Welcome to November 2006
November 8, 2006:
Today is our 13 month anniversary...and yes, we're still counting the months and feeling like newlyweds....and refusing to act/think like an old married couple quite yet.
It has been a long time since there have been any real updates on this page, and I am sorry for that. Like most people, we've just been busy. Also, procrastination on past due assignments was at a high: I finally got caught up on all of my art therapy things (several weeks of client notes just needed to be done, and two major Powerpoint presentations for OSU needed to be thought about, researched, found pictures for, and then put together into a respectable format for my art therapy conference speaking engagement the first week of May...if this baby has come by that point...if not, well, someone else will read/discuss my work.). I still have to catch up with everyone verbally, but this week (when I'm not working for the good of someone else) has been for Bruce & me to catch up first.
Bruce has also stayed busy, still searching for a job. The process (and everything surrounding it) is getting him very overwhelmed and frustrated, as well as self-defeated. He just appears to be over (or under) qualified for most of the jobs that are in the paper or on-line; and for those that we KNOW would be a good fit for him, they tend to not call back (and either do not leave a contact name/number in the ad or are not available when he initiates follow-up calls). He even had a full-day interview at AccountTemps (a temp-to-perm accounting job agency), and they aren't returning calls either.
Bruce finally decided for the time being to get a seasonal job, so on Saturday, he'll start working at The Disney Store at a local mall. At least with that, he should enjoy the job, be busy, and will have some input in our finances. Throughout the Disney employment, he'll also have time to continue looking for an accounting job and do his weekly school assignments (the first class is going good by the way; though he was not-so-confident, he got a 10/10 on his first paper).
The latest on the baby news:
On Thursday, while I was driving, I suddenly started feeling a strange, very sharp poking going on in my uterus. It felt like someone was poking me with a pen from the inside out, and, frankly, it HURT! So, I thought, "Ow! That hurts!" But, then I quickly remembered about the kid and thought, "wait! no! that feels good! I think that my baby's kicking me! :)" Since then, I've worked the overnight most nights, and so as a result I've been awake (sort of) for most of the night. And, it's obvious that this kid is a nightowl/early riser like his/her momma.....middle of the night kicking has happened several times in the past week. :)
On Friday, we had our latest appointment with Dr. Arbona. She measured everything and showed me how to feel where my uterus was, which she said was about the size of a cantelope. Once I found it, that uterus certainly FEELS like a cantelope too. She also did another heartbeat listen. The kid had a strong heartbeat but, unfortunately, hid from the doplar (?) very well. When Dr. Arbona did find the heartbeat, the kid kept quickly moving out of the way, leading a short game of hide-n-seek. Dr. Arbona finally found the heartbeat for a few seconds (sounds like "chew! chew! chew! chew!") and then she stated, "We have a mover and a shaker in there!"
Today, we got the results back from the AFP test, which is a test to find abnomalities such as Down's Syndrome. The test came back negative. (YEAH!) This strong cookie is still completely healthy! :)
The baby is now about 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom), and in the next three weeks, will double his/her weight, and add inches to their length. His/her lower limbs are much more developed now, the head is more erect than it has been, and his/her eyes are moving (slowly) and have moved toward the front of her head. The baby's ears are also close to their final position. Some of the more advanced body systems are working, including the circulatory system, urinary tract, and bladder (Emptying about once an hour. More urine plus a cantelope sitting on my bladder every time I sit/stand up? No wonder I'm peeing more!). The patterning of his/her scalp has begun, though hair isn't recognizable yet. Her/his finger and toenails are fully formed and have begun to grow.
Also, the kid can supposedly hear me now...so I'm trying hard to control my mouth/language that can periodically get, uh, "rough." This plus my increasing size has led us to decide that I am going to quit one of my art therapy positions in a few weeks. The kids (juvenile male sexual offenders) do occasionally get upset at me for petty things, and they tend to use inappropriate language a lot. I now fear that when they find out that I'm pregnant, a few will be tempted to hit/kick me in the stomach when I make them angry. The job isn't NEAR as important to me as keeping my cookie happy and healthy.
Today is our 13 month anniversary...and yes, we're still counting the months and feeling like newlyweds....and refusing to act/think like an old married couple quite yet.
It has been a long time since there have been any real updates on this page, and I am sorry for that. Like most people, we've just been busy. Also, procrastination on past due assignments was at a high: I finally got caught up on all of my art therapy things (several weeks of client notes just needed to be done, and two major Powerpoint presentations for OSU needed to be thought about, researched, found pictures for, and then put together into a respectable format for my art therapy conference speaking engagement the first week of May...if this baby has come by that point...if not, well, someone else will read/discuss my work.). I still have to catch up with everyone verbally, but this week (when I'm not working for the good of someone else) has been for Bruce & me to catch up first.
