the good and the bad

The good is that baby is still cooking inside getting bigger and stronger with each passing day.

The bad is I am positive for Group B strep, which means (and being my first) we are instructed to call the Dr office when either I am having contractions 7-10 mins apart or my water breaks, whichever comes first. I will be put on an IV antibiotic to ensure that Group B strep is not passed on to the baby if he is born naturally.

The good is I am still working. Up until the day we go in to have the baby.

The bad is I found out my paid disability leave is not going to be paid out as I had expected. Because my 1 yr anniversary date is Jan 2nd, 2009, and I will be having the baby before that date, I will not get any pay until that date, but my 6wks leave starts the day the baby is born. So that reduces the # of wks I will have at 60% of my pay. That part really stinks!!

The good is my body is starting to do what it should be. As of last Wednesday's appt I am 50% effaced and 1cm dialated. I know you can be 1cm for a number of weeks, but it's kind of exciting to know things are actually happening that should be happening. Dr. Kaldas said I look really good, my weight gain has been great, blood pressure all wonderful, and that I have made this real easy on him. I said and easy on me, too!! Which is a true blessing considering all the IUI's, a miscarriage, and almost the IVF we had been thru.

The bad is my body is definately taking a toll on the extra baby, amniotic fluid, placenta, and extra blood weight. My right sciatic nerve has been bothering me, but more so the past few days than ever. I can't wait to see my chiropractor tonight. It will probably be the last time I see him before the baby is born. My bladder is surely feeling the pressure of everything, and I can only stay asleep for about an hour and half at a time before I'm uncomfortable and have to change sleeping postions.

The REALLY GOOD is my favorite Holiday season is upon on us! After the hustle and bustle of shopping online and in stores this weekend, the beauty of crisp white snow dancing down on to our rooftops and covering the grass and roads, I am in awe of God's wonderful gift he has given us. I love Christmas music and have been playing it in the truck and on my iPod. I'm in the spirit. Every year I make a little gift for everyone in my family (in-law family included) and I just got all the "ingredients" for my gifts yesterday. Now is the fun part... putting them together!

I hope you all enjoy this holiday season!!

*hugs*
Roxanne :)

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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 :)

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.

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

head turns -- birth stories -- classes

Head Turns. So it seems baby and I are starting to make some heads turn. As I make the long walk from my desk - across the factory - to the bathroom, I've begun to notice people looking at me in a different way... Some stare, some smile, but most just look at the obvious baby bump protruding from my abdomen. I think I may be waddling just a tad, too. My back sure does hurt, I can tell you that. Sometimes my walk is a little more frisk and fast-paced than other times (hmm, I wonder why, baby...?), but none-the-less, they are watching. Kinda creepy.

Birth Stories. Yesterday I had the pleasure of talking with a women as I helped label boards for the factory. There were three women and one man/boy all interested in asking me baby questions. Of course the one women who has two boys of her own was the one who chose to tell me everything I ever needed to know about her births...not that I was asking. I just smiled, nodded, and tried to look interested as the man/boy warned this woman to not scare me with her stories. I was hoping, a little, that she would oblige by his advise, but she went on as if she never heard him. I guess women, in general, simply enjoy telling everyone about our own experiences. I'm sure someday I will do the same, but I really hope to avoid from doing so with a total stranger. I'm no expert - they're no expert - I have no PhD - they have no PhD. I much prefer to heed the advice and enjoy stories from my own trusted family and friends - people I know. Should any of my loyal handful of readers feel the urge to share your stories with me, I love you and welcome you to do so.

