Baby Schwandt Update

I had my "Pee and See" last Wednesday and everything is going great. Baby's heart rate was 150 bpm, and I only gained a pound and a half (that's a total of 2 pounds so far). Dr said that's OK, I'll gain it by the end. I'm just hoping it's not a whole ton, maybe 10-15 more at the most.

I can really feel the baby moving now. I started to feel light kicks about a week and a half ago while I was in Chicago. It's becoming more often and more definate movements, but none yet that Tom can feel. I wonder if that's why I didn't feel rested when I woke up this morning (the baby moving all night). The alarm went off and I practically flew out of bed in shock! Usually I wake up 15-20 mins before the alarm, turn it off, go grab my celly, set that alarm and cuddle on the couch with Theo.

To date, I am 18wks and 5 days (due Dec 25th). We go August 8th for the 20-wk ultrasound. This is when we expect to find out the sex! I've already been talking to baby and begging for cooperation so Mommy and Daddy can plan out cute stuff for him/her. Here's what going on during this week, according to babycenter.com (keep in mind they are using the words "her" and "his"):

How your baby's growing: Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom —about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Fun in Chicago

I've been so busy ever since I got home from Chicago last Saturday. I had SO much fun at PC National Conference!!! Not only is it super cool to find out all the new products coming out in fall, hearing my friend win an awesome prize from the "Serve It Up Squad", eating at fun restaurants, strolling the streets of Chi-town, and hanging out with friends, but attending the seminars I signed up for really have given me a new breath for my business. It's just the uplighting that I needed! Here are some cool pics I took downtown and of my friends. (with captions for each)

My friend Monica and me!

I made this door poster for my friend Angie who worked very hard to promote to Director and I'm so proud of her. (she is my director)

Grace, me, Carrie D, Rhonda. We had so much fun with the clappers and waving our glow sticks at everything we loved during the General Session presentations!

Crazy girls! I was holding my camera up over my head, backwards, and taking random pics. It was SO funny to check out what I captured each time. I think this is the best one with Jenny K (in green) and Carrie W (tounge, crazy hands) going nuts. We were laughing so hard I almost peed my pants!!

Random building on Michigan Ave. I admired the old stone and architecture.

Another random building on Michigan Ave that I admired the stone work. I just wish that darn ugly street light wasn't there. Oh well.

This is the library, folks. Yes, I said THE LIBRARY! Cool gargoyles, huh?! I thought so!

I thought these three identical buildings on the left were interesting. One a rust color, one charcoal, and the final a sand color. Then, in the background you can see a newer building with shiny windows. I think this really depicts the aura of downtown Chicago...the mix of old and new. There's just no other city (that I've been to) that compares to the dynamic of architecture, era, and individualism as Chicago.

Last but not least, this picture was taken for my friend Jamie (see Our Crazy Life) as a tribute to her memories of living in the burbs and working downtown Chi-Town! Tell us your loving stories about riding on the L, Jamie, please! LOL :) (her memories kinda bring back visuals of some sketchy charactors).

This last picture is my favorite NEW product! FINALLY!! A Bamboo Knife block for my Forged Cutlery! Yeah, I can't wait to get mine on my counter!!! ROCK ON!

I hope you enjoyed seeing pictures of my friends and I, and also of downtown Chicago. I can't forget to mention that during our walk downtown when I took all those pics, (Grace and I) it was right after we ate dinner, and as we were heading back to The Hilton, we cornered and nearly ran right into Baskin Robbins. Yes, as you can imagine my pregnant intuituion told me I HAD TO HAVE Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl ice cream, my #1 ultimate favorite. As I looked frantically for the flavor to place my order, I thought I was going crazy... It wasn't anywhere! So I asked the nice man behind the ice cream counter. He said he had a tub, but it was in the back in the freezer unscoopable, so he couldn't get it out. "*Gasp!*" I begged by rubbing my tummy and claiming the baby needed it. "I'm pregnant, please help, I can't go one without this ice cream!" Being a smart man, he said he would help me, but we'd have to wait a little. I patiently waited, and dear Grace waited with me as she ate her ice cream. Finally my cup of sweet, delicious, melt-in-my-mouth Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl ice cream was ready. The man said he arm hurt as I thanked him so much, I just about wanted to give him a hug. He said he wouldn't have done that had I not been pregnant, because he remembered when his daughter's mother was prego--if she wanted it, she got it. I said to him "Good man!" and greatfully walked on my way devulging in the delcious cold cream melting in my mouth. MMmmm I could go for that right now......... (*yelling into the living room* TOM!?!?!)

National Conference!