Bruce has also stayed busy, still searching for a job. The process (and everything surrounding it) is getting him very overwhelmed and frustrated, as well as self-defeated. He just appears to be over (or under) qualified for most of the jobs that are in the paper or on-line; and for those that we KNOW would be a good fit for him, they tend to not call back (and either do not leave a contact name/number in the ad or are not available when he initiates follow-up calls). He even had a full-day interview at AccountTemps (a temp-to-perm accounting job agency), and they aren't returning calls either.
Bruce finally decided for the time being to get a seasonal job, so on Saturday, he'll start working at The Disney Store at a local mall. At least with that, he should enjoy the job, be busy, and will have some input in our finances. Throughout the Disney employment, he'll also have time to continue looking for an accounting job and do his weekly school assignments (the first class is going good by the way; though he was not-so-confident, he got a 10/10 on his first paper).
The latest on the baby news:
On Thursday, while I was driving, I suddenly started feeling a strange, very sharp poking going on in my uterus. It felt like someone was poking me with a pen from the inside out, and, frankly, it HURT! So, I thought, "Ow! That hurts!" But, then I quickly remembered about the kid and thought, "wait! no! that feels good! I think that my baby's kicking me! :)" Since then, I've worked the overnight most nights, and so as a result I've been awake (sort of) for most of the night. And, it's obvious that this kid is a nightowl/early riser like his/her momma.....middle of the night kicking has happened several times in the past week. :)
On Friday, we had our latest appointment with Dr. Arbona. She measured everything and showed me how to feel where my uterus was, which she said was about the size of a cantelope. Once I found it, that uterus certainly FEELS like a cantelope too. She also did another heartbeat listen. The kid had a strong heartbeat but, unfortunately, hid from the doplar (?) very well. When Dr. Arbona did find the heartbeat, the kid kept quickly moving out of the way, leading a short game of hide-n-seek. Dr. Arbona finally found the heartbeat for a few seconds (sounds like "chew! chew! chew! chew!") and then she stated, "We have a mover and a shaker in there!"
Today, we got the results back from the AFP test, which is a test to find abnomalities such as Down's Syndrome. The test came back negative. (YEAH!) This strong cookie is still completely healthy! :)
The baby is now about 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom), and in the next three weeks, will double his/her weight, and add inches to their length. His/her lower limbs are much more developed now, the head is more erect than it has been, and his/her eyes are moving (slowly) and have moved toward the front of her head. The baby's ears are also close to their final position. Some of the more advanced body systems are working, including the circulatory system, urinary tract, and bladder (Emptying about once an hour. More urine plus a cantelope sitting on my bladder every time I sit/stand up? No wonder I'm peeing more!). The patterning of his/her scalp has begun, though hair isn't recognizable yet. Her/his finger and toenails are fully formed and have begun to grow.
Also, the kid can supposedly hear me now...so I'm trying hard to control my mouth/language that can periodically get, uh, "rough." This plus my increasing size has led us to decide that I am going to quit one of my art therapy positions in a few weeks. The kids (juvenile male sexual offenders) do occasionally get upset at me for petty things, and they tend to use inappropriate language a lot. I now fear that when they find out that I'm pregnant, a few will be tempted to hit/kick me in the stomach when I make them angry. The job isn't NEAR as important to me as keeping my cookie happy and healthy.
This is my Belly Picture #2, taken on Nov. 8, 2006, at 16 weeks.
(A few days after I felt the first kicks!)
(A few days after I felt the first kicks!)
Our Engagement Photo, Spring 2005, Wedding Photo, October 8th, 2005, & Baby Makes Three!!!
Thank you for visiting. We update this page every few days.... check back soon!
Thank you for visiting. We update this page every few days.... check back soon!
November 10, 2006:
Yesterday was Bruce's birthday (# 35), and two days from now will be mine (# 33). So, for 3 days out of the year, he feels OLD. :) For his birthday, he pretty much relaxed all day, kind of took the day off, and ate Taco Bell (anything mexican is of primary joy to my tastebuds right now, so since I was at work last night, I was a little jealous...)
Tonight, we'll be going on our birthday date, so I'm sure that another birthday-related update will come soon. It's funny, though, that right now at least, neither of our birthdays seem near as important as they did just last year. It's like for some (cantelope-sized) reason, we're looking forward to a birthday at the end of April right now.
And now, as I promised over a MONTH ago, are the pictures from out 1st Anniversary in the Hocking Hills, Ohio.
