32W 1D

We had an ultrasound and OB appt today. The u/s technician measured the baby and amniotic fluid. It was quite interesting to watch her because baby was just moving around the whole time... very active! The measurements of baby's tummy and his head looked similar. Nice round tummy, nice round head! Baby's position is spot on, too. A few weeks ago when we went to Baby's Debut, he was head down with body along my left side facing right. Today he is still head down (WAY down) and body along my right side facing left. I thought I had felt him turn over the other day. I guess since he's got the room, he can flip away all he wants as long as he keeps his head down to prepare for his arrival. We did get a few pictures, but he was playing peek-a-boo covering his face with his arms. Cute little buggar -- he already loves to play games!

So how big is he?
After all the measurements of baby and my amniotic fluid were taken, baby measured at 4lbs. 6oz. which is in the 51 percentile, so right in the middle -- right on track! I also have a normal amount of amniotic fluid -- not too much, not too little. My blood pressure is excellent, baby's heart beat excellent, size excellent, fluid excellent, everything is just excellent. (ok, now I sound like wayne's world... sorry!!)

Dr. Kaldas said he suspects the baby will be about 8 to 8 1/2 pounds when he is born. Nice size little chubber, in my mind. I go back again in 2 weeks, Nov. 13th for the next OB check up. Dr said if my fundal height measures more than 37cm (as it did 2 wks ago), then we will do another ultrasound just to check and make sure all is still "excellent". He said my blood pressure and weight gain are also excellent, so I'm doing very excellent. Ok, I suppose I just like that word. To think of being able to use that word in this pregnancy, our miracle, just has me so elated!!

Baby's room is well on it's way to completion. We decided to leave the current paint color which is a bagel yellow with a blue moulding boarder (painted) up by the ceiling. Once the little guy grows up and is in love with trains, or whatever it might be, then we will taylor the room to his favorite things. Crib is up, bedding washed and put on. Amby bed assembled, bedding washed and put on. Dresser assembled, and full of clothes, bibs, burb rags, blankies, the cutest little socks and all the baby necessities. We're just waiting on Babies R Us to deliver the rocker glider. Then we also have more shopping to do yet to get some things on our registry that we need yet... like a changing pad, a bath tub, the breast pump, bottles, necessity things that we need for baby's arrival. Other toddler-type items we'll wait and purchase as we grow into them, which I already know happens way too fast.

Baby,
Mommy & Daddy can't wait to meet you. Keep growing in there; you've got a few weeks left and you will grow nice and strong like a little boy should be. We are here waiting for you and we promise to be ready. Together we will all learn new things, even Theodore. He will soon learn your scent and midnight cries. We're sure he will be very interested in you when you come home, and you two will grow up best-buds! We love you so very much!!!! hugs-n-kisses, M&D

Cruise -- Legend of the Seas -- Italy

My family (sisters and parents, minus me) have left the United States! They arrived in Rome, Italy around 10:30am Italy time, and will embark on a 13-day cruise beginning tomorrow evening around Italy. I'm bummed the airplane and cruise ship wouldn't allow an almost 8month pregnant lady on board. I'm bummed I'm going to miss out on a trip of a lifetime. I'm sad I won't get to see all the things I'd love to see. But I know my family will take lots of pictures and DVD video to share with me when they return to the states mid-November.

My father's lineage is Italian. My grandfather, Caesar Piunti, was born in the States after his parents and 12 older siblings migrated from Italy through New York and settled in a Chicago Suburb. I remember many fun things Grandpa always did for us kids. He made the best pancakes. And not just any pancake... he made mickey mouse and our initals! He was a typewriter repairman, by trade, and always had spare typewriters around for us to play with. I can remember the smell of them. I can remember the smell of breakfast. I can remember the smell of Thanksgiving and Christmas. So this trip my sisters and parents are taking is a trip to a country, touring around many ports, where the Piunti family originates.

In addition to visiting Rome, Portofino, Pisa, Sicily, Venice, and Naples, they also get to visit neighboring Split, Croatia and Dubrovnick, Croatia. Lastly, after the cruise is complete, they will stay an additional 2 nights in Rome. Each port docking lasts 1-2 days where they have exciting excursions planned. Here is a little map of where the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Legend of the Seas vessel will be taking them.




This is my sister, Sasha's, 3rd trip to Italy. She went twi ce while in college in 2003 and 2005, and had considered moving to Florence a few years ago. I'm glad she didn't move so far away, but at the same time what a great trip to go visit my sister! Who knows, now she is on her way to buying her first house in the Twin Cities (Minnesota), so I doubt a move to Italy will come anytime soon. She did offer to go along on my future vacation to Italy. Of course, then it would be her, what?, 5th trip by then?! Lucky!