Well folks, I'll be on my way to Pampered Chef National Conference in Chicago tomorrow! I'm SO excited. This will be my 2nd year at conference. I had such a blast and gianed a wealth of learning last year. It is a wonderful opportunity and experience with a super fabulous group of girls! (yes, there are dudes there, too, just none in our cluster..tee ehehe).

I leave Wed around noon and we'll check into the Hilton on Grand Ave in the heart of downtown Chicago. We actually can see Navy Pier from one side of the massive hotel. We'll go out for dinner tomorrow night, then settle in for some sleep. This year, I won't be up late partying in the halls drinking Corona, nope, I'll be hitting the sak sober as a bird! :)

Thursday starts the festivities including my first training class. I can't remember what I all signed up for, so good thing they print up an itinerary on the back of our name badges! At general session on Thursday all the new fall products are introduced, along with the new marketing tools like the new theme shows and recipes! YUMM:) I better bring some snacks in my bag, cuz I just know my baby tummy will be grumbling for everything my eyes feast their fix on!

Friday will be a big day of training, and another general session. This session we will find out where the trip incentives will take us, should we earn (I'm on my way to earn this year!!). Sometime also on Friday I'll pick up some surprise packs of random products. It's so much fun to open them and find out what you've just WON!

My next post will be a report of my experience. I hope you all have a great rest of the week! maybe I'll splurg in my next post and tell you a little secret about new fall products.... :o)

First...

Hello loyal readers!I hope you are ready for a real doozy-of-a-story today. This weekend, I had my first uncontrollable emotional breakdown. You ready for this?

Well, first of all, I had a great weekend. The breakdown was just yesterday afternoon. Let's first recap my fun weekend... Our friends J & Nikki came to town with their dog, Daisy (Theo's girlfriend). Nikki and I did a little shopping Friday night, then Sat the guys went disc golfing for Jeremy's bachelor party, and Nikki and I took a Totally Clear Acrylic Album 2 class at Archiver's.

We also did a little more bumming around before heading to my parents for a cookout. The dogs had so much fun running around outside, playing with eachother, barking at squirls running on the fence, and playing toys. They were SO pooped at night! Ok, so after J & Nikki left for home, I crashed out on the couch until it was time to meet my parents for a little shopping trip while they had an open house.

Here it comes.... After the shopping trip with my parents, I was on my way home and called Tom to let him know. In the same conversation, I warned him that I was feeling super crabby... and I was really hungary... but didn't know what for. Tom's appologetic, "I'm sorry babe" must have been my ticket to the breakdown cuz I just started sobbing, uncontrollably. I was SO hungary, SO crabby, and I didn't know what to eat. I wanted him to make up my mind for me and have something delicious waiting for me when I got home, but I couldn't get over myself. As Tom laughed at me, it only made the crying and uncontrollable sobbing worse! Not being able to pin point WHY I was so cranky, I sobbed even harder. I just couldn't handle it, I just wanted something TO EAT! ugh, is that so much to ask for?!! Against Tom's suggestion, I did not stop the car. I just wiped my eyes, with sobbing short breaths, and proceeded along my way, watching the traffic lights. Suddenly, a food idea crossed my mind--ARBY'S Rescue Brigade. As I started to speed up to get there as fast as possible, with tears still running down my face, I figured if I were to get pulled over it wouldn't be too hard to get out of the ticket. Just to think of an unsuspecting cop walking up to an emotional, pregnant lady balling her eyes out... he should let me go. Yeah, he would let me go--fast! So on to Arby's I went, got my food ordered with a half-way normal voice, kept my sunglasses on as I paid, and rushed home.

As soon as I got home, and ate my pick 5 for $6.95, I was feeling better. Didn't talk much, just ate, and Tom even gave me some much needed space/time to calm down. Thank goodness he didn't bring it up to me how crazy I probably sounded on the phone. He must have read something in his "father-to-be" book that instructed him what NOT to do in these cases. So there you have it, I had my first, unannouced, uncontrollable emotional breakdown. Thank you, baby, this is so much fun...! LOL :)

I hope you all got a good kick out of my first experience with this. You're probably recalling your first breakdown. I'd love to hear about your story! Please?! Then I'll know that I'm not the only one, and it IS normal... :) *HUGS*

