To all followers... you are invited....

Since "My Pregnancy Journal" was focused on my pregnancy, which is over now, I will no longer be updating this blog.
Thanks to all who followed me during this wonderful journey and encouraged me to stay motivated.
To all of my followers, you are invited to continue to read about our life as a family of four by visiting my personal blog, "A world of my own", which I update weekly. It is wonderful to read all comments and kinds words! Click here to begin following that blog.
Love you all and see you on my next blog!

Induction and birth story!

I was scheduled to check in at the hospital on 07/15 at 8pm to start a Cervidil induction.... so I went in with Iggy, did all the paperwork and started to wait.. After 5 long hours of waiting and not getting checked in, I asked what was going on and they told me the hospital had no beds available for inductions... so we decided to go home.
On 07/16, we got a call from one of the hospital nurses at 5am and were asked to check in since some beds had become available... great!
We got to the hospital at around 6:30am, were checked in and put in a room. After all the basic paperwork and procedures, I was checked and was told that I was 2cm dilated already. Cervidil was started around 10am and after just 2 hours, I was checked again and told I was about 4cm, so the doctor said I could get an epidural and she would break my water to speed things up. I agreed and the epi was given.. at this point I didn't feel any pain so it was more of an elective epidural... I sat, watched TV, went online and spoke to some visitors as I waited for time to pass.. I was rather comfortable....
Around 8:30pm, I started feeling my contractions, which were strong, but not that painful... my doctor got called in and I was at 10cm already.. I was amazed about how fast thing had progressed... Around 9:05pm, I was ready to push... so I did... I pushed 5 times and out she came.. born exactly at 09:20pm, she weighed 7lbs 10oz and was 18 1/2 in long... She is beautiful and perfect in every way and I'm so happy my labor went so well....
Thanks everyone for following my pregnancy blog all this time, thanks for all the kind comments and advice.
For those of you who are interested in following my blog and our life as a family of four, you can do so by visiting my personal blog, titled "A world of my own" , which I update weekly.
I can't believe this journey is over and I'm looking forward to our new life!

Week 38

Week 38 was "ok" considering the fact that I'm on the home stretch and I've grown increasingly anxious with the sole thought of labor...

I'm 39 weeks, being induced tonight and I can't help but be excited, nervous, confused and many things at the same time....

The week went by fairly fast with no major complaints/events other than full blown heartburn, crazy contractions, sore boobs, swollen feet, increased fatigued and a quick trip to the hospital! ha ha!

I've gained a total of 23 lbs during this pregnancy, which isn't too bad (I guess!)...but I'm really looking forward to losing all the weight and getting back into my regular clothes...needless to say I feel like a huge whale although the weight gain was not excessive.

My induction will start tonight at 8pm with Cervidil and then I will be given Pitocin. God willing, we will have a baby by tomorrow afternoon if not earlier... fingers crossed! ;)

Hopefully my next post will be about Gaby's birth story and some more exciting news....

Trip to L&D

I woke up this morning and was having intense pain in my lower pelvis. I took a shower a felt a bit better so I went out to take Olivia to her babysitter.
As I was driving there, I started feeling a sharp pain in my abdomen that was stretching to my back... it was NOT a good feeling...
I called my mom and she encouraged me to go to the hospital and get checked out. I also called Iggy and he left work to come with me to the hospital.
I was taken to Labor & Delivery and remained there for about an hour or so, begging the nurse to let me come home since I already had my mind set up for tomorrow's induction.
Turns out, I was having some mild contractions, which were not strong enough and I was in fact sent home. According to the nurse, the baby's head moved out of my pelvis and I'm not dilated at all! Oh well... I guess the Cervidil will have to do its job right and Gaby's head will have to re-engage. I saw my doctor at the hospital and he was still very hopeful about tomorrow's induction....!
Please pray for a quick and easy induction/delivery.

10 days until my due date!!

As most of you know, my countdown has been reduced since I will be having an induction. However, I wanted to point out that there are only 10 DAYS til my actual due date... so even if I was to be pregnant for the whole time... I would only have to wait about 10 days! how... amazing!! and EXCITING!!!!!!!...and even more exciting the fact that in reality, there are only 3 DAYS til baby!!!!

Exciting doctor's appointment: a date has been set...

So... after much thinking and consideration, we have decided to induce at 39 weeks...that means that baby Gaby will be here in ONE WEEK!!!
I had a doctor's appointment today and it went great. I spoke with my doctor about how uncomfortable I've been feeling and she suggested we make a plan. She did a cervical exam and noticed that the baby's head is really low and the baby is ready. She suggested I schedule a "Cervidil" induction for the 15th at night, so that the baby is born on the 16th. The plan is to go into the hospital at 8pm on Wednesday to ripen my cervix and then be put on Pitocin to bring on the contractions. This is the same procedure I had done when Olivia was born.
My doctor seems to think that this will be a fast and easy induction since Olivia's induction only took 9 hours... so let's hope she's right!
I know this is what I wanted, however, I can't help but feel a bit sad about it. I'm so emotional right now... so many things are going through my mind. Not only will we be a family of four within a week, but also we will have to spend Olivia's birthday at the hospital. I wonder if I'll be able to love my kids the same, or if I'll be able to handle having two kids.... it's weird... yet exciting...
Please pray for us!

