So, it's been a long time.

This blog started out as a way to document my pregnancy and share random thoughts about it with the world. A lot has changed since I started it. I am now a single mom and Isabel Tenzing Callaghan Brady is almost 1!

I am now in school for my MBA at UC-Boulder and work part-time at Level3 Communications. It's been an interesting ride and I hope to keep those few people who read this, up-to-date with the changes in my life as they come along.

Prenatal vitamins causing headaches?

Thoughts, theories, and/or experience?

Ever since I switched prenatal vitamins from the hive-causing generic brand to the "natural" prenatal vitamins, I have had headaches. A couple of days ago, I forgot to take my fancy vitamins, I did not have any headaches. No kidding!

I wake up in the morning, feeling great, doing housechores, etc. but then get a headache about 1 to 2 hours after taking my vitamin (usually during lunch). Coincidence? I have been unable to find any information about this matter online except for some other pregnant women complaining. I have tried switching the times from lunch to dinner, but will still get the headaches. I am now taking half a pill, twice a day. I still get a headache but it's not the migraine like before. I am tried tracking what's going on and cannot imagine it being anything but the vitamin since so many other factors are inconsistent.

Advice or comments are appreciated.

My name is Rob.  I am the donor.  Megan is sitting behind me, telling me what to write because I am a delinquent author.

Week 13: All Moved, Unpacking, and food

What is happening with Momma Callaghan?
Rob and I moved into our new house one week ago -- most of the boxes are unpacked though there are still many more things to unpack. Personally, I want to organize our gear closet, aka the basement, and my office. Although, after many days of unpacking, I am resting. When I had an appointment earlier today, my doctor says I should I go some more rest... so, I'm going to try very hard to rest. I am happy to have wireless internet since, as many as you know, it will be difficult for me to rest and stay still. But, for the sake of the baby, I have to rest and eat appropriately.

Food is still difficult for me as I cannot think of anything good (as in tasty) to eat. Additionally, we do not have a microwave yet. It's no big deal as I am cooking more but re-heating is definitely more of a challenge.

What happening with Baby Brady?
Up until this point, your baby’s head has been the largest part of his/her body, but that is beginning to change. Your baby’s head is now only about 1/3 of his/her total body. Baby Brady is about 3.5 inches long and 1.25 ounces. Unique fingerprints are now located on the tips of your baby’s fingers. The kidney and urinary tract are completely functional which allows the amniotic fluid he/she has been swallowing to be excreted. Covering your baby’s skin is a fine, soft hair called lanugo. The vocal cords have begun to develop. All twenty baby teeth are formed and waiting beneath his gums until well after birth. However, every once in a while a baby is born with teeth already showing.

Week 12: A new house, merged lives, and the delicate subject of painting while pregnant

Tomorrow, we close on our house. For the first time, we will have something that is ours. There is no "my place" or "your place" debate and Pete will always be in one place. Unless, of course, he's visiting friends in Thornton. We will have no backyard and I find myself already missing the long alley off of Rob's condo; we take Pete for walks back there and our next alley is not nearly as long. We will have no backyard to tend to, but instead a basement (aka the "gear closet") to organize and a laundry room.

Of course, with the all the walls being white, I want to paint. But, being pregnant, I am not supposed to do so as the fumes and chemicals are harmful. I have purchased paint for "our" bedroom and my office nook, but am not entirely sure who yet will do the painting.
We will see!

Bacon, Sausage, and Ham .. Oh my!

So, I had heard all about not eating soft cheeses and hamburger but as I was re-reading certain parts of my trust-y pregnancy book, it also said, "no pastrami, sausage, bacon, ham, deli meats, hot dogs, etc." WTF?
As soon as I read this, I head over to my trusty MacBook (on which all of these entries have been typed), click on Firefox (the internet) and Google 'bacon during pregnancy.' You know what? It's a he said/she said type of debate. Some sites mention it because of the fact that the nitrites are considered carcinogenics; other sites say to not eat them during the first trimester, and finally, the rest do not mention it at all. I figure, I'll try to avoid them because cancer-causing foods are never a good thing. But, really, what is a pregnant lady, regardless of how many pregnancies she's had, to do?
So, in the meantime, I will be sticking to my boring foods ... but applesauce, though boring, is mighty tasty. Yum!