Anyways, I'm trying to get a hold of my family over there with text messages and email, and I am anxiously awaiting their reply to make sure they got there all safe and sound. My blackberry is sitting on my desk just waiting for the litle red light to flash telling me I have an incoming message....... C'mon girls, text me back!!!

.

Baby Shower

This past Saturday (10/25) was my baby shower. it was held at my church, Whiting Community Baptist Church. I can't believe we are to this point already...the baby shower...MY baby shower! It's an event I always attended for friends and family, and always wondered when it would be my turn. I can't find the perfect words to explain how unbelievably awesome it was -- so much fun, so many people came, and they came for us. I was truly touched and I hugged everyone, twice, I think, or more! We are so blessed to have the kind of supportive friends and family that we do. We couldn't do it without all of you! Here are some pictures...courtesy of my neighbor Nancy.

two cameras pointing at me, didn't know which way to look....sorry for the funny face, Nancy! :)

ok, so not the cutest pic of me, but here is my sister Suzie on the right handing and organizing gifts as I opened, and my friend Jenny on the left recording the gifts for Thank You's. Thanks girls for your help!!

These are little table decorations that I made. Each one had a different "baby" icon from a stroller, a onesie, a bootie, this baby and moon, to a baby in a pea pod. There were six in total and I cut the icons out from my Cricut using the New Arrival cartridge. Now I am prepared to start baby's scrapbook!! See, sometimes I DO think ahead:)

After the shower, my sisters came to my house and helped me cut tags, sort and wash all the clothing, blankets, burb cloths, everything!! Then we proceeded to put some things together. Suzie was so anxious to put together the Fischer Price Little Lamb cradle swing, and she did a wonderful job! It is so cute!! Sasha put together the Bright Starts By Your Side seat, which Tom will love rocking next to his son, and I took the easy road... the Fischer Price Hoppy Days bouncer.

It's a good feeling to have accomplished so much. Of course there is still lots to get done before baby arrives, and now I'm in the "getting things done" mode, so look out! I'm determined to have the baby's room all set and done, ready and waiting, within the next few weeks.

Long at last, it was a wonderful baby shower, fun games, prizes, yummy food, a good time mingling, hugging, and opening presents. I can't thank everyone enough for their love and support. We are so thankful to you all. We love you!!

*HUGS*
roxanne :)

Saving baby's Cord Blood

Recently Tom and I decided to save our baby's cord blood. Are you familiar with saving cord blood and the benefits of the stem cells? Let me help you with some information.


Why Bank?

1. Protect your family. Your baby's umbilical cord blood is rich in lifesaving stem cells that could protect your baby or other family members.


2. Treat nearly 70 diseases, including leukemia, other cancers, and blood disorders


3. Benefit from emerging treatments. Doctors are developing stem cell treatments for heart disease, juvenile diabetes, brain injury, and more


4. Secure the best treatment option with your own family's cord blood. Having access to your own family's cord blood has been shown to significantly improve outcomes compared to using cord blood from an unrelated donor.


5. Take advantage of your one chance at birth. Having access to your own family's cord blood has been shown to significantly improve outcomes compared to using cord blood from an unrelated donor.

So as you can see the benefits are life-saving. For us, personally, the fact that Tom was diagnosed at age 32 with Melanoma skin cancer, saving our baby's cord blood is a HUGE deal. You just never know what life will through at you, and by saving this cord blood, it gives us a huge safety net. For example, WHAT IF (knock-on-wood) Tom were to relapse? We could use our baby's cord blood to save his life. Daddy would be a 50% match. Me and baby are 100% match, and any siblings would be 25% match. That's a higher chance at matching than a perfectly normal healthy woman has at conceiving in any given month (10-15% chance). SIDE NOTE: Tom's next 6-mo check up is this week and we're looking forward to titling him 3-yrs cancer-free!

Here are some reasons why we chose Cbr:

1. Ob/Gyns recommend CBR more than any other cord blood bank. They found my Dr. in their database right away, so he and the hospital are already familiar with Cbr.


2. CBR is the largest and most experienced cord blood bank, which gives you an extra measure of security


3. CBR has the highest cell recovery rate (99%). This is important because you'll have more stem cells to protect your family if you need them


4. CBR's financial and long-term stability gives you peace-of-mind

Read the real stories of real people and how saving cord blood made a meaningful difference in their lives. Click here. All of these stats and info I found right on Cbr's website.