Yesterday was Bruce's birthday (# 35), and two days from now will be mine (# 33). So, for 3 days out of the year, he feels OLD. :) For his birthday, he pretty much relaxed all day, kind of took the day off, and ate Taco Bell (anything mexican is of primary joy to my tastebuds right now, so since I was at work last night, I was a little jealous...)
Tonight, we'll be going on our birthday date, so I'm sure that another birthday-related update will come soon. It's funny, though, that right now at least, neither of our birthdays seem near as important as they did just last year. It's like for some (cantelope-sized) reason, we're looking forward to a birthday at the end of April right now.
And now, as I promised over a MONTH ago, are the pictures from out 1st Anniversary in the Hocking Hills, Ohio.
The archway of leaves before us as we drove along a dirt path on October 8th, 2006..
kind of looks like a painting
and one of my favorite poems.
kind of looks like a painting
and one of my favorite poems.
Our Bed & Breakfast Room
for our weekend getaway :)
When is the next time
that we'll get a weekend
far away from anyone else
or anyone else's cellphones???
for our weekend getaway :)
When is the next time
that we'll get a weekend
far away from anyone else
or anyone else's cellphones???
Bruce being cheesy :)
Our walk through the Hocking Hills on our first anniversary, October 8th, 2006
...at 11 1/2 weeks pregnant....
we got enough exercise to make up for my first whole trimester of NO exercise!
...at 11 1/2 weeks pregnant....
we got enough exercise to make up for my first whole trimester of NO exercise!
November 26, 2006
First off, we're sorry for such a long time in updating....on November 10th (or maybe the day after???) this dumb computer simply LOST this page AND my PurpleHandprint (art therapy) page. As of yesterday, mom was finally able to help me find the Van Bruggen page (so you now can see what I had planned to publish on November 10th! grrrrr....), but we're still working on the PurpleHandprint page.
Beyond that, ok, now for remembering the last TWO WEEKS:
For our birthday dinner, we went out to a nice restaurant and then had planned to go to a movie or to bowling (which we both enjoy, but haven't done for WAY too long). Well, dinner was nice. But then there weren't any good movies playing that weekend, so we decided to go to open bowling. However, the open bowling was "filled up," even though they mysteriously had MANY lanes open. So we waited patiently for an open lane that would come in "about 10 mniutes"....but after 45 minutes an no lane, we decided to just go home. Yee-haa, huh?
Then, on my birthday (the 12th), Sarah & I took Natalie to a free Nutcracker thing downtown (she loves ballet and The Nutcracker and has been reminding Sarah and I for a year now that she expected us to take her to this year's showing). So, Natalie was able to try on some real ballet/Nutcracker costumes, color a paper Christmas tree ornament that will be "hung" on the actual tree used in the Columbus performance, listen to a reading of the story, get a nice, lamenated poster of the show (signed by several of the professional ballet dancers as she met them), and participate in a ballet lesson by professional ballet instructors (but Natalie ended up being too shy; she chose to watch (and comment on) the other kids' dance moves while she stayed by her aunts). She also could've met the actual Nutcracker, but was again too shy. We also, of course, got tickets for the show. So we now have a standing date for the closing show of the year, on December 23rd, at 7:30pm :)
From that day on, our family was pretty focused on my sister, Debby, as she finally had her baby (Gabriella Joy Gerth) at 12:30am on November 15th. Ella was three weeks early, but Debby had been READY to have the kid for the past month; and the kid was READY to join this Earth for the past 1-2 weeks. Bruce and I took care of Debby and Phil's other two kids (Natalie and Ethan) on the night that Ella was born...and Bruce got to experience the joy of cleaning up Ethan's vomit (which made ME gag because of my ULTRA-sensitive olfactory senses right now), and then a late night run for diapers and Pedialyte, while I got up (suddenly) 4-5 times when Ethan woke up crying...I reminded Bruce that this was our practice time. :) The next morning (the 15th), Bruce had to go to work, and I took the kids back to the hospital to meet their new sister. Later that afternoon, Bruce met us at the hospital, and got to meet Ella as well. As he held her, Bruce was just so quiet and at peace (with a big smile on his face); and later said that he just couldn't believe that HE actually had a smaller version of this (kid) growing right now. :) The rest of the week really continued to focus on Ella's arrival, of course. Ella is healthy, but with everything that Debby had to go through at that hospital (Riverside)....(Debby's desires/needs were NOT taken into consideration, and the nurse who ended up "delivering" Ella was rude and disrespectful of Debby's needs), Bruce & I made a firm decision that we will *NOT* be having our baby at Riverside Methodist Hospital. NO WAY. On the upcoming April day that we're so looking forward to, MY needs/desires will be the priority; not what the doctor/nurse (who likely won't know me but for what my chart says) feels is best. (I am firm that I want to be fully awake and aware when I deliver. No matter what happens. I do NOT want the doctors/nurses to determine that because of my epilepsy, it would be "best" to put me under/tie me down/do a C-section.)
