A Day at the Doctors

I have been dreading today for 2 weeks.

Today was the day I took Savy and DJ into the pediatrician.

Deagan had his first, 2 week checkup, PKU test, and well...ahem... another thing (I cried a bit, he didn't, and I couldn't watch. That's all I'm going to say about that...)

Savannah missed her 2 year check-up because I was still dealing with her insurance (it took me over 6 months to get sorted out! Geeze!) and I had to cancel her appointment
I had made around her birthday. When I finally got her card, I was so close to having the baby, I decided I would just make an appointment for the both of them. She was behind 4 immunizations, so we did 3 today, and we will do the last one at DJ's next appointment. Then no more immunizations for her until kindergarten! Hooray!!!

I am the luckiest mom alive. My kids are super healthy, and Savannah always has been. Seriously, the blessing of having healthy kids is not lost on me. I'm grateful every day for that fact.

So, onto their stats! I always like writing these on this blog because I tend to lose the little papers they give me...

Savannah:

She is 2 years and 2 1/2 months old

She is 26lbs 8.5oz (36%)

She is 36 inches long (81%)

And her head is 48.5cm (68%)

The nurse measured her and left the room to go enter in all her stats. She came back in, and said she needed to re-measure the markings she made on the paper, because the computer was showing that she was in the 80-90th percentile, and she felt that seemed a bit too tall. She left again, then came back in 5 minutes later and asked to just re-measure Savannah all over again. And well, she's just plain tall. And very thin. With a slightly big head.

Savannah did really well. She was excited to see the doctor and as soon as he walked in she said "you check my ears? My eyes? My tummy?". She apparently remembered the doctor, because all this past week, she was running around with our thermometer and checking DJ's temperature for him, telling me she was "doing a check-up". When the doctor looked in her ears, she said "I have pixie dust in my ear". Then pretended to take some out, and threw it at the doctor, then the nurse yelling "pixie dust awaaaaayyyy!"

The doctor said he was very impressed with her language, and loved her energy and personality. My only concern I brought up with him was how picky she is when she eats, and how little she eats most days. He told me not to worry, and that if she was just a grazer, that that was fine and that she would know what her body needs. That made me feel a whole lot better. 

She was a champ about getting 3 shots today. Her daddy held her hand and she cried a bit, and then just snuggled her dad for the rest of the appointment. She was pretty excited about her band-aids though and she was showing them off to her grandparents when we got home.

Deagan:

He is 2 weeks old

He weighs 8lbs, 15.5 oz (59% and just half an ounce below birth weight!)

He is 21.75 inches long (85%)

His head is 35.5cm (21%)

So when we left the hospital, he was down to 8lbs 8oz, and he has gained a half pound to be back at his birth weight, and he grew over 3 inches! Sheesh kid! Stop growing so fast!

He did really great too. My poor little mama heart had a tough time with all he had to go through today, but he dealt with it all like a champ. At first, I didn't even think I could handle being in the room with him, but once we were in there, I thought "nope, I'm staying and I'm holding his hand because I'm his Mom!" So I sat there holding his hand, and keeping my eyes on his the whole time. He didn't even cry! What a stud! (well, he cried for just a sec when they did his PKU testing.)

I was really sad to hear that our pediatrician is retiring. He got a mission call to Chile. When I heard that, all I could think was "But... but... you have to stay! You're the best pediatrician!" He recommended a new pediatrician for us, who is in the same office. I trust his judgement, so I made DJ's next appointment with the new doctor. I am really happy for our doctor. The people in Chile are getting a really nice and considerate man down there! I like him because I never feel rushed through our appointment, like I have with other doctors. He really takes the time to listen to all of your questions and concerns, and always gives good advice, and he knows how to keep kids happy and not worried. He will be missed by the Stokes Family!

Anyways, I'm just glad today is over. Savannah said her legs hurt a little bit tonight, so she snuggled up with her grandma and we put a heating pad on her legs. Deagan has been exhausted and has been asleep almost the entire day, which I'm grateful for. I think tomorrow will be a little rough, but he will be ok. 

Again, I'm just so thankful for healthy kids!!!

The last couple of weeks

I just finished my biggest paper of the semester. Well, it needs a little polishing and I need to incorporate it into 3 other people's papers to create 1 collaborative paper tomorrow, but I'm going to call it done for now! Just 2 small opinion papers left. One on which type of government is my favorite, and one on why I am either a conservative or a democrat. Easy-peesy! I should be able to whip both those up in under a half hour.

So here are just some bits and pieces from the last little while to keep people updated. 

Thanksgiving at my grandparents house was great! Even though I had horrible morning sickness that day, I managed to enjoy dinner and keep it all down!

 

Christmas decorations are up! We were going to get a live tree this year, but I decided not too. First of all, we won't be here for Christmas, we are spending it this year in Mt. Shasta! So we would have only been able to enjoy it for a couple of weeks. Second, I didn't really want to spend money on one. I'm cheap like that. And Third, I wouldn't have enough ornaments to decorate one. You see that little tiny tree on my coffee table in the picture? Yeah, only one small strip of it actually has decorations on it, the rest is bare...

