Sleep Troubles

For the past week and a half I have not been able to sleep on my back or on my stomach. That leaves me with the left side or the right side. I am happy with this development of growth but my neck and back say other wise.

I got a massage last Monday to try and fix the pain and the girl told me I needed a new pillow. One from NASA. Except NASA sounded like Nausa and I thought she was saying some random word in Portuguese that I didn't know. I understood that she was telling me I needed a new pillow but I didn't know the word Nausa. Then she said it was an English word and place in the US.... wait for it. Click. OOOOOHHHH- N.A.S.A. :) Sometimes the English words are the hardest to figure out!

Anyway, I went to look at the Tempurpedic pillows and they were the usual expensive price of about double the cost in the US. I opted to keep looking. Then today I found the most amazing nausa pillow with inserts to make it higher or shorter but still had the awesome memory foam in it. They only wanted roughly 45 USD and I was sold!

Just got done taking the best two hour sleep that I have had all week. The random things that happen to you during pregnancy that seem so minimal few people warn you about. Thankfully this problem can easily be solved. Ahhh, looking forward to a great night sleep. Hopefully the pillow remains as wonderful as it was this afternoon!

Tchau,
Sara

Bring on the weight!

The first trimester left me less than satisfied in the food department. I found myself basically avoiding food in general because nothing smelled good or tasted good. I got full so fast it wasn't even worth it to order anything at a restaurant. It also became one of the reasons that I didn't really believe that I was pregnant. Wasn't I supposed to be hungry all the time?

I definitely thought the second trimester would bring a new light. The past two weeks have mimicked the entire first pregnancy then yesterday I had a break through. Actually, this morning. I craved food. Just food in general. I had three bowls of cereal! Then I started thinking about lunch.... then I went to the grocery store and picked up a roasted chicken breast came home and made mashed potatoes! What? Seriously!

Just got done licking my plate and I couldn't be happier. Finally I can enjoy food again and it not be a chore or something I dread doing. I can see my future appointment now where Dr J is mad because I gain too much after not gaining enough. You know what. I don't care about the weight as long as Belle is healthy and I am too. That doesn't mean I am going to eat an entire cake but I will eat whats good for us both.

Last week I finally started to gain some weight. While I not back up to my starting weight I have no doubt that with this new appetite that I soon will be visiting that number again. Life is great and back to normal! Today is just a great day :) and now off for a walk in the sun with the Aussie. Hope everyone is as happy as I am because this feels great.

Tchau,
Sara

Negative!

The test came back negative!! I am so relieved and happy that I can move forward with having a baby here :) Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers.

Tchau,
Sara

15 weeks

The fourth month is approaching fast! I thought I would go ahead and post a belly pic since I was wearing something other than workout clothes and my hair was actually down. Today I am quite impressed with the growth of my tummy! It almost sticks out further than my chest. I don't think it will be long before it does with the rate I am growing. Each morning I wake up and find that my belly is harder further up toward my ribs. Right now it stops at my belly button leaving about four more inches of upward growth then out she grows!!

Tchau,
Sara

Glucose Tolerance

Bright and early this morning I went to the lab to get tested for gestational diabetes. The first fasting blood sugar test that I had was within normal limits but it was toeing the line for unacceptable. Dr. J just wanted to check me a little early just in case I have developed it.

Blah. I really hope that I don't and I am kinda nervous. If I do then this changes my plans of giving birth in Brazil. Of course people manage with it and most of the time everything is ok but the NICU nurse in me cannot forget.

The test involved me fasting for 8 hrs, just overnight while I slept, then getting blood drawn. Once the fasting glucose is taken then I am required to drink a high sugar drink that they provide for you. Then I have to wait two hours and have my blood drawn again. It shows how wells my system tolerates the high sugar. If the sugar remains in my blood in high amounts then I could possibly be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

For those of you who don't know the complications of gestational diabetes and the risks to the baby, here they are: Mom doesn't produce enough insulin to cover the amount of sugar in her body. The baby then receives that extra sugar via the placenta. Even if I was able to give myself supplemental insulin it will not cross the placenta for the baby. The baby is able to produce their own insulin naturally so they do.

So the possible side effects to the baby, if I cannot manage my blood sugar through diet, are: baby gets tons of sugar, gains tons of weight, and gets used to over producing insulin. When the baby is born sometimes, most of the time, the over production of insulin causes the baby to have a sugar crash. This can be extremely dangerous if not taken care of immediately. These babies tend to have trouble wanting to eat, even though you would think the opposite, and generally have to be supplemented either by tube feedings or IV in extreme cases. Basically these babies are taken straight to NICU for at least 6 hours for monitoring.

So, if the test results tomorrow come back positive the first thing I am going to ask my doctor for is another test just to confirm. If it really is true then I will have to begin preparations to return home to have the baby. Having the baby in Brazil really isn't an option for me with this complication.