You guys, I am so pationate about this now. I can't express how important and valuable it is to us. I just want to share and pass on the info to everyone I know!!! We just got the collection kit delivered on Saturday by FedEx. The box is sealed and that's what we bring to the hospital when we deliver, so it will be packed in my bag by this weekend! In the packet includes two of those rubbery bracelets that we will start wearing in the next 2 weeks. Mine is purple and Tom's is cranberry. They both have the hotline ph# and the shipping ph#. I really like this idea of the bracelet cuz then we have the info right there on us... AND... when we get to the hospital, the staff are alerted when they see it -- they know that we are saving the cord blood and that they need to get the kit from us! How cool is that!?!

So you are probably wondering how much it costs?

COST: They have six different payment plans to pay for the first 18 yrs of storage, then it's only $125/yr thereafter. It really is not bad price-wise at all, especially considering it can be life-saving for your family. Let me tell ya this... it's about $20-$30 less than IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization).

REFER: If you or someone you know is having a baby, please share this information about saving the baby's cord blood. I also can give you a coupon for $155 discount. I have already shared this coupon and some info with my friends that I know are expecting.

I hope you will look into this for yourself, a friend, a family member and share what you find. It could save their life someday.

It's now time for me to go night-night. I'm very tired and getting more tuckered out quickly these days.... Need my beauty rest before little mr schwandt comes. Oh, he kicks to say HI to everyone! He must think it's play time....

Love to all!!!

Baby's Debut

This was my and Tom's birthday present from my parents. My birthday is coming up on Oct 21st and Tom's is soon to follow on Feb 1st. My parents bought us a package at this place called Baby's Debut where they do 3D/4D ultrasounds. 3D ultrasound is what you see below of our little boy!!! 4D ultrasound is a DVD of the whole session!!!

Our appt was for 1:30pm on Sat. Oct 11th. I was at 29weeks. At first, baby boy schwandt did not cooperate very well. He was turned backwards facing my spine, but once we got him turned over, the umbilical cord was laying across his face. I'm guessing he likes to suck on it or something. He had a foot and an arm up there within reach that if he were to move his foot or arm down, he could have pulled the cord away so we could get a good look at his face. Since we couldn't we took a look around at other things. I love to see his little beating heart, his spine and rib cage or so cool and so obvious to see. Another obvious body part to see was that he is definately still a BOY. That's reassuring ;)

So since we weren't having much luck to see his face, she sent us off (next appt was waiting their turn) and said we could come back after-hours instead of rescheduling for another day. Our return trip after hours was much more successful and so much fun!! Here are two pictures that I have so far. (the CD writer was broke, so I'm going to go pick up my CD of like 70 pictures today)

This first pic, baby boy schwandt is pursing his lips and squinting his eyes. He had just been scowling at us pulling his eyebrows together. It was SO adorable!!!

This next pic is one of my favorites! After his little scowling session, he proceeded to open his mouth and show us his tounge!! Remember at 20 weeks he was seen sticking out his tounge? Little stinker, but it's so darn cute :)

Right after this last picture was taken, he brought his foot up to his face, we could see all five toes, and then he put his big toe in his mouth! Yep, that's my baby, sucking on his toes instead of his fingers. Goofy little guy.

Well that's all for now. Once I get my CD of pictures, I may post some more. We're heading out now, so have a good weekend everyone!!

*hugs*

Roxanne :)

30W 1D

Today was our 30 weeks check up. Let me start off with stating some numerical facts about my particular pregnancy at 30 weeks. Numerically speaking.... I am 30 weeks pregnant and I will be turning 30 years old on Tuesday. Doesn't that just say to you "meant-to-be". God really lines these things up with much thought in mind. He is so rad!

So this morning we went to my OB check-up. If you remember, last month (at 26W 1D), I measured 31cm fundal height. Pregnant women should measure about 2-3cm +/- within the number week of pregnancy. So at 26w I should have been in the range of about 23-29cm fundal height. Since measuring at 31cm, Dr. Kaldas said that if I measure the same at my next appt (which was today), we are ok, BUT if I measure more, he wants to order an ultrasound to see exactly how big the baby really is. Are you wondering what I measured this morning? Sure you are..... Ok, I will tell ya. 37cm. Yes, holy crap!! Dr. Kaldas said we surely have a big boy growing and a good amount of amniotic fluid. He ordered the ultrasound for my next appt, which will be in 2 weeks. Yup, we are now at the point in our pregnancy that we will go see the Dr every 2 weeks.

