The Unexpected

Thursday I went to see my doctor to check a stomach bug I'd been having. The bug was just a bug, no big deal, but when my doctor weighed and measured me she found that I hadn't grown since my last appointment almost a month ago. This obviously got her worried and she sent me in for an ultra sound right away.

During the ultrasound they found that my amniotic fluid was a bit low and that the baby's femer bones were about 2 weeks underdeveloped. She said this could be due to one of two things. Either I have just been too active and needed to rest, or my placenta was not doing it's job and giving the baby the nutrients it needed to grow. She put me on bed rest imediately and the next day I went in for a non-stress test.

During the non=stress test, I was hooked up to two monitors on my stomach. One measured any contractions I was having and the other monitored the baby's heart beat. I lied on my right side for 15 minutes, my back for 15 minutes and then my left side all the while holding on to a button that I was supposed to press whenever I felt her move. The point of the test was to check that when the baby was active, her heart rate increased and when she was still it would decrease a little.

Everything went really well and Isabella's heart did really well. This was really good news and means that my placenta is doing it's job and she is receiving enough blood and oxygen through it.

Now, I just stay on bed rest and have another appointment this Thursday. We will do another ultra sound to check if she has grown and that my amniotic fluid levels have gone up. If all goes well we will continue to monitor her weekly with an ultra sound until she's ready to come out.

The worst case senario would be that she hasn't grown and we will most likely look into taking her out via c-section earlier than expected. Just as a precaution, my doctor has given me two doses of a steroid shot to speed up the development of Isabella's lungs, should she come out sooner than later. I will be 35 weeks on Saturday, so I am hoping we can keep her in there until I am full term at 37 weeks.

My doctor is really optimistic and confident that the bed rest should do the trick and that she should start growing normally. James and I hope this is the case as well and for now we are just anxiously awaiting Thursday's appointment.

It's been quite a week. To think I only went in for a stomach bug and we found out all of this. It makes me so thankful that I went in that day and that we are addressing Isabella's lack of growth head on. I have been overwhelmed with the support of our friends and my co-workers here in Mexico City. They have called, brought food, books, movies. They are amazing and have really shown me and James love.

It's hard to be so far from friends and family in San Diego right now, but God provides and He has done that for us where we are.

So I'll end this post with a strong push for Bella to grow. And for now, I'll put all of my energy into resting... sounds like an oxymoron :)

Isabella's Nursery

We are in the process of gathering things for Isabella's nursery and we are slowly but surely getting there. We've painted the walls a cafe brown (a decision that was made before we knew that would be the baby's room) and we decided we're going to stick with it. We've basically been bringing in things from around the house that we already have, such as a white dresser and shelves, a turquoise coffee table that we're made into a storage chest for extra blankets and toys, and some very pale pink curtains that I got on sale at Target for 10 bucks while I was in the states for a visit.

The color scheme for the nursery really came about organically. I didn't plan it, it just happened as we brought things in, and I really love it. I love the brown walls, the pop of color that the turquoise chest brings in, and the hint of pink in the curtains. We also have a white wicker loveseat that we've put in the room, and a beautiful handmade mirror I bought at an art market here in the city. It's a light pink with these pretty handpainted birds on the top. I love it and am excited to hang it somewhere in the room.

We still have one somewhat major project to finish in the room, and that is to rip out the existing carpet. It's a nasty grey stained and dirty carpet that we can't wait to get rid of. We are going to leave the floor with the concrete that's underneath and have bought a beautiful handwoven Mexican rug to cover up the majority of the floor.

I will be sure to take pictures once the room is complete, but in the mean time, here are some pictures that give me inspiration.

Clean Air and Feeling Content

I spent the last week in San Diego visiting friends and family and showing off my growing belly. The week was wonderful. The breaze was so clean and cool, I relaxed and rested, and I spent some quality time with good friends.

As much as I loved my time there, I found myself so ready to head back to Mexico. I kept saying that I was excited to come back home. I realized that Mexico is my home now and saying that felt so natural; calling it home. I couldn't wait to see my husband, who I missed like crazy. I couldn't wait to pet my dog and to walk into my colorful house. It felt so good, like it was where I needed to be.

Yesterday James and I went to a park close by with Lila. We walked a bit then found a quiet spot in some grass and sat down. James played fetch with Lila while I leaned back into his arms. It was such a perfect moment. It made me so greatful for our family, and for our life together.

James and I are about 80 percent sure we are going to be staying here in Mexico for another 4 to 5 years. This is an idea that would have scared the crap out of me a year ago, but now, doesn't seem to bother me. Sure, I miss san Diego. I miss that ocean and that clean air. I miss my friends and family even more; but I have the most important things in my life right here with me and I am content in that.

We know this is the best decision for our family, and that is so important. So cheers to that feeling of contentment. It feels so good.

Thankful and Anxious

Today I feel thankful for this healthy, growing baby inside of me.

The last few weeks have been tough for James and I with one thing after another going wrong. It reminded me of when we first moved to Mexico with no plan and no money. We were each other's only stability, and it brought us closer than ever.

I realized in the midst of the bummers last week that James and I still had and will always have each other. That will never change and for that I am forever thankful.

James and I both are also incredibly anxious to meet our daughter. It's all we can think about and while we feel as if the day could not come sooner, we realize it will be here before we know it. We are trying to enjoy our sleep now and our lazy Saturday mornings, which will soon become a distant memory.

I am thankful and anxious today for Isabella and my husband. Those two people make me the luckiest person alive.

I also can't wait to give Isabella this:



Saw it here: http://www.bethquinndesigns.com/ and fell in love.

Can't wait to give it to my girl.

Daydreaming...

I spent the morning bus ride to work daydreaming about dancing with James and our kids in the living room before we all went off to school/work.

While I daydreamed I was listening to this:

Can't wait for the dancing.

Paaaallease Girlfriend

So, not sure if you've read, but beautiful Brazilian supermodel, Giselle Bundchen says her all natural childbirth "didn't hurt; not even a little bit."

So, I know I have yet to actually give birth, but I'm going to take a wild guess and say that it's going to hurt... probably a lot.

You may also have read that she didn't have to wear maternity clothes. She says she just fit fine in her regular clothes.

Does anyone else want to punch her? I'm usually not a violent person, but if I had the chance, I seriously think I'd give her a little slap in the face. Just a nice little wake up call telling her to snap out of it. Normal people are not like you.... oh, and someone must have slipped you a large dose of body numbness during labor.

Needless to say, I'm not taking any pregnancy and labor advice from Giselle.

Halfway There

As I enter into my 21st week of pregnancy I think about how many times James and I have said that we cannot wait to meet this little one. At the same time, I realize how fast that day is approaching and that before we know it we will be holding our little one in our arms.

I am so thankful to have been blessed with a healthy pregnancy thus far. I realize this is not the case for so many, including friends of ours, friends of friends, and even family. We were so fortunate to get pregnant right away and even more fortunate to have a healthy growing baby inside of me.

Last Friday we went in for another ultrasound. Everything was beautiful and we even got to see some 3-D pictures of our child. They were incredible! It was amazing to see how developed this baby already is. It made it that much more real.

Another highlight from this appointment was the unveiling of our baby's sex.

Drum roll please.......

It's a GIRL!!!

We are beyond excited to finally know the sex of our baby and to no longer call her "it." Our child has an identity and even a name now. We love being able to say things like, "I can't wait to meet Isabella."

I have already been daydreaming of outings with her and the talks we will have about life.

James and I feel as though we are floating on clouds and are feeling our love for this child grow more and more every day.

So here's to tutus, barbies, and pink.