Baby Showers

I had two baby showers back to back, at Week 32

Good thing I had the shower when I still look and feel pretty :] Any further into the pregnancy, I don't think I could have socialized/conversed/smiled for 2+ hours with more than 4 people...

So I think any time between week 32-34 is ok, but any week later than that... good luck!

ANYHOO~~

My dear husband and I felt so blessed to be showered with so much love and joy by our friends. Baby D is truly blessed:]

Baby Shower #1 was a small shower(7 people including me and husband) with close friends. Kudos and props to Lydia Yang, who is a aspiring party planner, a hot mama of a three month old, and a true Texan at heart.

Venue: Chicago- our place

Time: Saturday730PM

Cake: Akin Cake, PB&J cake

Food, Decoration, Activity: by Lydia Yang

Registry: Amazon.com

Had a real fun time decorating onesies with fabric marker! And thank you Lydia! 

The following day, we had shower #2 hosted by one of our employees. We had a total of 11 guests (including me and my husband)

Venue: Chicago, our place

Time: Sunday 630PM 

Cupcakes: Alliance Bakery

Decorations, food, activities: Jenny 

Registry: Amazon.com

My husband and I are extremely close to our employees, so when Jenny offered to throw a shower for Baby D, we were ecstatic. Just a little info on Jenny- she is the most talented woman I have met with food and party planning. She is in the process of creating a business/office for party planning. She is amazing at what she does. Here are the pictures to show for it. 

Jenny came to our place 4 hours before the shower, and prepped ALL THE FOOD FROM SCRATCH, AND arranged her own flowers, AND put up all the decorations. I helped a little here and there but all I was doing was tasting everything, and by the time of the actual shower, I was FULL!

Thank you Jenny! She was so busy preparing, we didn't have time to take pictures together. :[

For the gifts, since we used amazon, some people brought it to the shower, or some had it delivered to our place directly. Amazon compiles a list of all the items purchased by the guests, so you can send thank you cards. 

All in all, my husband and I felt very blessed, and Baby D did too, because for both showers, he was kicking non-stop until all the guests left. 

Now I'm in the count down mode since I will be considered full term starting week 37, which is literally a month away. Whenever Baby D decides to come, we will be ready. (crossing our fingers!)

Until the next post, keep us in your prayers!

31 Weeks 4 Days Update

Today was the last monthly OB check up. 
Next one would be in three weeks, 
the following will be in two weeks, 
and the subsequent visits will be every week! 

My BP: normal 
Baby D's heart rate: 140 strong and loud!
Fundal Height: 31 cm right along schedule
My weight: 138-> 141!! FINALLY 3 POUNDS GAINED! Thank you JESUS!

Today at the OB visit, we talked about some important post birth issues such as: 

1. circumcision: who will be performing it, since we are having a baby boy. Our OB will- she said most pediatricians don't know how to perform it, and she said she's done many, so don't worry about it.

2. insurance deductible/copay/coverage: we have a PPO, so we need to meet our deductible so we can get our copay advantage... so pretty much we talked about numbers.

3. possibility of a c-section: if the baby is too big, we might need to do an elective c-section... we will have an ultrasound around week 38 to see if we need a c-section

4. miscellaneous concerns: my hemoglobin levels were fine, OB suggested a maternity belt for the pressure I've been feeling, which hospital we will deliver at and such

Next OB visit will be on Valentine"s Day :]

Earlier this week, the husband and I went to a birthing class offered by our hospital. We went over general labor/birthing process, which was most of the information I acquired through reading, but it was a great review nonetheless. We got to tour the labor and delivery rooms, and the whole labor and delivery floor- each patient gets their own room, so that was great. We got to see all the machines and monitors, and it became much more real to us that baby Derrick was coming soon!