Holy Nails, Batman!

So, as most of you know, I am, or at least have been, a pretty active person. I never had nails because I was either playing ultimate frisbee or rock climbing or just playing in the dirt. Well, since my habits and certain activities have been banned (by Rob and the good doctor), I'm sticking to the gym (feeling much better).

What does this mean? I have nails! It is crazy. Plus, they are super-strong. I jammed my thumb the other day and not even a scratch. The nails are also beautiful, no white spots, here.

To my male readers, and I know that there are some, it is just a crazy phenomenon. I guess that's about it for week 11.
Cheers!

Rose Medical Center... the "I'm going to Disneyland" type of birthing center

Their brand new, state-of-the-art birthing facility opened in March 2006 with 12 labor and delivery rooms featuring the latest in technology and luxury to make your birthing experience one to cherish forever. The unit was designed to be a comforting environment to promote health and healing.

Comfort? Maybe, but for whom? I do not about you out there, but the whole concept of a small watermelon fitting through something the size of a lime. Yeah, comfort is the first word that comes to mind.

Each labor and delivery room features private bathrooms, a Jacuzzi tub to soak away those labor pains, a place for your spouse/partner to sleep, birth balls, squat bars, rocking chairs, flat screen TVs, DVD/VCR/CD combinations, and high-speed internet access.

I just have an image of Rob, complete with beer helmet, surfing the net, texting friends, and watching JAG on the television. Any other predictions?

First Official Doctor's Appointment

Wee-hoo! Rob and I arrived early to the doctors to fill out a lot of paperwork. He did most of it because I had a momentary freak-out thinking that I was re-scheduled with the male doctor on staff. (Tangent! I have no problems with male doctors, in general, but if I am giving birth and/or having problems with my woo-ha, I want a doctor that either has a woo-ha and/or is a mother.) Luckily, I was just on "his" schedule but was still seeing my regular doctor, Dr. Donna Akuda.

So, as my name is called out, Rob asks if he should come back with me. I am not really sure what this appointment is going to entail, though I have a good idea, and invite him back nevertheless. I get blood drawn, give urine samples (yes, plural -- you pee a lot when pregnant), get weighed, and have my blood pressure taken. Everything seems normal except now I have a baby in me. (My blood pressure is a little high for me but I am sure that's okay, because it was usual borderline low before.)

Rob is hanging out, watching all this take place, like a good trooper; he's also cracking jokes and making the nurses laugh. Finally, we go to get our sonogram. The SUPER-NICE nurse practicioner, Connie W. does the general run-down of questions. Are we married? (Yes, we say but when she excited asks for more details, we try to explain our "legal arrangement," i.e. domestic partnership, she just looks confused.) How long have we known each other? Was this planned? Birth control used? Etc. Etc. Etc. But, it was really funny to try to explain to her our relationship and from then on, I just deflected the question with another question or a completely random comment.

And then, it happens. Sonogram time! Connie is going to do the sonogram and then once she finds everything, she will go get Dr. Akuda and the good doctor will verify that everything is A-okay. Well... except, super-nice, bubbly, and excited Connie cannot find my uterus. I am beginning to think that I am not pregnant: All my "symptoms" are psychosomatic? After a good five minutes of poking around, she decides to go get the doctor.

Dr. Akuda came in and found my uterus, complete with baby. Apparently, my uterus is tipped towards the back instead of the front (that explains the back pain!). She called Rob "the donor." I was not too happy about that comment but he did not seem to mind. Back to the important stuff: the baby!
He/she is alive and kicking. While they were trying to get a picture, the baby even did a little dance, moving his/her arms and legs like they were doing the twist. Very cute. It was very surreal but cool. And then, sound!
The baby ceased to be a movie star and became a living thing at that moment. It was like they had surround sound in that room. The sound of the heartbeat was what did it for me. I cannot wait for the second showing! Maybe there will be a little dance again....

178 beats per minute - Does that mean a boy or a girl?

