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How does this woman not scare everyone as much as she scares me?




And I know this is and older video...but it's a nice reminder since Tuesday is the big day.

Update

Sorry to leave everyone hanging, but the last couple of days have been a little crazy. Monday I saw my doctor, who THANK GOD didn't put me back on bed-rest. She basically said that as long as I feel OK at work, and that working doesn't make things worse, I can keep going. It helps that I'm still only working 6 hours a day, and that most of that time is spent sitting. She also said that the baby is just getting ready to come, even if it is a little early. I'm now at 35 weeks, so it really wouldn't be awful if he was born now, possibly a little NICU time, but nothing major.

I complained a little about some bladder pain/problems, but with Mason's head literally on my bladder, she didn't seem to worried. Well, as the afternoon went on the pain got worse and I ended up going back in to give a urine sample. Sorry for anyone who doesn't work in healthcare and isn't used to talking about pee, just skip this part if you want. Anyway, the nurse comes out and without really looking at me asks me if I'm on my period. HELLO?! Did you not notice the basketball under my shirt? Apparently there was a lot of blood in my urine. So they think I have a pyelonephritis (kidney infection) and write me a script for antibiotics. They also wanted me to try to pee again since there wasn't much the first time, so I did, and voila! out comes a big old kidney stone. (seriously, it was big...over 6mm...I measured it myself) Helps explain all the back pain I had been having!

Well, this all could be an explanation for the preterm labor. And the contractions have gotten better. So maybe Mason will hang out until the 25th after all.

Well THAT wasn't supposed to happen

Last weekend we had baby shower #1, which was the AFD "baby party" (they call it this because it's a couples event, and men don't/won't go to a shower). It went well, even though I was nervous about it. Most of my nerves were just because Todd hasn't been with this crew very long and I don't know most of the wives yet. It also doesn't help that Todd has been traveling as a captain so much he hasn't been with his actual crew lately. Anyhow...it was great to meet wives I hadn't before and just have a nice party with no games. The crew was also very generous and we may be getting that Chariot at REI after all with the help of their gift card.

Yesterday was baby shower #2. This one was thrown by my aunt and mom. It was the usual type of women-only baby shower that I usually don't like going to. I made them swear there would be no games at this shower either, although my mom did sneak one game in. Not too bad, just the basket full of stuff that you look at and then try to remember everything that was in it. Simple and I get to keep the basket and everything in it. I ended up being so incredibly spoiled by everyone, and I now have a long list of thank you cards to write.

During shower #2 I started having some cramping, which I figured was just because I had been doing more than I usually do, or should be doing. After I got home the cramping just kept getting worse, so I called Todd at work to ask the hypothetical "if I need you to come home" question. Turned out to be not so hypothetical after all and he came off shift and took me to OB Triage. Long story short.........pre-term labor. Because of my abruption a few months ago they were concerned that trying to stop the contractions would make the abruption/bleeding worse. So for a while there was talk of taking him via c-section last night (minor freak out/crying moment when this conversation happened). I was sent to ultrasound, which showed my placenta was OK, so the decision was then made to try to stop the contractions. Quick shot of terbutaline and more monitoring..............and at 2ish in the morning we were finally sent home.

The contractions didn't completely stop, but they have definitely slowed down and are less intense. I'm taking is easy today, and I have to call my doctor in the morning. The doc on call last night was a little more lenient than I'm afraid mine will be....keep your fingers crossed she doesn't put me on bedrest again! So for now baby is good and is staying put until 11/25. I'll update more when I know more.

A few simple facts

I haven't had to rant in a while about MS, so maybe it's just that I'm overdue, but it seems that lately ignorance is rearing its ugly head again. I admit, before my diagnosis, I was fairly ignorant about MS as well. I honestly don't mind talking about it, answering questions, none of this bothers me. What does bother me is people who think they are the expert. Anyway, here are a few facts. And if you don't want to take my word for it, the National MS Society has a great website with tons of information.