About: Baby Schwandt

As I was checking email today, Due Maternity had a link on their message for this baby astrology thing. Click here to check it out! I thought this was a pretty neat look ahead at baby schwandt's sign. I believe it will help us to be the best parents for our child. Here is what we have to look forward to:
About the Capricorn Baby
The Capricorn baby has a plan from day one and will definitely stick to it! A bit on the serious side, this is a child who is disciplined, methodical and highly organized to boot. Is this really a child?! Well, yes and no. Not adventurously inclined, the Capricorn baby almost seems dull, but they are simply taking time with things, learning lessons slowly, so as to learn them well. This child enjoys feeling important from an early age, so don't hesitate to give them responsibilities. The Cap baby is up to the task! They also understand things better as they get older and appreciate the merits of a reward system. Good deeds are repaid in kind! This babe will rejoice and will happily live with that precept in mind. When it comes to learning, the Cap baby shouldn't be rushed, preferring to follow their own pace of discovery. Early lessons will be of the organizational kind which is how this tot's mind operates. Organizing the play group will be play indeed. As with everything, the Cap baby will be hyper-focused and determined. Even speaking will be undertaken with great effort and diligence, leading many Cap babies to bypass babbling and go straight to chatter! To sum up, the Capricorn baby prefers to play it safe, enjoying the efforts of a job well done.

Mother-Child Compatibility
Capricorn Child / Libra Parent
When a Capricorn child is born to a Libra parent, the fluidity of the family relationship depends on both person's ability to seek out similar interests. The similarities aren't always easy to spot, however. Their similarities aren't always easy to spot, but they do exist. Libra is extroverted and derives satisfaction from public interaction. On the other hand, Capricorn is more calculated, steering clear of distractions while moving steadily toward a set goal.

While Libra is pondering and intellectual, Capricorn sees the value of doing things the hard way if it leads to certain success. Both parent and child will certainly reach their destination, following two very different paths which can merge together somewhere along the way when they're least suspecting it. Both are self starters so when they're on the same team they need to have different and well-defined roles to ensure that they don't cross each other's boundaries.


Pretty cool! Well I do have new pictures of my flowers to upload, so I promise to do that soon!! My pink oriental lillies are beautiful! Ooo! And I saw one of the baby bunnies that had grown up in our garden. One of that litter (Ma Rector, is that the correct terminology?) came back for a visit!! He/She was SO cute :) I'll post pics soon, I promise!

The BEST of the BEST

You might remember we had the "BEST TEST" done last week Wednesday. This is the testing for downs and combined tests for other chromosomal abnormalities. The ultrasound was not only to get cute pics of baby schwandt yawning, but to measure the amount of fluid at the back of the neck/top of the spine, but they also took 5 viles of blood to run tests.

Well, my Dr's nurse (Sue) called tonight with the results. She said after the ultrasound, the chance of our baby having Downs Syndrome was 1 in 900. BUT....After the blood tests, the chance went to 1 in 3,000. WOW! That's GOOD! She said that is the BEST of the "BEST TEST" score you can get. And that's not all, folks. The other chromosomal abnormalities result came back at 1 in 6,800. Holy man--that is great! I was so excited for Tom to call on his 8pm break tonight to tell him the good news. He had done all the worrying for himself and me, so he was very relieved to hear the good news!

We couldn't be more greatful to our wonderful Lord, God. He has blessed us with a miracle without the use of science, and He continues to bless us with health of the baby and of myself. I have been feeling great. Nausea is gone, never got "sick"and right now I'm just hungry all the time. 'm eating good and even eating my vegetables! I'm looking forward to next is feeling the baby moving around, which should happen in the next couple weeks. Oh, some of you may be wondering how far along we are now. I am 15 weeks. Thursday, July 3rd is the first day of week 16. Here is what will be happing during the next week:
WEEK 16:
Over the past three weeks your astounding growing baby has managed to stretch yet another 2 full inches (totaling about 4.5 inches) and weighs around 3.5 ounces. Yessireee, that’s some pretty serious growth... and with it comes several physical developments! For starters, their head to body ratio is finally starting to even out a bit as the rest of the body is actually growing faster than the head at this point. Yes, your little light bulb is not so top-heavy. Their adorable little limbs have lengthened, almost reaching their normal proportions which they will have at birth. Their eyes are still closed but moving and if you had an ultrasound, which many doctors recommend you have at about this time, you may even see your little one sucking on a thumb, not to mention the necessary signifiers to let you know whether you’ve got a wee lad or lassie.

Our next ultrasound will be at 20 weeks (about August 7th). That is when we hope to find out the sex of baby schwandt!

Flowering Gardens

I just love to watch my flowers blooming. I took a couple quick pics, mostly of my favorite -- Lillies. I enjoy watching then bloom into the beautiful, vibrant colors. Right now the orange has bloomed, and it looks like next the fuscia will bloom then lastly, my giantic yellow Lily.

This weekend when the sun is out mid-day, I will take some more pictures of my purple coneflower just beginning to bloom, and my other potted flowers including my 7 hanging baskets! Other flowers will continue to bloom throughout the summer. Be sure to come back and check out Roxanne's Flowering Gardens. Until then, please enjoy......