So, apparently, our baby has a healthy heart. And, according to this old wive's tale about the fetal heart rate predicting the sex, we are having a girl. Apparently, if the heart rate is 140+ beats per minute (BPM), it is a girl and under 140 BPM is a boy. However, I took the "Old Wive's Tale" quiz about predicting gender and it said based on my answers (7/10) that I was having a boy. Very interesting. Finally, to cover all my bases, I used an Ancient Chinese Birth Chart. Surprise, it's a girl!

If you would like to take the old wive's tale quiz and base it off of your prior pregnancies and then let me know the outcome, the link is:
http://pregnancy.about.com/library/quiz/boygirl/blboygirlquiz.htm

Week 9: Fun Facts!

What is happening with the baby?
He/she is now ready for rapid weight gain. The baby is beginning to look more like a little person since the embryonic tail is completely gone by week 9. The eyelids are fully formed, have fused shut, and will open again during week 28. You can even find out if you are having a boy or girl (early gender testing for the low, low cost of $249!).
All the baby's joints such as the knees, elbows, shoulders, ankles, and wrists are working and allowing the baby to move about freely within the amniotic sac. Your baby's heart began beating around day 24, but now his/her heart has divided into four chambers, and the valves are beginning to develop. Your baby can also make a fist, and he/she may begin sucking their thumb.

How big is your baby?
Your baby is about the size of a grape, measuring about 1 ½ inches from its head to its rump, and weighs a fraction of an ounce.

By the way, today, I think it is a GIRL.

Weddings, Nana, and Prenatal testing

So, this past weekend, Rob and I traveled to Toledo, Ohio for my cousin Mike's wedding. I was very excited to be around my family but was interested to see if they would notice my lack-of-alcohol consumption. No one said anything, but I had my "I-had-hives-and-now-I'm-on-super-strong-steroids" story all prepped and ready to go. It was a lovely time and I do not think that anyone noticed my softer-than-usual mid-section. If they did, no one said anything to me, but they probably just figured that I was not working out anymore. (The pasta was great - it fit right in with my most recent cravings.)
I also told my Nana about the pregnancy with my mother and Rob present. She did not really respond. I could not read her at all. I hope that she is excited. I told her that she needs to come visit us in Colorado -- she said, "let's see what the weather is like" (she lives in Rochester, NY, where it does not stop snowing until May).

What is happening with me?
I mostly feel okay; I was going to say good, but I do not want to push it. I am still very tired but try to work through it. I had two awful days on Sunday and Monday of this week. I think it was an "extra blood" day; I felt flushed, hot, flu-ish and generally crappy. Today, however, has been a lot better.

First doctor's visit:
Rob and I have our first doctor's appointment one week from today. I am very excited but nervous that it will not go well and that I will have to find a new doctor. Needless to say, I have not had the best experiences with the doctor and her practice. (She is super nice, as is her head nurse... everyone else is questionable. One nurse practicioner treats me like I am four and a receptionist asked me if I wanted an abortion when I was calling to make my firs prenatal visit).

Rob and I have been talking about Amniocentesis and Chorionic villus sampling (CVS); CVS carries a 1 in 100 risk of miscarriage while amniocentesis carries a 1 in 400 to 1 in 200 risk. Considering my youth and what I know of my family's medical history, I do not think that I would like to get either unless there are abnormalities on the ultrasound. Either way, I think that I would prefer the amniocentesis versus CVS simply because of how the procedure is done... Call me crazy but I'd rather have a long needle shoved in my stomach than up my hoo-ha.

Week 8: More later!

So, it's been a very crazy week. I officially moved out of my condo and into Rob's condo. We put an offer on a house and it will hopefully be accepted shortly; we are down to the inspection phase. My stuff went into storage and in came Kevin (my renter). We secured a renter for Rob's place, too (Jen). Anyway, it's been crazy and this weekend is my cousin's wedding in Ohio, so we are definitely a little frazzled and looking forward to sitting on our butts, but before we do, I wanted to write...