Baby Derrick's kicks have definitely gone from pleasant to downright painful. He will kick anywhere, anytime. The most painful is when he finds the cervix and gives it a good kick. It really just feels like I got kicked in the vagina. Also, when he kicks the ribs, I get winded, but the pain is momentary, and I'm happy knowing he's a strong little fella :]

Here is the belly pic; and I still get comments that I don't look like I'm due in two months. Well, since the doc says everything is fine, I'm not worried. I don't really believe in any of those midwives tales about pregnancy, but I do notice that most of my friends who carried baby girls carry high, right underneath the boobs, and mine is a lot lower since I'm carrying a boy!

Oh and the rocker/recliner finally came! So we are at 90% complete for the nursery prep!

We still have our customized frame to come... but kudos for the husband, who has pretty much done everything for the nursery! it's beautiful!

I can't wait for week 32 because I have two baby showers lined up back to back! We've been getting registry gifts from amazon.com delivered to our door, which I will elaborate more on the next post, but we're super excited and blessed to have such great friends!

Until the next post, keep us in your prayers!

Being Anemic While Pregnant

30 Weeks 3 Days and counting...

So from my last OB appointment, which was at around 27 weeks 5 days, I was announced anemic, and the doctor put me on a iron supplement regime, which is taking ferrous sulfate pills twice a day. She did the routine urine test, but I did also tell her of all the symptoms that have been showing up that seemed to have amplified greatly towards the end of second trimester. Little did I know, that was a sign of anemia, and I should have called the doctor earlier. So to inform other moms to be, here were my anemic symptoms. 

Lightheadedness

I got lightheaded many times during the first trimester, and it would get better if I drank some water or ate something, so I brushed off my lightheadedness as just a symptom of being pregnant. But this time around, it lingered on, followed by dizziness. So the symptom got progressively worse, but it did get better if I did my usual fluid/food intake, so I didn't think too much into it. But, it can be one of the signs of anemia. 

Shortness of breath and heart palpitations

I thought my breath was getting shorter because my belly was getting bigger. My reasoning was, the uterus is growing up and pushing against my esophagus and lungs so it's making it difficult for me to breathe. And since I couldn't breathe well, my heart was beating faster. Made sense to me. This symptom occurred randomly, but it definitely showed up a lot more when I was in the car. I had to roll down the window in the freezing weather because I felt like I couldn't breathe, my heart was beating fast, and I thought I was going to pass out. This should have been the clue, and I should have called my OB but again, I categorized it as a pregnancy symptom. 

Seeing spots

This would happen in the morning when I got up. I would wake up, and then sit up, and then when I stood to get up, I would see spots. Again, this has been happening to me throughout the pregnancy so I didn't think too much of it. Stupid me. 

Ears popping

This was new, and this should have been definitely when I called the OB but I didn't.... 

Every now and then, out of nowhere, I couldn't hear myself clearly because my ears would pop, sort of like when you're under water, or when you're in the air plane. And no matter what I did, it wouldn't unpop and I kept trying to yawn or breathe deep to get rid of that sensation, but sometimes it'd just come and go. 

Anyway, so these were all anemic symptoms, so other moms out there, please call your OB if you experience any of these symptoms. 

Now that I've been on the iron supplements, I definitely notice those symptoms gone, and I feel a lot better overall. However, there are negative sides to taking the pills. Here are the side effects. 

Black Poop

My stools have turned so dark green that it looks black. It's the color of the pills. I researched and once you stop taking the pills, your poop goes back to the normal color. 

Constipation

Thankfully I have not suffered from constipation at all throughout this whole pregnancy, and then ever since I started taking these pills, I've been constipated. The longest I've gone without pooping is 2 days, and when you go everyday, not being able to go for 2 days is pretty torturous. I try to drink tons of water, eat Activia, try to increase my fiber intake, and eat a lot of fruits. I DO NOT FORCE any of my bowel movements, because I don't want hemorrhoids. My thought behind this is, if the poop wants to come out, it'll come out. Oh and walking and moving around helps too. 