We spent an evening at the Festival of Trees! Savy liked the Sesame Street tree, the Owl tree is my cousin Alyssa and her family's and of course, a coke tree for you grandma!

Raspberries on mommy's cheek. She just learned to say "I love you!" (it sounds like "I yuh-you!")

And of course I had to add a picture of a silly face by my favorite silly girl!

In other news, I had another doctors appointment. We finally got to hear the heatbeat and everything sounds good! Also, I have not gained a single pound this entire 15 weeks! But my stomach has been growing ridiculously fast. My only explanation is that my flabby stomach is stretching, but already had the weight on there, so It's not like I'm gaining more, since it was already there. Make sense? Also, I've lost a bit of weight in my arms and face (I wish it would in my thighs, holy cow!)

The nurse said that they expect women to gain 5 lbs in the first trimester, but that as long as I didn't lose any, we are good. Also, no more antibiotics, yay!

My morning sickness is nearly gone. I still get sick if I don't eat, but I haven't taken my medication for it in 2 days, and I'm feeling good so far!

I also saw a physical therapist for my sciatic nerve pain. She said my SI joint in my hip had dislocated, so she popped it back into place. Then I had no pain in my back or legs until last night, when I cleaned my bathrooms and mopped my floors. I overdid it I think. I go back this week again, so I'll see if I dislocated it again. She also said my muscles were extremely tight in my lower back, and that was what was pinching that nerve. Looks like I need to take a trip to the massage therapists!

I also have been able to feel a few tiny kicks here and there! About 2 weeks earlier than I felt them with Savannah. I LOVE it!

We also had our first pregnancy scare 2 nights ago. I began bleeding lightly. I knew it was probably nothing, but we went to check it out anyway. My OB's office was closed, and they have no one on-call to talk to. Their voice-mail said if you had a problem, to go to the ER or to Labor and Delivery. Which I wasn't about to do and pay tons of money for. So I just went to the urgent care. The doctor did an exam and listened for the heartbeat. It was nice and strong and he said there was nothing to worry about, that occasional light bleeding was really normal, and to go to labor and delivery if it continued and got worse. It stopped within a half hour of starting, and I had no cramping or anything, and today I felt a couple little kicks, so I think we are OK.

Well, that's all for now. I think we are going to do a bit of Christmas shopping tonight, then possibly take Savannah to see the Rise of the Guardians. Then I'll come home and write up those last 2 papers, and I'll call it a day!

See? I didn't even cry!

Yesterday was my 16 week checkup (with the new doctor)
Everything looked and went great!

We were finally able to hear Baby Stoke's heartbeat! We got to see it on the ultrasound last month, but we weren't able to hear it. This time it was loud and clear at 147 bpm! Perfect!


Also, I only gained half a pound in the last month!
Only one half!
Woo Hoo!!!

The doctor said that as long as I wasn't losing any weight, it was nothing to be concerned about seeing as the baby only weighs a few ounces. It just means I'm not gaining any "extra" weight other places (lucky me! you can go ahead and be jealous... until I start ballooning, then you can go ahead and make fun of me...)

Bryant was a little bummed because he was hoping we would get another ultrasound since this was a new doctor, but they said that they would do an extensive one next time, which is when we get to find out what it is! (no worries Miranda, I'll be sure to post it!)

Also, I was finally able to get all my blood work done.
The lab tech wouldn't do it until I could giver her a urine sample first (gross, I know but i'm writing about it anyways) However, murphys law that basically, anything that could go wrong, does, kicked in.

Being pregnant means that I was up 3 times the night before rushing to the bathroom and I had gone twice before my appointment. Then, when I need to go, I of course, can't. So I hit the drinking fountain pretty hard, sat around for a half hour until I could giver her the sample. Then she was able to draw my blood.

I'm such a wimp when it comes to needles. My parents once tricked me into going into the hospital to get some blood drawn and I hid myself in the bathroom for almost a half an hour.

So I sat down in the chair and tried to look brave. Bryant saw through it though and came over to hold my hand. The lab tech didn't even give me a warning like a "ok, 1,2,3!" or a "ok, just a slight pinch here" nope, she just jammed that needle right in my arm.

The initial stabbing didn't hurt too bad, but after a few minutes, I realized my arm was really starting to hurt, and that it was taking her a really long time. I decided to brave a look and I realized that she had 3 vials filled and still had 2 more to go. I didn't think they would take that much blood. I suddenly got light headed and realized I wasn't breathing.

When she was all done, I looked and Bryant and said "See? I didn't even cry!" and he said "I wasn't worried about you crying, I was worried about you passing out!" The lab tech laughed and said "honestly, so was I there for a second!"

Thanks for your support guys...

Anyways, it was all over and I felt just fine, till I got out to my car. Thats when I suddenly felt extremely worn out and, you know, just kind of blah.

But it was all over. And I survived.
I'm so tough, I bet that epidural is a piece of cake! (don't tell me otherwise, you'll just freak me out, let me hope and dream here)