* Multiple Sclerosis is NOT the same as Muscular Dystrophy
* It is estimated that 400,000 people in the U.S. have MS, although these numbers are thought to be much higher since it's not a reportable disease to the CDC
* I did NOT get MS because I drink Diet Coke! Or because of any other reason other than I have bad luck. It's an autoimmune disease, my body attacks its own myelin.
* It is OK to be pregnant if you have MS! Actually, because of the immune response and extra hormones produced in pregnancy, MS usually goes into a remission period.
* With the above being true, yes, the post partum period can be difficult. That being said, for me, I'm prepared for it and have already decided on my course of action. (For those of you who are curious, I'll be doing monthly IVIg infusions for a while so I can still breastfeed)
* MS does not mean I'm dying. Nor does it mean that I'm going to be in a wheelchair.
* No, I'm not passing it on to the baby. Seriously, if this were true do you honestly think I would have gotten pregnant? The decision to have a baby was not an easy one, and I still worry about all the what-ifs associated with MS and what they would mean for my child.
* My MS has been fine since I've been pregnant. Since my diagnosis I've been lucky to have only had mild symptoms, and since I became pregnant, the symptoms have all been gone.

I know there's more. I get asked some pretty heinous things sometimes, but this is all I can think of now. Maybe I should start a weekly post for MS Rumors/Updates.

One last thing, I received a "Save the Date" reminder for the 2009 Walk MS. This year the Anchorage walk will be April 18th. I will be putting together a team again, so be expecting an email with more info soon.

The Final Countdown

I scheduled the c-section today. November 25th is the big day. I'll be in the hospital for Thanksgiving, but I'll have so much to be thankful for this year I don't think I'll mind. Besides, I'm sure I can convince my family to have Thanksgiving a couple days late this year.

For those who aren't caught up on everything, after Todd and I went to childbirth classes like a good little pregnant couple, my doctor had a long talk with us at my last OB appt. We talked about my higher risk of bleeding and about multiple sclerosis issues and all kinds of things. In the end it was really up to me, but once the 'hemorrhage' word was spoken, it was pretty much decided for me. I just can't take that risk, and I certainly don't need the extra worry. Not that a c-section is 100% safe, but it's less risky for me personally. And of course, I've already called L&D to check the anesthesiologist schedule, just to be sure!

So, that's that. Just 34 days away! Kind of crazy, really. I already re-set my countdown so it will be accurate. I have to admit, not only is having an "end date" in sight helpful, having a scheduled day is SO helpful to me and my type-A self. It's almost relaxing in a way...well, as relaxing as the idea of surgery can be.

Date Night

Tonight Todd and I were supposed to babysit our niece and nephew, but after an un-returned call to his sister, we figured it was safe to make other plans. Honestly I was half expecting a phone call saying she was dropping off the kids and where the heck were we...but that never happened. So our big, exciting Friday night consisted of Red Robin and my first trip to the new Target! Todd was less than excited when I suggested Target, but he's a good husband and went along with it.

There were SO many people there! We weren't even half-way around the store and I was totally annoyed with everyone, but I persevered for my love of Target. I have to admit that the prices weren't as good as I expected them to be, but I have to remind myself that this is Alaska, and everything is more expensive here. Of course, we didn't "need" anything, as Todd kept reminding me, so I didn't need the cart I was pushing, but I just knew something would come up. And, sure enough, it did. TOWELS! I've been complaining for months that we need new towels, and Todd really liked the towels that M & S had when we stayed with them in CO...which, lucky for me were from Target. So we have new towels, Halloween candy, a Halloween candy bowl, and shampoo/conditioner in a bigger container than they sell at Fred Meyer. And I bought some Sudafed to replenish our medicine cabinet after the cold I had.

Todd was right, though, even when you go to Target for nothing, you come out spending at least $100. Oh well, it was money well spent! I can't wait to go back, but next time I think I'll go alone so I can take my time shopping for all the things I don't need.

When is it my turn?

One of the other pregnant girls at work is probably having her baby as I type this. Her water broke today at work. Well, not broke in the gushing water sense that people see in movies, but none the less, she was, well, leaking. She had been having pains/contractions since yesterday, but today after the leaking she was told by everyone at work to go to the hospital. (Side note: DUH!!! was my response. While not the most sensitive, it seemed crazy that she wouldn't know to do that)

Another one of the the pregnant girls at work is also probably delivering right now. Last I heard she was heading to L&D to be started on Pitocin. (Another note: Yes, work is full of pregnant people right now. I'm one of 3 in the lab and one of 5 or 6 in x-ray)

Basically, I'm just a little jealous. It reminds me of before we finally got pregnant, when I was constantly complaining to Todd that everyone else was having babies except for us! I know my time will be here soon enough, and honestly, if my water broke today I'd be more than a little freaked out, but I'm ready. I'm ready for the heartburn to go away, to sleep comfortably again, to work my normal job/hours again, to eat blue cheese and drink a glass of wine, and most of all I'm just ready to meet this little one I've been hosting for the last 8 months. I want to see what he looks like, and find out if it's really true that heartburn=hair. I feel like I already know him and his little personality. Now I just need to meet him face to face.