A few days later, Bruce learned that his dad was going to spend the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with Bruce's aunt/uncle at their cabin in the "hills" (small mountains, in my opinion!) of West Virginia. We both agreed that was a very good thing for Dad.... he needed to just get out of his house for awhile, and focus on something beside the reconstruction of his basement.
On Thanksgiving Day (the 23rd), we went over to my mom's, and had our typical Thanksgiving with my side of our family (Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Brett, Sarah, Debby, Phil, Natalie, Ethan, Ella, Bruce, and I). In reading back to LAST year's Thanksgiving entry, this was not near as exciting (or cold!). Everything seemed to focus on Ella and our cooking cookie. I made Apple Pan Doughty for everyone the night before (it always tastes best when it's re-heated the following day). Bruce & I sampled some of it for breakfast Thursday morning, and Bruce determined that 'it was so good, that he just didn't feel it was right to share the rest with the family'....ha,ha,ha,ha :) Well, we did share it with everyone, and everyone enjoyed it (Natalie and Ethan kept a resounding "mmmm!!! This is good!!!" going throughout.) About 30 minutes after I finished my portion, I got several kicks and movements from the kid......I think our little cookie agreed that his/her first first taste of the family favorite was completely enjoyed. :)
For the last few days now, I think that my inner heater is definately starting up (I've been wearing SHORTS and t-shirts! In late November!) and I KNOW that the heartburn/reflux has greatly increased...."Tums" are always nearby. Also, my body is displaying signs that my body is expanding (all over)... within one week, my "hips" must've expanded a lot, because I'm no longer able to sit on the tiny preschool-sized chairs at my OSU art therapy job; and earlier this month, I had to stop wearing my wedding ring because it was cutting into my skin....but a few days ago, we bought a nice 18" gold necklace chain for my ring to hang from. Much better than being stored in my jewelry box for who knows who long! Now for the update on the kid's developmental progress:
Head to bottom, the baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and he/she weighs almost 7 ounces. He/she's busy learning to joy of thumb-sucking, and flexing their arms and legs (flexing? I call it more like "punching/kicking!"). Blood vessels are visible through his/her thin skin, and the ears are now in position and stand out from the head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around his/her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after they're born. If it's a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If it's a boy, his genitals are noticeable. Vernix (a white cheese-like protective material) forms on the baby's skin with the lanugo (soft, lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs); both serving to protect his/her skin during the months in water. Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs, the vocal chords are formed, and he/she goes through the motions of crying. Features of the baby's heart, including ventricles and chambers, should be visible during an ultrasound.
Our next OB appointment and ultrasound will be this coming Friday. Stay turned! :)
First off, we're sorry for such a long time in updating....on November 10th (or maybe the day after???) this dumb computer simply LOST this page AND my PurpleHandprint (art therapy) page. As of yesterday, mom was finally able to help me find the Van Bruggen page (so you now can see what I had planned to publish on November 10th! grrrrr....), but we're still working on the PurpleHandprint page.
Beyond that, ok, now for remembering the last TWO WEEKS:
For our birthday dinner, we went out to a nice restaurant and then had planned to go to a movie or to bowling (which we both enjoy, but haven't done for WAY too long). Well, dinner was nice. But then there weren't any good movies playing that weekend, so we decided to go to open bowling. However, the open bowling was "filled up," even though they mysteriously had MANY lanes open. So we waited patiently for an open lane that would come in "about 10 mniutes"....but after 45 minutes an no lane, we decided to just go home. Yee-haa, huh?