We also got to talk to one of the nurses. She gave us all kinds of "homework" to do between now and 35 weeks. Mostly stuff to measure (kick counts and early contractions), and other stuff to be aware of that might indicate early labor. Definately good stuff to know, that's for sure! Then we got a couple goody-bags. A diaper bag and a cooler thingy. Inside these bags were a TON of free samples, coupons, info, magazines, etc... Once we got home, I spent a good hour and a half going thru all the coupons and organizing them. I pulled out the coupons and freebies Motherhood Maternity gave me and added those as well.

Oh, by the way, I am off today. I took a vacation day (very much needed might I add), and Tom and I are spending the day/evening together as a late anniversary celebration. Since he works 2nd shift, we didn't get to spend last week Thursday (10/9) together. We have a suite reserved at The Copperleaf downtown Appleton, and we're gonna go get checked in there soon. Then we'll stroll down College Ave, have a romantic dinner at The Bar on the Ave for some much need and much anticipated BBQ/Hot Chicken Wings! Sure, not your typical romantic anniversary dinner, but we've both been craving these wings for a long time! We used to have them every Sunday when Tom was in a volleyball league....and that was before he got sick...before the cancer, so you know how long that has been.

Oh, you don't? That's ok, we keep track! This month, in fact, this next week is 3 years!!!!! 3 years cancer-free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's now on a 6-month check-up schedule with his Oncologist and Dermatologist. This is still for the study he is involved in for science. Remember the study wasn't about the type of chemo he had, it was about the combination he had vs the usual treatment to determine life expectancy so that someday when a person is diagnosed, the doctors can give them options rather than just one type of treatment. So far in 3 years Tom has never had a relapse or any bad x-rays/labs to worry about. *knock on wood* We couldn't be happier for God's plan for us. Getting through that rough time has made us stronger, more loving, more appreciative, and even that much more anxious to welcome our Miracle Baby into the world! In fact, next weekend is the baby shower and it sure is going to be interesting to see the baby's room full of baby stuff and not an empty room that used to be the spare bedroom. Makes me smile to imagine our little son cozy in his room.

Ok, so here's what's going on in Pregnancy Week 30:

The light is visible at the end of the tunnel! Your oversized self and amazing growing baby have finally reached the single digits (in terms of weeks till birth)! The fine lanugo hair that has been growing all over their little monkey-like body is going to start falling off this week in preparation for the big day. But don’t be shocked if they’re hairier than you’d anticipated, some babies keep their lanugo until after birth. Still, it’s not any cause to be concerned as it will fall off eventually. No surprises here: your little porker is getting even cuter with increasingly pudgy arms and legs this week thanks to the ever-growing layers of subcutaneous fat. In terms of numbers, your baby should be weighing in at around 3 pounds 12 ounces (or more!) and be nearly 16 inches long.

*hugs*

Roxanne :)

It's not just in the water.....

You know the saying. When more than 2 or 3 people you know are pregnant at the same time people say.... "It's in the water."

Well I am here to tell you that it's not just in the water....
My girlfriend recently told me of another friend of ours, her sister-in-law, who is expecting. I'm so thrilled to hear this kind of news, a human life is more amazing to me now than ever before. My friend comically states that she's "not drinking the water here," she's "buyin' bottled water!" Well, my dear, I just heard the news of another friend who is expecting and SHE drinks bottled water!! hehee So the old saying "it's in the water....." IT'S NOT JUST IN THE WATER, my dear. :)

Are you wondering who is all pregnant? I'm sure you are my fellow blog followers. I will share with you... this is so much fun!!

ME - December 25, 2008
friend Jamie - December 22, 2008
friend Toni - January 20, 2009
friend Megan - March 2009
friend Julie - Twins! March 2009
friend Crystal - April 2009
friend Trisha - May 2009

Blue means BOY, Purple means GIRL, and Green means TBD.

Are you expecting? Congratulations!! Please share it with the world!! :)

By the way -- I have to share this. My pregnancy has been so great. I couldn't ask for a better baby, a better husband, a better body... it's been everything and more than I ever imagined it would be.

TWILIGHT - THE MOVIE!!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!! I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE TO COME TO THE THEATER ON 11-21-2008!!! WHOOO-HOOOO!!!!! CHECK OUT THE NEW TRAILIER JUST RELEASED TODAY!!!