Classes. Tom and I are now signed up for three baby classes before baby arrives. The first class is Sunday, October 5th -- CPR. This is a very important subject to learn. The last thing I want to happen is see my precious baby's face turn blue and not know what to do. I should ask my mother and mother-in-law to sign up as well since this class is open to families and they will be watching my precious when I go back to work. The second class is Mon. Nov 10th -- Breastfeeding. Yes, the dad's are encouraged to come to this class. We will learn lots about boobs we never knew, and the lactation consultants will teach us something to do before birth to prepare the ducts. Ooo joy! The third and final class is the Birth Preparation. Since this class is otherwise a 1 night a week for 4 weeks class, and Tom works 2nd shift, we are taking on the 1-day Saturday express class on Nov. 15th. This class also includes a tour of the birth center; however, since we could not get in the class at the hospital we will be delivering, Theda Clark, we are taking this class at AMC. We have no interest in touring their birth center, so I called my friend who is a baby nurse at Theda and she will be giving us a personal tour this Sunday! Yes, THIS Sunday! I'm really looking forward to this tour!!

3 babies in 1 day

There's something to say about the excitement that surrounds babies being born. I have really enjoyed my pregnancy because I also get to share the experience with my girlfriends! Although, it wasn't as enjoyable for me in the very beginning before I found out I was pregnant... considering my personal circumstances of not being able to get pregnant when everyone else was... it was difficult to accept, but yet I was still genuinly happy for my friends.

So yesterday, Thursday, September 18th, THREE of my five pregnant girlfriends all had their babies. While in different cities, it was a rush of joy and excitement for me to hear of each one and know that they are all healthy (as well as the moms, dads and siblings).

My friend Pahla and her husband Joe of Appleton welcomed a baby girl.
Olivia Ann, 6 lbs. 9 oz., 19.5" long

My friend Sarah and her husband Adam of St. Cloud, MN welcomed a baby girl.
Margaret ("Maggie") Agnes, 6 lbs. 11 oz., 19" long

My friend Tina and her husband of Green Bay welcomed a baby boy.
Nicholas Edward, 8 lbs. 4 oz., 20" long.

So that covers 3 of 5 friends. It will be a race to the end for myself and Jamie who is due only 3 days before me. Lastly, Toni is due 1 month after me. Looks like it's gonna be a great Christmas full of baby-surprise!!!! Actually, Jamie knows she is having a girl, and I know I am having a boy, I just don't know what Toni is having. They are keeping it a secret until the baby is born. That would rip me apart - I would be the worst secret keeper, so it's a good thing she didn't tell me! :)

All this excitment of Oliva, Maggie, and Nicholas being born has really got me anxious to meet our little bundle of loving joy. I'm ready to get the baby's room cleaned out, carpets shampoo'd, and baby furniture moved in. Tom has even mentioned how "cool" it's going to be to have a little one scampering about the house. I know our little guy and our loving dog, Theodore, will be best friends and I'm looking forward to watching that relationship develop.

this is an expression that I ordered from my Uppercase Living party. I can't wait to put it up in the baby's room!!

Well, I've got some time yet before our little boy arrives, so I best be off to bed for a restful night (of the few I have left) because there is more excitement which lies ahead tomorrow....

Tomorrow, Saturday, my new Sectional couch and ottoman will arrive!!!! YEAH!!! The side table will come in another week or so, and Tom's dream chair will come the first week in November. I'm just SO looking forward to plopping on my new couch and not moving for at least an hour, maybe two..... I'll share pics of it later after I peel my pregnant rear end off the couch... IF that's even possible... LOL :)


*HUGS*
Roxanne

My little early riser & a Furniture Update!

EARLY RISER:

So it seems I can't lay around in bed past 7:30am on the weekends any longer. What the heck? The baby had been kicking me to get up since 6am both Saturday and this morning, and growling my tummy in hungar since 7am. So while my dog and husband lounge in bed zonked away, I get up, eat some cereal, and do the only thing fun to do this darn early in the morning.... I MAKE A FLYER! (for my pampered chef biz). I just love playing with my newfound most-favorite Microsoft program...Publisher! It's so awesome! So far I've made a Holiday Extravaganza flyer for an Expo I am working with another girl to set up. That flyer isn't completed yet, but I wonder if I can post a pic of it on here... I will try...

COOL! It worked!

