were fine, but my stinkin' ovaries had what looked like a million little black dots on them - ok, not a million, but maybe 40-50 on each. Cysts...which were the culprits of my hormones not allowing me to ovulate normally.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - are you kidding me? I learned in medical school that these women are:
...fat (I mean obese!)
...hairy (I mean manly!)
...full of acne (I mean full blown teen!)
Well, much to my chagrin, the skinniest women are actually the more severe cases from a hormonal/pregnancy standpoint..."gggrrreat, I thought" (sarcastically)...I'm not fat, but I can't have a baby on my own.
Do you know how much money I wasted on birth control?
A few tears - ok a trillion tears later...it was time to get these hormones back on track and make a baby. We were warned that it was a very tedious process and that with all my cysts it was likely to take awhile to minimize risk to both future baby(ies) and myself.
So, I started the medication - apprehensive about the mood swings/hormonal rages, nausea, cramping, and weight gain - side effects I read tirelessly about prior to starting the medication. I was lucky - no side effects - I felt like a million bucks (Jon may have a different story (?mood swings), but I'm sticking to mine...)
We went in for an ultrasound to see if any eggs had grown - ONE!
One little chance at pregnancy this cycle...we knew it was slim, but better than none (my doctor was impressed that I did anything the first round of medication)
A week later, another ultrasound to make sure it was growing....it was perfect!
36 hours later (after a couple estrogen pills to increase my lining), I gave myself a shot (yes, a needle) straight to the abdomen to make my little egg release and travel down the fallopian tube waiting for a "little swimmer" to find it.
The next day, 2 hours before I arrived, Jon went ALONE into a room, full of porns, and handed over his "baby makers".
Luckily, technology was on our side, as the "baby makers" were all cleaned up, washed up, and only the best 68 million...those swimming straight ahead...were chosen for the big journey. Seems crazy that it wouldn't work...but we knew the statistics were only about a 8-15% chance of working the first cycle of IUI (intrauterine insemination).
I arrived...legs in stirrups...and the job was done...by a female, nonetheless. Jon was already back at work...
I sat in the room, pelvic tilted, for the next 10 minutes dreaming, praying, crying, and clinching a very special wishbone from Argentina (thanks Dani).
We had to wait a full 2 weeks to take a pregnancy test...as all the hormones I had been taking could lead to a false positive...so even in the midst of excitement and holding on to the 30 seconds of nausea I had felt 1 of 14 mornings...we waited the full 2 weeks...
We awoke that morning at 5:30AM...I did my thing on the stick and walked away.
Jon stared the entire time...I pleaded for him to walk away...he couldn't.
One line...then two lines...we were PREGNANT!
First cycle - AMAZING!! I cried the ugly cry - but all happy tears! I started jumping up and down - Jon said "no jumping" - and we kissed and hugged and made plenty of phone calls to immediate family members who knew the "big pregnancy test" was today! What a perfect day!
One blood test, then two blood tests later confirmed the pregnancy, but also signaled multiples (as the Hcg hormone was quadrupling)...
At 6 weeks, we had our first ultrasound...and 1 little beating heart was the most amazing thing my eyes had ever seen! The doctor said it was early for the heart to be beating - "strong baby" - strong, but also very, very loved!!
So that's it...now 5 weeks after that (11 weeks and 1 day - 202 days to go...) the morning (moreso evening) sickness has resolved...no more anti-nausea medication, no more pickles and Captain Crunch, no more bedtime at 7pm...I feel great. And it's exciting to see my waistline expanding a bit...even if it is bloating! (thanks, BabyCenter)
We will actually hear the heartbeat (only saw it at 6 weeks) for the first time on May 22nd (back at my regular OB now)...How exciting!!
Oh, by the way, due November 26th. Yes, both Jon and my nephew's (Tysen) birthday too!
Here We Go
So, here is the first blog entry, and I hear it's all the rage...so here goes!!
With mother's day just around the corner, we have so much to be excited for:
1. I am 11 weeks pregnant!!
2. Summer and Dave have Baby Taylor (arrival: May 2nd!) - she's beautiful!
3. Both Botkin and Lassak moms (Mo and Mary) live in AZ!!
4. Jon's g-ma is coming to "surprise" us!
With mother's day just around the corner, we have so much to be excited for:
1. I am 11 weeks pregnant!!
2. Summer and Dave have Baby Taylor (arrival: May 2nd!) - she's beautiful!
3. Both Botkin and Lassak moms (Mo and Mary) live in AZ!!
4. Jon's g-ma is coming to "surprise" us!
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