Week 8:
Apparently, now my uterus is the size of a grapefruit. I can't tell. I am still having issues with food and tiredness but nothing crazy like last week (hives!). Unfortunately, I am off my prenatal vitamins but am hoping to go back on "natural" alternatives today as my allergist thinks that what caused the hives. I hope (hope, hope) to go to the gym soon and try to maintain some muscle tone. Nothing too crazy, do not worry! Oh, and, boobs are still getting ready for lactating... they're huge!

Fun fact: My blood volume has increased by 40 to 50 percent.

What is happening with your baby?
"Everything that is present in an adult human is now present in the small embryo. The ears are continuing to form externally and internally. The bones are beginning to form, and the muscles can contract. Fingers and toes are webbed but are growing longer.

The facial features continue to mature. The tip of the nose is present and the eyelids are now more developed. The embryonic tail is also disappearing, and your baby's body is beginning to straighten out.

While your baby's gender has already been determined, the external genitals are still forming and cannot be clearly seen. The embryo is at the end of the embryonic period and begins the fetal period."

How big is your baby?
The embryo is about 1 inch long and is approximately the size of a bean. (sweet!)

Oh, the horror...

So, about 8:00pm yesterday evening, I thought, "wow, my skin is cleaning up and while itching, it's not too bad." Well, about 8:30pm, I started to get a lot more itchy and I could not figure out what was happening. Unable to sleep, while medicated, and with the welts returning bigger than before and in new locations. When I checked myself at 3:00am, I had hives all over my face and my left eye was swollen. Okay, so I can handle itching and painful welts but when my hands and feet feel like they are going to explode and the medications are not helping -and- my feel is starting to swell, I throw in the towel.

About 3:45am, we (Rob and myself) arrive at the local ER, less than a mile away. It was quiet and I was the only other visible patient. Well, after some stronger meds and iv fluids, I was released. I was able to sleep for four hours in a row whereas for the past three nights, I was not really sleeping. The hives are almost all gone -- my eyess are still swollen and hips are still itchy with welts. Unfortunately, my lab work came back clean and we do not know what caused or is causing this. I am still on strong medications and am worried that after my four day treatment, it will come back.

You know what to do? Besides having a sense of humor and joking about being allergic to pregnancy? You keep a journal of everything you ingest or inhale. That's about it. There is no scratch test or other diagnostic tests - we have done them all.

Anyway, Rob was great, making inappropriate comments and jokes while we in the ER; a truly supportive partner and friend, I was thankful to have him there while I also wished that he were sleeping up for the rest of the day.

I've got hives! (Oh, my friend had that once, it's when you get a rash on your ...)

So, I was officially diagnosed with hives. My ob-gyn office does not seem to care unless it's Connie who answers the phone. Love it! Anyway, right now, I'm taking three different meds, debating an oatmeal or baking soda bath, and removing tomatoes from my diet. It's so much fun!
I have never had hives before and it stinks. I woke up this morning and they were worse than yesterday. The most annoying thing, besides the constant itching, is the fact that my hands and feet are swollen with welts. It hurts. If this is something that I have to deal with until delivery, I am going to need a lot of help.

How about an Allergic Reaction? Anything else?

So, late last night, I woke up with my elbows and buttocks itching (I know -- sounds fantastic, right?). I went into the bathroom and realized that other parts of my body, such as my hips, knees, and hands were covered with huge, red, itchy, welts. Sounds like fun, right? Luckily, I am catching up on my reading, so I know that benadryl is not harmful during pregnancy. It is probably not great, either but I was not sleeping and these welts were spreading before my eyes. I quickly tried to think of anything out of the ordinary that I touched or rolled around in yesterday. Nothing. What did I do next?

I woke Rob up. Yup, that is right. I was hesitant to do so because I figured that with this whole pregnancy, I have to be careful, I do not want him running errands for me at 4 in the morning unless I really cannot do it. I think that I will save up my earned-errands credits so that as the pregnancy progresses, I might be able to get more favors. So, I showed him what was going on and told him that I was going to Walgreens. He asked what he could do and I said, "go to sleep." Aren't I great?

Anyway, now, it's morning, the benadryl does not seem to be working and I am all out of the fresh tube of hydrocortisone that I purchased a mere 7 hours ago. I have a doctor's appointment later today and I am trying not to itch. Luckily, I have not had many pregnancy symptoms today. I am thankful for that because if I had to nauseous and itchy, I just do not know how I would deal with it.