I don't enjoy being constipated, but I'm not constipated all the time, and since I feel so much better after being on the pills, I can't complain. 

Anyway, here is a belated belly pic from week 29 and this week's pic!

Since my belly is growing, I've noticed new pains. Surprisingly, no back pains whatsoever- I do have legs that fall asleep all the time. I think this is due to the increasing weight of the belly on my legs. No swellings, just tingly sensations running down from my pelvis down my thighs. Other than that, no complaints!

Also, my husband and I are signed up for couple classes offered by our hospital. We're excited to learn about birth, and newborn care, and I'm personally excited about the breastfeeding class. 

So here is my two cents on being anemic while pregnant, and also my weekly update! Until next time, keep us in your prayers!

29 Weeks 4 days update

Each day is a test of its own because I really don't know how I will feel that day until I wake up and start moving around a bit.
For example, today, I had a bout of vomiting (puked up all of my lunch, which wasn't much to begin with) and extremely bad round ligament pain, and now there is so much pressure build up on my pelvis, it's pretty difficult to move around.

HOWEVER-
all this pain, agony, fatigue, misery gets completely eradicated by the thought of meeting baby D soon! It's like counting down to Christmas :]

So this is what my dear husband and I (mostly the dear husband) have been doing-
The nursery is slowly coming together- it's almost complete- the pictures are mid stage pictures. I will post up the complete picture once the nursery is finished.

The lamp- oh the lamp.

Purchased at Land of Nod. 

Husband wanted an ORANGE shade lamp. EW. So we compromised to the white shade- if we decide to move out to the suburbs eventually, we can leave the lamp with our condo. 

So the story behind this lamp is that the husband was so confident that he could install it himself without the help of a professional. Me being the worrywort that I am, strongly advised him to just call someone to do it for us since it can be very hazardous. Do husbands listen to wives? NO most of the time they get a bunch of "I told you sos" but until then, they will flex their macho gusto and say it's not a biggie, he got it, how hard can it be..... OK...

So he did install it, and it worked, BUT the recessed lighting that is part of the room didn't. I even heard him yell out in pain because, get this, he electrocuted himself. 0_0 Seriously husband. Call someone. 

We ended up calling an electrician, and thankfully, the dimmer switch was burnt out, and all we had to do was replace that, and voila, the lamp AND the recessed lighting works! 

The lamp itself cost $250 but after all that fiasco, it ended up being $600.....
But we love it, so it was worth the pain (for the husband)and the money :]

The rug

Rug tile purchased from Flor

We already have these tiles around our house, and we loved how you can customize the size and the color, so we decided that we want baby D's nursery to have it too. 

We didn't get the most plush one, because it shed so much fuzz and dust. We got the medium plush, and husband and I took a good hour to choose the colors. After we got it, the husband laid it out, and we decided which 'random' order we wanted the tiles laid. Then we waited until we set our furniture the way we wanted it, and he finally attached it together with the adhesive that comes with the tiles. We love it!

This is the nursery in its very rough state. It's gotten better since this picture, but we are still waiting for the nursing chair/rocker to come in, the wall decal to come in, so when all of that comes in, and the husband finishes arranging and decorating, I will post up finalized pic! 

So far this room is worth $4000, excluding all the other baby stuff we got him. WOW we are so spoiling baby D, but anything for our little man :]

Oh and here is a short video clip of Derrick kicking and moving around in my tummy- we were watching one of our favorite shows- FRIENDS- and he was kicking up a storm. This is just a very tiny fraction of his action. 

To Baby D: 

Every time you swish around and kick, your daddy still can't get over the fact you are in mommy's tummy. He gets freaked out a bit :] 

We love feeling and seeing you kick. Even though you wake mommy up every night, every hour with your kicks, mommy loves the way you move, little one. 

Mommy and daddy want nothing more than you being healthy and happy when you come meet us! 

