Christmas

 After spending the past three Christmas holidays in Oregon with Don's family, we decided to stay in Tacoma this year with my family.  We had a great Christmas.  Both Christmas Eve and Day were spent at my parent's house with my younger brother, Tony, Heather, Jacob and Alyssa, Heather's parents and my parents.  After dinner and family time on Christmas Eve we went to Mass at St. Leo's.  We spent the early part of Christmas day here at our house with the dogs.  Santa was very good to LadyBug and Lola.  We headed to mom & dad's in the early afternoon for a late lunch and then helped with dinner preparations.  

For those of you who have been requesting a belly shot, you'll see one to the left.  

I hope your holiday was peace filled and merry, 

~B

Baby's doing well....

We had another ultrasound yesterday morning. Last month, Peanut was measuring in the 36th percentile for growth. Yesterday she was in the 35th - not bad. They measured all of her parts and pieces and everything is right on track and they released from Maternal/Fetal Medicine. We can now do ultrasounds at each of my office visits to monitor her growth with the 2 vessel cord.

Yesterday afternoon we had our monthly appointment with my OB. She is really happy with our progress and Peanut's growth. I was thrilled to see I've only gained 7 lbs.! I'm eating like a horse, but this making a person stuff uses a lot of energy. Our next visit and ultrasound will be January 20th.

Daddy's little girl kicks...literally

So I got to feel the baby kick for the first time this week, what a difference.  It seemed that she was something in the far distance and would be here when she gets here.  Well that has all changed now, she IS here.  It's a very special thing that I was not expecting, I can't really describe it but it's kind of like growing up in a way.  It becomes real.  I know that sounds funny but there it is.  My daughter is on the way and I can't wait to meet her.  Love to you all.

Don

drum roll please.............

At our last ultrasound appointment we found our Peanut is a GIRL! We would have been thrilled either way, but it is fun to know. She is measuring right on track for growth and development. We have another ultrasound scheduled for December 22nd. We have a single artery umbilical chord (normal is 1 vein, 2 arteries. ours is 1 vein, 1 artery.) We are not getting alarmed, we just have to watch her closely to be certain she continues to grow and develop on schedule. So, we will be having an ultrasound at just about every check-up. Should we see that she is not growing at the rate she should, we will all consult and decide if she would be better on the outside in the NICU. But, we are hopeful that our little miracle will continue to amaze us all.

Please keep your fingers crossed and send positive thoughts for Don's job hunt. There is an opening at Benaroya Hall that Don is perfectly qualified for, would challenge him, use his talents to their fullest, and it would be a step up from what he had been doing. The union rep is going to hand delivering Don's resume and show list to the team at Benaroya on Thursday.

Well, I got rid of the nausea, but my IC (bladder disease) has spiked. So much so that I have puzzled my urologist. He's not encountered another patient like me. He's thrilled and up for the challenge, I'm not so happy about being a guinea pig! We are trying all kinds of treatments, but so far nothing is working. I'll be seeing a physical therapist on the 22nd in hopes that she will be able to help calm the pelvic floor muscles that are in constant spasm due to the bladder irritation. I'll keep you posted. Luckily, the IC does not affect Peanut or my uterus.

Be well,

~Barba