Corner lot

I am that lady that lives on the corner. And someday, I'm going to be that old lady that lives on the corner. I freaking hate it when people walk across our front yard! Todd and I talked about putting a fence up, but of course money and time are always issues...and they were spent elsewhere this summer. So we've started another winter of people cutting across our lawn.

Now, I guess I'm not quite to that lady standards yet. I haven't actually yelled at anyone doing it...if only they could hear what I say in the safety of my house when I see them.

What's in a name?

A lot of people have asked how or why we picked the names we have for the new baby. Let me start by saying that is one difficult task! It was a little easier that we're having a boy. I kept saying early on in my pregnancy "he" whenever I talked about the baby (this was when I wasn't referring to him as "the Parasite"), so when we found out for sure it was a boy, there were already names being considered. And we seemed to agree faster on boy names than girl ones.

The middle name was easy. Todd's mom, who passed away in '06, was named Patricia, and so is my grandmother. Patrick was the easy way to honor both of these important women in our lives, and we both like the name. Patrick, for anyone into the meaning of names, means noble.

The first name was a little more difficult. I was so sick for the first 5 months that I joked often we were going to have to name the child Koehler after the toilet that he seemed so attracted to! We both love the name Mason. But I also love the name Gordon. Now before everyone starts snickering at Gordon, it would have also honored people in our families. Todd's dad, who also passed away in '06 had Gordon as his middle name, and my grandfather is also a Gordon. Todd couldn't get on-board with Gordon, fearing a lifetime of teasing and being called "Gord-o" was ahead for the little guy. So Mason, meaning (duh) stoneworker, it is.

Mason Patrick Loy. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

Kleenex filled birthday

No, I'm not crying about my upcoming birthday, I'm sick. It's been a long time since I've had a cold, I don't really remember when the last time was actually. But, sure enough, everyone in the little space I'm confined to at work has been passing in around, and while I avoided it longer than most...it found me. And just in time for the big 2-9 on Wednesday.

The worst part is being pregnant and having a cold. You can't take anything for it! Oh, except regular Sudafed, and cough drops. Oh, Tylenol...so basically, as I was saying, you can't take anything for it. And since I already feel like I can't catch my breath 90% of the time, being all plugged up fills in that 10% that I had a glimmer of breathing normally.

Other than having a cold, things have been fairly boring around here. Todd's birthday was Tuesday, and of course he was at work. Thursday night Todd made dinner for me while I watched Sarah Palin stumble through her debate with Joe Biden. Last night we went to my parents house for a little joint birthday gathering. I know sometimes Todd thinks it's a little weird, but that's just because our families are so polar opposite on things like this. So, while he thinks it's weird that my family gets together and celebrates birthdays and such, I think it's weird that his doesn't even call each other half the time (no offense to any of the Loy/Moran family intended).

We also went to another childbirth class Friday. I was considering becoming a childbirth class drop out for most of the day before the class, and of course, Todd would have totally supported this, but we went anyway. It wasn't as bad as the first class. I left feeling a little more confident in my own ability to labor and give birth, although I'm still not 100% convinced that a c-section isn't the way to go.

Well, that's all for now. It's time to open another box of Kleenex.

I'm not doing THAT!

Todd and I had our first childbirth class last night, and the title of this blog basically is how I feel about the entire labor process. Now, I'm not one of those women who just realized this during childbirth class, I've been in health care long enough and seen enough laboring moms in my life that I've known this since I was 17 years old and saw my first live birth. I know he has to come out, and I'm excited for that to happen, I'm just not so excited for HOW they are proposing he come out.

I am a big fan of having a c-section. Todd and I do not see eye to eye on this one. I am not a hippie, natural childbirth kind of girl. I have nothing to prove about my woman-li-ness, and, well, I can't get past the fact that I will be pooping in front of people! (quick note here: for all you women who have given birth and think that you did not in fact poop in front of people, you're wrong. the docs and nurses who work in L&D are just used to it and usually push it aside before you ever notice, just ask anyone who works there) Up until a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't going to have much choice in the matter. My placenta was really low for the first 7 months of my pregnancy, but, alas, that is the one thing that has gone right and it has since moved up and out of the way.

So, I'm going to birthing classes and being a good sport. I'm trying to have an open mind about everything, even though what I'm really thinking is that I'M NOT DOING THAT!!!