settling in....

Jillian is an absolute joy!!  She will be 2 weeks old tomorrow.  Already she is growing and changing.  We are figuring things out.  Thanks to Nana Ann and Grandma Jan I've been able to shower and brush my teeth daily :)  

Starting Easter Sunday, Jilli spent 3 days in photo therapy because she was jaundice.  That was tough!  I had not really put her down at that point.  We had to go from constant cuddling to only holding her 45 minutes at a time and ONLY to feed her.  We made it through and are so thankful that is over.  I have a whole new appreciation for NICU & PICU parents.  

For the most part, Jilli eats and sleeps well.  She has horrible intestinal pain due to severe gas.  (my diet is quite bland, so we can't really explain this.)  At times she is in excruciating pain - it kills me because I can't do anything for her.  We just rock and cuddle our way through.  The 3 am episodes when I can barely keep my head up are the worst.  We will see the doctor tomorrow for her 2 week weigh in, hopefully she will have some insight.  

She's Here!!!!

On 4/9/9 we welcomed into our life Jillian Ruth Littrell. She weighed 5 lbs. 13.5 oz. and was 18" long. Other than a little jaundice (which has since been dealt with) everything is just fine. All 10 fingers and 10 toes.. and an attitute to match her mom's! Oh great.... Dad is as happy as can be, other than she came right at the beginning of baseball season and he will not get to spend the time with her that he would like to. We have had so much love and support from everybody it's been amazing. Between Barb's folks my Mom and all our friends we have recently made a path through the baby's room and can actually see the floor through all the baby gear! Hope you all are well.

36 weeks and counting...

We had an ultrasound yesterday. Peanut is still doing well, though her growth has slowed again. She now measures in the 30th percentile and is estimated to weigh just 5 lbs 11 oz. She may gain up to 2 lbs over the next 4 weeks, but probably not. At this point, I’m thinking she’ll be around 7 lbs. Her head is way down in my pelvis, but we were able to get a great picture of her face. Don said, “She looks like you, she’s got your chin!” To which I answered, “and my cheeks!!”

The non-stress test was fine - though she did not want to cooperate. I had to drink some apple juice to get her movin’ around in there. What should have taken 20 minutes took nearly an hour!

Donna, our midwife, checked my cervix and things are starting to thin. After next week I can start doing acupuncture twice a week to and hurry things along. Donna does not want us to go past 40 weeks due to the two vessel cord and my age. I’ll now go to the doctor each week until I deliver.

Other than severely swollen feet and ankles, my office mate calls them my PRANKLES, I'm feeling pretty good. Just excited to meet her!

Love you,

~Barba

notes from our office visit today

We had our visit this morning with our midwife, Donna… all is going well. My belly is only measuring at 32 weeks (I am 34 ½ weeks). Our next appointment is the 26th. We are scheduled for an ultra sound, NST (where they hook me up to the monitor and do a stress test/monitor baby’s heart rate for 20 minutes), and then an office visit. Donna will check my cervix to see how we are progressing on that front so we will know if we are ok to start the acupuncture to help bring on labor or if I’ll need to hang tight a little longer. We’ll be better able to gauge Peanut’s growth on the 26th. I think she’s doing well. She’s still moving like crazy and gets the hiccups about twice a day. Donna said my weight is good. (I’ve gained 21 pounds total so far.) Not much I can do about the back pain. I’m pretty much resigned to the fact that it is not going to get better until I deliver. It is all worth it though.

Here’s hoping she’s not bashful this next ultrasound and we can get some decent pictures.

Love you all, ~B

Getting Excited!

I've hit that point in the pregnancy where I can't wait to meet our little girl!!  We are 33 1/2 weeks along.  She's growing well and moving like crazy.  I know soon enough she is going to run out of room in there, but for now she's all over the place.  My belly frequently looks as if there is an alien inside.  It is quite entertaining.  

Mom and Heather threw a shower for family and close friends 10 days ago.  THANK YOU.  It was great to see everyone.  My dear friend, Kyla, came all the way from the mountains of Idaho to celebrate with us.  And two of my oldest friends were able to join us with their moms AND daughters.  Cindy and I started kindergarten together at age 5.  Wendy joined us in first grade and then we all became Blue Birds (Camp Fire Girls) together.  No matter how long we are apart, when we get back together it is as if no time has passed - for us or our moms!  

Don and Dad are nearly finished with the renovation of the fireplace in the living room.  It looks fantastic!  I'll post a picture as soon as I can.  Don just needs to finish priming and painting the bookcases on either side of the fireplace and then we can clean up the mess :)  I'm itching to start nesting around here - but I don't dare start.  My dining room looks like Home Depot threw up in there.  Don't get me wrong, I love that my Dad has at least one of EVERY tool imaginable.  (It is very handy)  But - they are currently ALL in my dining room; in buckets, in cases, on the floor, on the furniture....  you get the picture.  This is my lenten lesson in patience.  I figure they will be done by Easter and I can then clean and call in the guys to deep clean the sofa, love seat and chair in the living room.   Just in time for Peanut's arrival.  