I still have not figured it out...

I still have good days and bad days... physically, that is. I've been trying to walk around while I do errands and stuff; other days, I go to the gym. On those "gym" days, I keep it light but end up sleeping. Today, I fell asleep on the bathroom floor. The tiles were cold and it's still hot in Denver and my condo. I await my first prenatal check-up to see what kind of exercises and activities, I should and should not be doing.

Emotionally, the hormonal-ness, seems to have even-ed out, but I am also not holding my breath either. Every day is a new adventure! Also, the weird pregnancy dreams are in full effect. They are just bizarre. It was suggested that I keep a dream journal but I have not done that yet. This morning, I woke up confused because my many dreams actually involved Rob, so it's was super bizarre.

Like, I said, I still have not figured out a pattern and am hoping to find one sooner rather than later.

Oh, my first prenatal check-up/ultrasound is August 14th.

Week 7

What changes are occurring with my body?
I have gained a couple of pounds, but I do not think that it is too noticeable. My hips are wider and the weight that I have gained is mainly in my lower abdomin and upper thighs. My boobs are still bigger. Apparently, since I have gotten "them" so early, they are here to stay, even after the baby is born.

What is happening with your baby?
At this point every essential organ has begun to form in the embryo's tiny body. The hair and nipple follicles are forming, and the eyelids and tongue have begun formation. The elbows and toes are more visible as the trunk begins to straighten out.
Your baby is approximately ¾ of an inch long by the end of this week and weighs less than an aspirin.*

Day 1: Nausea

So, it finally hit ... nausea. I think that I would much rather throw up than have nausea. I know, I know - it sounds awful and gross, right? Well, for women who have experienced it or men who have witnessed their wives, girlfriends, lovers, go through this, they would wish the same.

I have not tried the classic solution for nausea: saltines. I will definitely be trying them in the future. For about 24 hours straight, I felt dizzy and had that lump in the back of my throat.

Emotionally, it has gotten a lot better. I only cry at appropriate times, unlike when I was watching a comedy and could not stop crying (for no reason).

It's Official - Week 6 has begun

So, I had a couple of "good" days where my energy level was decent and I did not have to nor did I feel like napping. I even went to the gym for some "moderate" exercise. Yeah. Although, I did go to Target and buy an air conditioner. Who knew that 90 degrees was the norm for Denver?

I've talked with my Dean at the business school and I have, essentially, three options:
1. Press on with school -- go as far as I can and then do the make up work (an estimated 7 weeks, I'm presuming).
2. Go for the first semester but defer the second until January 2009.
3. Defer for the entire year.

I have been looking for jobs but the thought of not starting school is really depressing. I could look past these months of unemployment because I have been working on school stuff, but if now, I cannot or should not go to school, what should I do? Needless to say, I am waiting to talk to Rob about this stuff as he is up in the mountains and thus unreachable for the week.

Other things going on in my life? I have been doing a lot of reflection, looking for 2-3 bedroom places in the area, and trying not to just run away from it all given all the craziness that is happening at once. But, you know what? God would not give it to me, unless He thought that I could not handle it.

What's happening to the baby in week 6?
The formations of the lungs, jaw, nose, and palate have begun. The hand and feet buds have webbed-like structures that will become the fingers and toes. The brain is continuing to form into its complex parts. A vaginal ultrasound could detect an audible heartbeat at this time.
Lenses of the eyes appear - If you could catch a glimpse inside, you would notice your baby's appearance becoming increasing like a newborn's (and less like some weird science experiment). Nostrils are formed and the intestines grow.

If I Had a "Real" Job

So, if I had to get up every morning at 7am and then go to work, I do not think that I could do it. I feel tired most of the day, that is, until it is time to go to bed. God bless the pregnant women who do that. I know that I would somehow find the energy to, if I were one of them but I am not. I get to do most of my work from home and whenever I feel like it... 2am, 2pm, etc. As it stands, I get most of my energy for the day about 8pm at night! What the heck? Most of the time, I just want to lie down and rest - if I fall asleep in the process, so be it! About an hour after I get up, I want to go back to bed. Any plans before 10am should just be forgotten about.