Anyhow, I think my little early riser is preparing me for the big time. The big time mornings of actually getting up early to his little screaming voice begging for some cuddling, loving and, of course, food! :) That's ok, he's totally worth it! And it seems these mornings, while he's tucked away growing inside me, I get to accomplish some tasks I couldn't last night cuz I went to bed at 9pm on a weekend! ha! Am I getting old, or what?!

FURNITURE update:

Yesterday, Saturday, my mom picked me up at 11am and we got some very much needed errands done, had some lunch, ran into a friend I've been thinking about, and started shopping for furniture. Tom and my dad stayed back at the house and watched the Wisconsin Badger (football) game. Now that I think about it, I don't remember if I asked if they won or not? oh well. We do like the Badgers and I know Tom enjoys watching college ball better than the NFL because of all the terrible rules in the NFL. (It's a guy thing) What made me so happy was that Tom spent so much time with my dad. It was so nice of him and those two carted around like a pair, with dad agreeing to everything Tom said about this and that, and Mom and I letting those two off the hook once we found Tom's perfect chair! :) Anyways, back up a bit... Mom and I first stopped at Furniture Row in Appleton, Sofa Mart. As we sat on a comfortably, cute, very modern sofa, the sales guy approached us and we took on his help. With my very small living room, it's difficult to find a sectional sofa arrangement that A) I like, and B) will fit. He brought us around the corner to what he thought would work since it can be special ordered with the pieces that fit. As we measured (girl style... with picture frames, an acrylic sign holder, and our sharp eyes) to see if we could work out a configuration that would fit, I began to fall in love with this sectional. I was really hoping I could work in a chaise lounge on one end, but my crampped living room just wouldn't allow it. Darn! So I settled for the next best thing... a leather storage ottoman, rectangle shape, as to not take up too much valuable floor space. That way, I have a couple options... to sit on the sofa, to lounge on the sofa, and to sit with my feet up on the ottoman! We also found the perfect side table for the one end that would accomidate a narrow table. It has a nice deep drawer to hide fun things in, too. So, let's check off the list.... Sectional? check!; Ottoman? check!; side table? check!. Now on to Tom's dream chair.

The guys arrived at Sofa Mart and Tom began to take the rocker recliners for a test drive. He found one that was a contendor, but after what happend to us, we're needy, so we went to check out Van Vreede's. They were offering a free TV with purchases, and they always have catchy commercials on tv, so we wanted to check them out. WOW, that store was a HUGE dissappointment! The had crappy selection, not well constructed chairs, and the sales guy p'd me off by his comment about how I am compromising my sectional preferance for loose-back pillows because of my dog. Ugh, no I am not, you jerk, I love that my dog likes to find a snuggly spot on my couch to watch out the window for me to come home! So we left that store with a huge lump in our throats. Or at least, I did! On to WG&R across the street.

This is where Tom found his dream chair! After puroosing the millions of rocker recliners, finding some with interesting features, and even finding his exact old chair we had sold, Tom finally decided on a chair made by BEST. After all, it was the best chair he'd sat in. He even reclined back as mom, dad and I walked around the corner to check out a sectional (just in case). Dad walked away and came back to tell us Tom was sleeping!! Sure enough, I came to find him sunk into his new favorite chair, hat pulled over his eyes, and mouth open. So that was it, THE chair! We let the guys off the hook so they could get back home and do whatever guy-stuff.

Mom and I ordered the chair and headed back to Sofa Mart to order my sectional, ottoman and side table. After a long day consisting of about 8 stores (including mom and my earlier errands) and 7 hours of shopping, we were beat! But it was a GREAT day, a FUN day, and I'm so excited to get my sectional in about 2-3 weeks!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, yah, like for real this time!!! Unfortunately Tom's chair won't be in for about 6 weeks, but yet it WILL be here!!!!!!

As soon as furniture starts coming in, I'll take pictures. Here's a current picture of our living room featuring Tom's old black glider, and two borrowed gliders from my parents. And of course, Theo had to get his head in the shot!

That little blue thingy on the floor behind Tom's chair is one of Theo's favorite toys. It's one of those long dog things from PetsMart. He loves the shake the heck outta that toy! Cute dam dog! :)