31 weeks and counting

Not much to report... We met our new midwife, Donna, last week and feel really good about switching to St. Joe's. Ramah had her interview with the UW Midwifery program yesterday and the director gave Donna and the practice at St. Joe's rave reviews. My acupuncturist, Mary, also gave her a thumbs up. Peanut continues to grow and measure in the 50th percentile. Last week she was 3 lbs. 5 oz. For the first time during an ultrasound she was not moving around and really did not want her picture taken. We could not get a clear shot of her face. She was head down, wedged in my pelvis, and not moving! Stuborn little thing.

We now start going for office visits every 2 weeks.

Peanut did have the hiccups for the first time yesterday, twice. Very cute, but it was tough knowing I could not do anything to help soothe them for her. My mom has said I used to get hiccups horribly in the womb. I continue to get them, frequently, and they are not fun! I sound like a croaking frog and they last for ever. I hope I've not passed this on to our little girl.

Don is loving working at the Mariners. He started taking the train to/from work. It is fantastic. He comes home and is not cranky from being in traffic.

This weekend, my mom and Heather are throwing a family shower for us. I'm excited to see everyone. Ann will be here for a long weekend and we plan to take her to a T-birds game on Saturday night. It should be great fun.

The best news in a long time...

In was hoping Don would post and tell all of you, but that's not happening ;)  Don is now a MARINER!  Yes, he got the job as their Audio Supervisor 10 days ago.  It is a great position and we were quite relieved.  Thank you all for your amazing support as we navigated the past few months.  

Don is loving it at Safeco Field.  The first day he worked I got a text photo from the broadcast booth, overlooking the stadium, with the Puget Sound in the background.  Gorgeous.  The following Monday, the HR team gave him his first M's memorabilia for his office; an autographed baseball in a case, signed by Dave Niehaus.  He was quite stoked.  I got another text photo of the ball :)  

After a long conversation with my cousin Ramah, who is also my doula, 2 weeks ago, regarding our birth plan and pain management, I have decided to plan for a water birth at St. Joseph Hospital.  Now that Peanut is growing and we are no longer concerned about delivering her early, I can give some thought to making the delivery as comfortable and memorable as we can.

The water birth is supposed to help me relax my muscles and be more soothing in general.  Remember - an epidural is not on the table and pain meds make me harf!  After my neck surgery in 2001, I leaked spinal fluid for 14 days and had to be flat on my back.  If I was even at the slightest incline, I was throwing up and experiencing the worst headache ever (worse than my migraines).  My neurosurgeon told me then that I was not a candidate for an epidural.  I can't even imagine going through that again AND trying to care for and breast feed a new born.   So a water birth is the best way for us to manage pain and make me comfortable.  The hope is my labor will also go quicker.  

I've switched my pre-natal care from my OB at Tacoma General to the midwife and OB practice at St. Joe's.  I had my intake with the nurse there last week, was not classified as high-risk, and I'm scheduled to see my new midwife this Wednesday.  Don and I really liked the women at the new office and are looking forward to this experience.  Ramah is too!  Though she's been a doula for Crystal and a few girlfriends, she's not worked with a midwife yet or done a water birth.  

Love you, 

~B

I've been meaning to post for a week now, but have not had the time to scan the latest ultrasound photos and upload them - so, I'll give you all the scoop and add the photos later.  

Last Tuesday we had lab work, another ultrasound and a visit with my OB-GYN.  The glucose test came back normal - yeah.  But, my hematocrit level is low, I'm anemic, and I have to take an additional iron supplement - yuck.  I was a little bummed to hear this.  After years of anemia I had gotten things under control about a year ago thanks to acupuncture and diet.   

The ultrasound was the best part of the day.  We love seeing/hearing Peanut's heart beat, watching her move, and checking in on her progress.  Her organs look great, she has a cute oval shaped head, and we even got a photo of her face.  Just as we had hoped and prayed for, the single artery of the umbilical cord has doubled in size.  It is now doing the work of 2 arteries (what a 'normal' umbilical cord has.)  The ultrasound tech took measurements of Peanut's femur, abdomen, and head and plugged those into a matrix which tells us where she is on the growth chart.  The last 2 months she had been in the 36th and 35th percentile.  This month, with the increase in that artery's capability, she's in the 5oth percentile!!  Now, that is a bit skewed as Peanut has SUPER long legs (she's taking after her Mom and Nana!) and the femur measurement is probably throwing off the calculation a bit.  Nonetheless, she's growing and looks to be out of the woods.  The tech estimated her weight at 2 lbs. 3 oz.  We will continue to monitor her with an ultrasound at every office visit, but we are feeling really good about her progress.  