Twilight the movie - My Space

Twilightthemovie.com - home page

29 weeks update

This is SO cool! I have been feeling the butterfly tingling similar to the very beginning at 17 weeks. I just didn't know this butterfly was my baby boy's hiccups! Here's what babygaga.com says is going on this week:

Fetal development in pregnancy week 29: If you’ve been feeling butterflies moving around in your belly, it’s not just your run-of-the-mill pre-birth performance anxiety. No, it’s your amazing baby with a case of the hiccups: a fairly common occurrence at this point resulting from practicing breathing for their big birthday. In addition, to getting a round of butterfly-like hiccups, your little swimmer has arduously managed to accumulate enough baby fat to account for nearly 3.5% of their overall body weight. Yeah, compared to we adults, it’s not a lot, but when they’re little like that—it’s certainly a healthy (and warming) accomplishment in its way. Another fantastic accomplishment: your baby's spleen is now in charge of hematopoiesis—the 10 dollar name for the process involved in building up certain important blood components. Another fantastic-accomplishment: your little monkey has been peeing into their amniotic sac for a little while now (this is why potty training takes a while) and if you didn’t know, actually swallows it along with the rest of the amniotic fluid. Although the concept is nasty, their urine is sterile and as part of the amniotic fluid base, is replaced several times throughout the day. So if you didn’t know before, now you can tell people, that yes, you drank your own urine—you were still in the womb, but nonetheless, you’ve been there.


We Love you baby boy,
Mommy & Daddy

Restless Night

The title says it all.

All I did last night was toss and turn. I couldn't get comfortable, and the baby picked up on that. Apparently he thought it was time to get up, cuz he just wouldn't let me sleep. I awoke every hour, got up twice, and finally moved to the couch by Theo at 5am, and then snoozed to my alarm for 40 minutes!

Restless Night.

Hope tonight is better. 79 days to go. Can't wait to meet our little guy!

Roxanne

Fall is in the air!

I love this season. Fall. It is my favorite season. The changing colors of the leaves. The crisp, cool breeze. I love this season. And even though we don't have any trees on our property, we still get to rake leaves. The leaves of our neighbors trees. We are grateful for the shade our neighbors trees provide us, and usually this time of year as the leaves start to fall, I get annoyed. But not this year. This year I am actually looking forward to raking leaves. It's when we rake that I get the best smells of fall leaves. In fact, last year I did much of the raking myself since I was laid off of my job at the time. Those days gone by, I sure loved sleeping in, reading my book, and doing what I wanted when I wanted. Today is very much a typical Wisconsin Fall day. The crisp breeze blows through my hair and the smell of changing leaves whisps past my nose. Here is what our 7-day forecast looks like:

This Friday I get out of work around 2pm, and from that time on, Tom and I have a full plate. Friday morning we are getting new basement windows installed. The job will take about 8 hours. When I get home, Tom and I will get going on the baby's room again. We've got to make space in the basement for the mattress and box spring, wrapped and sealed in plastic. Then I can find places for the few misc items in the baby's room, clear it out and steam clean the carpets while Tom gets the family crib out of the garage rafters. He'll clean it down good, bring it in the house and we will attempt to put it together. I hope the directions survived through the years, or we'll be in for quite the time figuring this one out. Once we get the crib set up and in place, we will be ready to shop for a dresser, which will make it's home as the changing table as well. The plan is so the dresser will be our little boy's dresser until he moves out of Mommy & Daddy's house, so it's got to last a long time!

Saturday we will be attending our nephew, Eric Schwandt's, tackle football game. Tom went the last time and had a blast! They play football music as each little player is announced, and Eric had long carries, good drives and awesome plays last time. Tom said the funniest part is how he walks out on the field like he's "the shizzle." Anyone who knows this 9-yr old can totally picture him in the act! So I am looking forward to the event, and I even might be able to borrow my mom's new Nikon D40 with super zoom (non-technical term) lens so I can get some good shots of him. They even have the kids' last names on the back of their jerseys! Isn't that just every little boy's dream!

Sunday will be church in the morning, then at Noon we are taking a CPR class at the hospital. I don't ever want to see my baby with a blue face, so the more educated we are, the safer we will be. Tom and I both had a CPR class back in Junior High at the Brigade, but man that was A LOT of years ago! So while the Packers are attempting to play Pro Football, we will be much to busy learning survival and safety.

What kind of exciting things have you got going on this fall? Do you like raking leaves? I hope you all have a good rest of the week and a fun weekend! I'll be back to post again soon!