Take your time in there, and come meet us when you are ready! (Mommy is secretly praying that God will bring you to us exactly on your due date!)

Mommy has been reading bible verses to you and mommy and daddy want you to love God and live according to the bible. Here are some of mommy's favorite bible verses and this is mommy's prayer for you baby D.

These are the happenings of this week! Until next time, please keep us in your prayers!

Third Trimester Changes and Woes :[

We are now officially in our third trimester! 

At week 28 here are the visible signs that we are indeed in third trimester.

Belly Button: my innie is slowly becoming an outie- and is still in the process of flipping inside out! @_@

Linea Nigra: the black line that forms from belly button down to your pubic bones when you are pregnant! It gets darker each passing day

My tattoo, however, stayed the same size. Interesting. It was one of the things that I was worried about. Oh, and NO STRETCH MARKS! Praise the Lord!

For the Woes-

Round Ligament Pain: 

I know there are so many information out there about what causes the pain, but I thought it'd be more useful to other moms to be if I talked about HOW it feels. 

To me personally, it feels like when you get stomach cramps when you run right after you eat or when you run without stretching- it starts from your sides, and then the pain spreads up and down from the side of the abdomen. 

Also the tension from the sides of your abdomen to your pelvis builds up, and it's this nagging heavy feeling that somewhat resembles period cramps, but it's not quite the same. I usually get the round ligament pain on my left side more because that's the side Baby Derrick prefers, and also it's where my OB told me my placenta is. 

My remedy for this is to lay down towards the side that hurts more, and also elevate my feet up with pillows piled up. 

Tender vagina/labia/perineum (feels like 'down there' was kicked or punched):

I don't think there is a specific medical term for this, but sometimes when I stand up for a long time or even sit up for a long time it feels like there is SO much pressure build up down there it feels like someone kicked me there. Asked my OB what causes this, and she said it's the growing weight of the baby and the uterus, and the weight is creating pressure down in my groin area and it can feel very tender. 

My remedy for this is using a maternity belt to hold up the baby so the weight won't rest solely on my pelvis, and also heat pad. I put it on very lowest setting, and I just sit on it for about 5-8 minutes. Doc ok'd the heat pad use, so- I'm all for it! 

Also, when I take a shower, I use my shower head and spray the water down there to relax the muscles. 

Tender/painful navel: 

The belly button hurts, and also maybe 1cm radius around the belly button as well-it hurts more especially when Baby Derrick pushes against it. When I put my stretch mark lotion on after my daily shower, I massage gently around the belly button, and it seems to relieve the pain. 

Achy/itchy breasts/nipples:

If I thought my boobs and nipples hurt first trimester, boy was I wrong. This pain is more like on the underside of my boobs, and also, my nipples hurt constantly, and also the areola, the color part around the nipple is just getting bigger and bigger. Remedy for this is also to put lotion on, and also to wear cotton- the bra I purchased since week 12 is a cotton nursing bra, so it's good.

Heartburn:

It gets so bad that I can't sleep at night and one night I cried myself to sleep. Remedy: milk->banana->water. That seems to calm it down. I don't want to take any antacids... although I heard some OTC antacids are ok. Also, I eat a lot less for dinner, and limit myself to bland foods for dinner. Other than that, I just drink tons of water. 

Here is the belly pic for 28 weeks. Fully completed 7 months and unto 8 months of pregnancy!

 And here is a little bit for Baby Derrick once you get old enough to read Mommy's blog-

Baby Derrick, this is Ddukguk, what Koreans eat on the first day of new year, and mommy made some for both daddy and mommy. We can't wait until you come so you can eat it with us! We also can't wait to teach you how to saebae and about sabae money, and to dress you in hanbok, Korean traditional clothing. We can't wait to teach you all about Korean culture! Please come when you are healthy and ready and mommy and daddy can't wait to love  you and teach you all about who you are!

SO- these are the changes and woes, and until the next post, keep us in your prayers! :]