Now, some even better news.... Don has a second interview with the Mariners tomorrow morning (Wednesday) at 9 am.  Wish him well, he's really nervous.  It has been nearly 2 weeks since his first interview.  They want to wrap things up and make a decision by the end of the week.  He also heard back from Benaroya Hall.  The hold up on their end has been due to a member of the interview team (the guy who has since left the organization and it is his old job they are filling) buying a house in LA.  He's back now and they plan to make some decisions by the end of the week as well.  Again, fingers crossed, candles lit, whatever it takes...  

Thanks so much for your support.  I know I'm slow at posting.  I'll try to be better. 

Love you all, 

~Barba

When it rains...

Well yes, it is raining cats and dogs here, but that's not what I'm referring to.  Don and the Village Theatre went their separate ways the end of September.  It has been a tough 3+ months.  Good news, Don has been working as a contractor for the new Showare Center in Kent since the 29th of December.  (the new hockey arena for the Seattle ThunderBirds)  He didn't really interview for the job, just had a few email and cell phone conversations before reporting to training to find out he is the lead on the sound team!  OK... at that point there had been no discussion of job responsibilities, compensation, benefits - you know, the small stuff.  

Late in November we heard the sound designer at Benaroya Hall in Seattle was leaving in January.  Don applied for the job, did some great follow up, connected with the union rep... but the snow hit and downtown Seattle SHUT DOWN.  Then, the entire Benaroya/Seattle Symphony staff went on holiday break for two weeks.  Don was about to crawl out of his skin with anticipation.  

Early December, Don heard that the Mariners were searching for a sound guy so he tossed his resume into the mix and waited to see what happened....  

Meanwhile, the last 2 weeks he was been enjoying running sound for the hockey team and for the various UW sports.  It wasn't full-time work, but things were looking better for us financially and Don was feeling good about the work he was doing.  

Fast forward now to yesterday.  Don got an email from the team at Benaroya.  They wanted to schedule him for an interview either Thursday or Friday of this week with a quick phone interview yesterday or today.  Don was supper stoked to get the first interview Thursday morning at 9:00.  The Benaroya gig would challenge him professionally, use his theater experience well, and would be a step up from what he had been doing with the Village Theatre in Issaquah.  He was trying not to get to excited. 

Today, while talking with the contact from Benaroya, Don got a call from the Mariners!!  He has an interview with them Friday at 1:00.  He is over the moon.  After 3+ months of being out of work and wondering what was in store for him, he is encouraged.  He has a great shot at either of the jobs.  Both would be full-time with benefits.  Both would challenge him and would be solid career moves.  Please send him lots of positive thoughts and keep him in your prayers.  It is going to be a very big week to 10 days here.  

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

A turning point...

YEAH!  I've gone 1 whole week without feeling nauseous.  Just as everyone one said it would, the symptom lifted magically last Friday as we hit the 16 week mark.  I am so thankful.  I'm hoping the exhaustion lifts as well.  

We are now 17 weeks along.  Peanut weighs about 5 oz and is about 5 inches long from head to bum.  (about the size of a turnip.)  My belly is popping out more and more, but I've still only gained a few pounds.  We are getting excited for the next ultrasound on the 24th.  We are hoping to find out if Peanut is a girl or a boy.

A few of you know I've taken up knitting.  (Thanks, Meg!!)  I was getting the hang of things and was really on a roll until I had a mishap this week with a paper cutter.  I'm fine.  I sliced my left thumb at the first knuckle pretty good.  Nothing 3 1/2 hours in the ER can't put back together.  (Yes, there are perks working for a hospital.  But speedy service in the ER is not one of them.)  They Dermabonded my laceration and splinted it for a few days so I don't split it open again.  The Dermabond will help protect the site from infection much better than a butterfly or even stitches would have.  The bonus, any pregnant woman who presents in the ER can't be released without a fetal heart tone.  SO, I got to hear Peanut's little heart this week.  A strong, normal 152 beats per minute.  I checked in with Occ. Health today.  I'm healing so well the Dr. let me take the splint off.  Now I can get back to knitting.  

Love to you all, 

~B

Our ultrasound from 2 weeks ago... soon to be posted, I'm having trouble converting the file. During this ultrasound, at 12 weeks, Peanut was right on track for growth and measuring about the size of a lime. Now that we are 14 weeks, Peanut is about the size of a lemon. We had a doctors appointment last Thursday; all is good. Statistically, our chances of a Down syndrome baby are much less than they 'typical' 38 year old woman. We'll have a second blood test next week. The baby's heart rate was 150 beats/min. Our next ultrasound and appointment with the doctor is Nov. 24th. We are hoping to find out if Peanut is a boy or a girl at that time.