And, so I know that it's summer but really, am I supposed to be this hot and tired? I feel like in addition to the heat that the sun is creating, I am also creating some heat of my own. I feel like I have always got a low-grade fever or something. My forehead is always warm and I am never cold. This is important because "before," I was the person that was always cold. I could be in pants and a long-sleeve tee in 70 degree weather and be cold. That person is gone. I do not have central A/C but, thankfully, Rob has a window unit in his bedroom - the temperature? 68 degrees... for now.

I hear, from the one book that I've read, that this is supposed to go away but that it returns in the third trimester. At least it will be winter by then.

Are you kidding?

So that was really my response when she told me.  After three confirmations, I was confident she wasn't kidding.  It didn't take too long for me to soak it all in and realize that I was very happy to be having a child with the woman that I love.  Excited and scared would also be an understatement.  A little hung over too, but that's what happens when you celebrate too much!

July 12, 2007: Reality?

So, I'm unemployed and without proper health insurance, but I'm going to have a baby, so everything will be okay, right? Needless to say, I have an appointment with the people at Medicaid. I should have no problems there and I was actually quite impressed with their website. It's near to my home and offers many classes and birthing options... Yikes, that part is going to hurt. A lot.

As my best friend Lauren said, "one day at a time." She's right. Besides, sometime yesterday afternoon, I achieved some sort of peace. Meanwhile, Rob achieved a certain level of drunkenness, with my permission, and he decided that he was really, really, really, really, happy. You get the idea; it's proof that his sperm work.

Ironically, my friend, Kief's status message was: Hot people get together and make little hot pockets. Is that weird or what? I have only told one other person and do not know when I am going to tell my family. I will probably wait until after my cousin's wedding in August. I don't want to be a topic of discussion. Rob will probably tell his family and best friend this week.

Meanwhile, I am trying to be healthy and stay active, though it's hard because I'm just tired, seemingly all the time. I'm hoping that this is not just psychological because that would be a true bummer. I want to be active; I am tired of being sleepy. I got winded climbing a flight of stairs today! I guess that this is better than morning sickness, right? Knock on wood!

July 11, 2007: A routine visit to the doctor?

So, after a week on the Colorado River with friends, I returned to Denver. I was expecting my "friend" to make a visit during my vacation and was thrilled when she was delayed and did not make her presence known during my trip. Anyway, I had been late before; I was never what you would call "regular," in that department. So, when I was going in for a regular check-up, I did not think anything of asking them to also do a pregnancy test, in addition to my other tests. Considering that would trump pretty much anything, my doctor wanted to do that first before any other tests. Although I peed in the cup and knew that I was seven days late, I still did not think it was going to be positive.

About ten minutes after peeing into a cup, Beth, super-nice health care administrator, came in and said, matter-of-factly, that "the pregnancy test came back positive." I cried at first, but only a little - three, four tears at most. She asked if I need a minute and, of course, I didn't. Nor, did I need to call anyone, I was pregnant, not going to die. Beth continues with her talk and when she started handed me pamphlets and talking about my pregnancy, I began to laugh. I could not help it.

So, I then continued with my check-up, now armed with much more knowledge than I intended. I called Rob; luckily, he was home and I was about five minutes away. When I arrived home, starving because I spent about three hours at the doctor's, I started making my lunch while he worked on a presentation. While my lunch was heating up in the microwave, I nonchalantly said, March 13th. He must not have heard me - a common occurrence in our house - so I repeated myself. March 13th. He said, "what's March 13th?" I said, "that's the day our baby will be born."

I wasn't nervous or scared telling him. He did not react. It did not sink in. He was seated at his desk and he was just looking at me. Eventually, he said, "what?" I repeated myself and he reached his arms out for a hug... I made him get out of the chair and then we had a super long embrace.

It was not something that we had planned just yet, but we knew that we wanted kids. Apparently, God and this kid had other plans and decided that sooner rather than later would work for us. I know that I am excited (and scared) and that Rob is happy.