Then, on my birthday (the 12th), Sarah & I took Natalie to a free Nutcracker thing downtown (she loves ballet and The Nutcracker and has been reminding Sarah and I for a year now that she expected us to take her to this year's showing). So, Natalie was able to try on some real ballet/Nutcracker costumes, color a paper Christmas tree ornament that will be "hung" on the actual tree used in the Columbus performance, listen to a reading of the story, get a nice, lamenated poster of the show (signed by several of the professional ballet dancers as she met them), and participate in a ballet lesson by professional ballet instructors (but Natalie ended up being too shy; she chose to watch (and comment on) the other kids' dance moves while she stayed by her aunts). She also could've met the actual Nutcracker, but was again too shy. We also, of course, got tickets for the show. So we now have a standing date for the closing show of the year, on December 23rd, at 7:30pm :)
From that day on, our family was pretty focused on my sister, Debby, as she finally had her baby (Gabriella Joy Gerth) at 12:30am on November 15th. Ella was three weeks early, but Debby had been READY to have the kid for the past month; and the kid was READY to join this Earth for the past 1-2 weeks. Bruce and I took care of Debby and Phil's other two kids (Natalie and Ethan) on the night that Ella was born...and Bruce got to experience the joy of cleaning up Ethan's vomit (which made ME gag because of my ULTRA-sensitive olfactory senses right now), and then a late night run for diapers and Pedialyte, while I got up (suddenly) 4-5 times when Ethan woke up crying...I reminded Bruce that this was our practice time. :) The next morning (the 15th), Bruce had to go to work, and I took the kids back to the hospital to meet their new sister. Later that afternoon, Bruce met us at the hospital, and got to meet Ella as well. As he held her, Bruce was just so quiet and at peace (with a big smile on his face); and later said that he just couldn't believe that HE actually had a smaller version of this (kid) growing right now. :) The rest of the week really continued to focus on Ella's arrival, of course. Ella is healthy, but with everything that Debby had to go through at that hospital (Riverside)....(Debby's desires/needs were NOT taken into consideration, and the nurse who ended up "delivering" Ella was rude and disrespectful of Debby's needs), Bruce & I made a firm decision that we will *NOT* be having our baby at Riverside Methodist Hospital. NO WAY. On the upcoming April day that we're so looking forward to, MY needs/desires will be the priority; not what the doctor/nurse (who likely won't know me but for what my chart says) feels is best. (I am firm that I want to be fully awake and aware when I deliver. No matter what happens. I do NOT want the doctors/nurses to determine that because of my epilepsy, it would be "best" to put me under/tie me down/do a C-section.)
A few days later, Bruce learned that his dad was going to spend the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with Bruce's aunt/uncle at their cabin in the "hills" (small mountains, in my opinion!) of West Virginia. We both agreed that was a very good thing for Dad.... he needed to just get out of his house for awhile, and focus on something beside the reconstruction of his basement.
On Thanksgiving Day (the 23rd), we went over to my mom's, and had our typical Thanksgiving with my side of our family (Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Brett, Sarah, Debby, Phil, Natalie, Ethan, Ella, Bruce, and I). In reading back to LAST year's Thanksgiving entry, this was not near as exciting (or cold!). Everything seemed to focus on Ella and our cooking cookie. I made Apple Pan Doughty for everyone the night before (it always tastes best when it's re-heated the following day). Bruce & I sampled some of it for breakfast Thursday morning, and Bruce determined that 'it was so good, that he just didn't feel it was right to share the rest with the family'....ha,ha,ha,ha :) Well, we did share it with everyone, and everyone enjoyed it (Natalie and Ethan kept a resounding "mmmm!!! This is good!!!" going throughout.) About 30 minutes after I finished my portion, I got several kicks and movements from the kid......I think our little cookie agreed that his/her first first taste of the family favorite was completely enjoyed. :)
For the last few days now, I think that my inner heater is definately starting up (I've been wearing SHORTS and t-shirts! In late November!) and I KNOW that the heartburn/reflux has greatly increased...."Tums" are always nearby. Also, my body is displaying signs that my body is expanding (all over)... within one week, my "hips" must've expanded a lot, because I'm no longer able to sit on the tiny preschool-sized chairs at my OSU art therapy job; and earlier this month, I had to stop wearing my wedding ring because it was cutting into my skin....but a few days ago, we bought a nice 18" gold necklace chain for my ring to hang from. Much better than being stored in my jewelry box for who knows who long! Now for the update on the kid's developmental progress:
Head to bottom, the baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and he/she weighs almost 7 ounces. He/she's busy learning to joy of thumb-sucking, and flexing their arms and legs (flexing? I call it more like "punching/kicking!"). Blood vessels are visible through his/her thin skin, and the ears are now in position and stand out from the head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around his/her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after they're born. If it's a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If it's a boy, his genitals are noticeable. Vernix (a white cheese-like protective material) forms on the baby's skin with the lanugo (soft, lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs); both serving to protect his/her skin during the months in water. Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs, the vocal chords are formed, and he/she goes through the motions of crying. Features of the baby's heart, including ventricles and chambers, should be visible during an ultrasound.
Our next OB appointment and ultrasound will be this coming Friday. Stay turned! :)
Uncle Bruce with Ella Gerth on her birthday, November 15th, 2006.