I'm still nauseous and tired, but it is a bit better. My worst time seems to be afternoon through night. So I'm a little more productive at work these days.

Love you all,

~Barba

Hi all. Today Peanut is at 12 weeks gestation. The nausea and fatigue did not magically lift - I'm a little bummed. I get to stop taking the progesterone next Thursday. That should help. I'll try to have Don take a photo this weekend and post so you can see my baby bump. Peanut has really popped out. But, I'm still not able to wear maternity pants. I'm hanging on with the rubber bands and elastic waists :)

I've been a little slow on the updates. On September 30th we got crushing news. After 15 years with the Village Theatre, they let Don go. They said they are 'going in a different direction'. (Whatever that means!) We had absolutely no warning. Just 3 weeks prior, Don had his review and was given a nice raise. They asked him to run the Saturday night shows so he would be there for the big night of the week. Don is now in the process of networking; contacting anyone we know with connections in any area that my need a phenomenal sound designer and technician. He's looking at live sound, multimedia and gaming, and audio installation. If you know of anything email him at don_littrell@excite.com.

Thanks for all of your love and support. More to come soon, I promise! ~Barba

Not quite maternity wardrobe

I am at a frustrating point in the pregnancy. My 'regular' clothes do not fit - my belly is too big to zip or button most of my pants but, not yet big enough to warrant maternity wear. I'm using rubber bands, safety pins and bella bands to get me through, but there is only so much I can do without looking like a slob. And shirts - well they are a little tighter than is appropriate for the office :) My friend, Regina, had her 2nd baby in June and has loaned me a few maternity items. I broke down yesterday and today and wore her maternity sweaters over my pinned together pants. The extra width and length make for a much better look. I think I'm going to need to go shopping soon - I only have 4 maternity sweaters to rotate through.

Baby likes to dance....

Don and I enjoyed the last of the summer outdoor concerts with Ben and Roxi Friday evening at the White River Amphitheater.   Cheap Trick, Heart and yes, Journey - it was an 80's rock fest and baby loved it.  Well, we think so.  At least mom loved being outside as her nausea was reduced.  The show was fantastic.  It is always good to have Ann and Nancy Wilson play a home show.  And the new lead singer for Journey is a dead ringer for Steve Perry.  It was frightening!  Before you saw him close-up on the big screen you would have sworn it was Perry.  He runs around the stage just as Perry did back in the day.  And had you not known Steve Perry was no longer with the band, you never would have guessed having heard the man sing.  He nails it - inflection, tone - it is all there. 

Baby does not like traffic!  We sat, parked, engine OFF, for an hour + before we even moved from our parking place.  It took us nearly 1 1/2 hours to get out of the parking lot.  By that time, mom's nausea had returned, and with a vengeance.  

Thanks Ben & Roxi for celebrating your anniversary weekend with us and reliving the 80's :) 

Won Ton Soup

Maybe it is all the Chinese medicine and acupuncture I did to get pregnant, but the only thing I want to eat is Won Ton soup. Being as nauseous and dizzy/sea sick as I am, it is the only thing that sounds good to me. So, I'm eating a lot of Won Ton soup :) At this rate, I'll be able to assess most Asian restaurants within a 5 mile radius of our house/my office within the next few weeks. So far my favorite soup is from Le Le on MLK - they serve their soup more like Pho, with the cilantro, lime and bean sprouts on the side to add yourself. Today, I am eating soup from the Burger Bar - just walking distance from my office. It is packed with yummy vegetables and cabbage as well as the won tons. It is not as good as Le Le's, but it is half the price and I got to walk through Wright Park to retrieve it. I have a feeling the women at Le Le and Burger Bar are going to know me well. Burger Bar is about a 4 block walk, Le Le is about 7-8 blocks. My least favorite to date - Happy Dragon on 6th and Orchard. It was WAY too salty.

September 9, 2008

Yes, finally, we are expecting! Baby's due date is April 25th. As most of you know I've struggled to get pregnant. Thank you for all your support. Even with the miracles of acupuncture and modern pharmaceuticals, I don't think this would have happened without your prayers and support.

We had our first ultrasound yesterday. (For those novices in the group, the black oval is the egg sack, the peanut shaped grey mass inside the egg sack is the baby.) Seeing and hearing the heartbeat was amazing. All looks well. Baby is growing and healthy.

Don is relieved there is just one baby. After getting my hcg results two weeks ago, there was great concern we may have more than one in there. But alas, I'm just an overachiever.

I'm feeling tired, nauseous, with bouts of dizziness and insomnia - fun! Everyone keeps telling me this is good. Ok, but I'm looking forward to hitting my 2nd trimester.