To be honest I really don't want to have to come home to the States to have the baby. I will obviously do what ever is necessary but idealistically I would like to stay here. Well, no use worrying about something I don't have but I just needed to express my plan if things do go array. I feel better now. Tomorrow the results will be in around lunch time for all of you. Think of me and Belle and say a little prayer, or a big one!!

Baby bump pics to come :)

Tchau,
Sara

Weekend Update

Well Friday was spent in the sun and then out to dinner with friends. Most of the time I run around in workout clothes or a bathing suit so it was nice to switch my flip-flops for heels and actually put on some make-up for the night. We went to a sorta new restaurant in Macae called Top Grill and they serve blooming onions, which are not Australian despite what Outback says. They also have pretty nice ribs. They don't have the onion down perfect yet so sometimes it's still undercooked in the middle. No worries the ribs make up for it!

I know I should be taking more shots that show off growing lil Belle and so I will start this week. For now here is Nate and I at dinner. It's too dark in the photo to see but the ocean is right behind us. Needless to say that my hair didn't last that long with all the sea water in the air.

Oh- and that will probably be the last time I wear this dress. The tummy area was working a little too hard and you could even sorta see my belly button! 

Saturday was spent trying to make a dent in our ever growing 'honey do' list. A pool guy has been called but we decided to buy a new pump ourselves rather then try and listen to someone else say they can fix it. Nate ended up shocking himself a little and then later knocking out one of the rotten beams under the deck. Let's just say Belle had earmuffs on for the language used that day :) This house is such a piece of crap.... It looks nice but upon inspection there are so many structural problems. We then agreed to let the new guy set up stuff where he would like it but that didn't stop us from filling up the pool!

It still has a few more inches to go and needs a good scrub. The Aussie said she would swim in it now but I would put money that anyone who did would contract some sort of disease. 

Sunday we watched the Super Bowl on the sling box until 2 am and tried to have an American BBQ. Not the same but close enough. 

I feel that we really haven't spent that much time at home lately. I think that should catch you up to the current point. Try to stay warm Northern Hemisphere!

Tchau,

Sara

PS- Nothing from the 'Honey do' list was completed... 

Day of Birth

Well today is the big day where I turn 29 :) Surprisingly I think that I was more freaked out when I turned 20. I bet it has to deal with the place that I am in life. At 20 I didn't want to grow up and be an adult! Now that I am here, and have been for awhile, I am so very happy.

Maybe this birthday just caught me at a good time. Either way, today is going to be a good day and I am loving life. Plus it helps that Nate turns 30 this year..... hahahaha! Love it!

Hope everyone is safe that is caught in the snow. Try not to get too much cabin fever.

Tchau,
Sara

Toxoplasmosis

While talking to Dr. J she mentioned staying safe from Toxoplasmosis. The first thought that came to my head was, "I don't have cats or a random litter box with cat crap in it so why?" Of course she went on to explain that we don't have to worry about it in the US, leading me to believe I was wrong in my thoughts, and that in Brazil this infection is common. While I am here I need to eat only meat that is well cooked, eat fresh vegetables that I have cleaned and not from a restaurant and fresh fruit that is peeled. I do this anyway but it's weird to even have to think about it.

When I got home I looked it up and found that we were both right. In developed countries the risks are associated with cats and their little boxes, while in developing countries the have to worry about contracting it via water sources, meats, fruits and veggies. Ouch. Broad range for people who are already struggling. Just proves as to why clean water is so important for a country and it's development.

Off to clean my veggies and peel my fruits! Ha- That's a lie for now. I'm actually going to make a protein shake: Coconut yogurt, whole milk, wheat germ, four scoop of chocolate protein mix, and some really expensive ice! Trust me it is amazing.

Tchau,
Sara

Isabella

Introducing Isabella aka Belle. She is currently 14wks 3 days old and weighing in at a measly... not sure!! The whole thing went great and we even got a video copy of our ultrasound. We want to compress it so we can post it but for now here are the photos.

Below is the overall view and then the measurement from head to tail :)

Below is the baby's profile, eye sockets, and the measurement for the head.

Below is the cross sections of the Thorax (chest cavity), Abdominal cavity. The legs (Pernas) are on the lower left.... you see nada! Next to the legs are the arms.

Measurements of the Femur and the Humerous (long leg bone and long arm bone). The last picture is the heart and then the EKG :) So happy!!

We couldn't be happier to be having a healthy baby as of now. Of course things can change but we are enjoying the moment until other wise. No need to worry about things that haven't happened yet.  Also the gender and name could change but right now this is what we are thinking and more than likely going with!

Tchau,
Sara

Good Two Days!

Ok I am working on a big post but I just wanted to tell everyone that we are alive and well. The ultrasound went great and so did the doctor's apt. I need to scan the ultrasound photos that way I can post them!! The post will be up later today as well as the sex!!

Awesome week :)

Tchau,
Sara