Week 37

Only 15 dates left to my due date and I gotta say I'm happy about it! I am SO miserable already and the heat is not making it any easier!

This week was rough because of the crazy heartburn and swelling of my hands and feet. I officially don't have any shoes to wear because my feet are so swollen, so I have to walk barefoot as much as I can so that I can find some comfort. Of course when I leave the house, I HAVE to wear something, so needless to say, it's a challenge to find something to put on my feet! I got a pedicure this week, so that helped a little! ;)

My belly feels huge and baby Gaby is making me very uncomfortable. She often gets stuck in my ribs and her kicks are very painful! She hasn't dropped (although I thought she had), and I know this because breathing is a HUGE task as I often have to switch positions to be able to feel a little better!

My boobs hurt like hell as well and I've developed "pregnancy induced" Carpal Tunnel syndrome, which makes my hands numb and it's very painful!

I went swimming yesterday and that made me feel a bit better!

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to check for progress! So.... let's hope for some good news!

Growth Ultrasound

Today I had my final ultrasound and it went great!
According to the ultrasound tech, Gaby already weighs 7lbs and is measuring about a week ahead. She said that the baby is head down and well positioned and also told me that she believes I will not make it to 40 weeks... I want to believe her, but from experience I know they're not always right!
Baby Gaby was very active during the ultrasound and the tech was very happy to see her moving around and cooperating with her for measurements.
My next appointment is scheduled for Thursday 07/09 and I will be able to speak with my doctor about induction plans or what not!
I will update again next week!

Doctor's appointment

I had my 37 week appointment today and it wasn't exciting at all. First off, I reportedly gained 3lbs since last week, which puts me at 22lbs gained so far... that is CRAZY! I feel so guilty now for eating sweets during this past week and I'm starting to worry about how I will lose the weight after Gaby is born....one more thing to worry about!
I had a cervical exam, and I was told again that although my cervix is soft, it is not dilating and my body shows no signs of wanting to go into labor any time soon. The doctor also told me that although the baby is head down (still), she is not engaged in my pelvis and is pretty high up, which means she hasn't dropped yet!
My belly is measuring a week ahead and the doctor is already talking induction. I told her I would HATE to go over my due date and she said that I could choose and induction once I hit 39 weeks, which means anytime after the 16th. This gives me the option of getting induced on Olivia's birthday (the 17th) and have my daughters share a birthday... would that be crazy??
I need opinions!! ;)

Week 36

Wow! as of tomorrow I'll officially be considered "full term", so if the baby was born tomorrow, she wouldn't be considered a preemie!! only 3 weeks left to my due date and I still can't believe it! I know every week I start my posts saying the same thing but now time is really starting to speed up! I'm both excited and nervous and sometimes even in denial of the fact that we will be a family of 4 in less than a month!

This week was a little better than last week, however, I'm still very uncomfortable and have a few things that bother me, like horrible heartburn, an intense urge to pee, excessive hunger and fatigue and of course the never ending inability to sleep well at night.

Baby Gaby is still very active and she has dropped a bit. I can feel her pressing down my bladder and twisting and turning like crazy. I know she's head down already so that explains everything I fell.

I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow and an ultrasound this Thursday. Will update more then...

Pregnancy Massage

What a wonderful day today! I got an awesome pregnancy massage and I feel so great! I think I could stay pregnant for another 9 months if I'm able to get a massage like this every week... ok, maybe not that long..ha ha.. but it was wonderful.
Leslie, my massage therapist, came to my house at around noon and she did wonders with my back, legs, arms, hands, etc. It was such a great hour and I'm looking forward to doing it again in a week or so...

36-week appointment

So the fun has begun! My weekly appointments and cervical exams started as of today and I feel very discouraged.... given that I was induced with Olivia and things were exactly the same when I was this far along! ;(
I had my GBS test done, which was no big deal and then my doctor checked my cervix for progress. While he said that my cervix is soft and about 50% effaced, he also told me that it's totally closed (no dilation), which only means that my body has no idea what it's doing and the light at the end of the tunnel is not as close as I had hoped for!
On a good note, he said that baby Gaby is well positioned, already head down and he said that although the head was still "pretty high", he could feel it, which is good news...
My blood pressure was 110/70 and Gaby's heartbeat was around the high 140's, not bad at all!
Overall, the doctor is still very optimistic about me going to labor on my own and he said that it might still be too early for my cervix to start to dilate....he said that even if I end up being induced, labor should be easier than the first time around...which wasn't bad at all!
I am really hoping I don't go past my due date and baby Gaby decides to make her appearance sooner than later!
My next appointment was scheduled for 07/01 and then I have an ultrasound on 07/02 to check the baby's weight and fluid levels.
Please pray for me!

Week 35

For those of you who don't like to hear me whine, this might not be the post for you... because this week was BAD!!! I can honestly say it has been my worst week so far....

First off, the weather has been H O T, temperatures have been as high as 105 degrees with lots of humidity, which doesn't mix well with pregnancy... the swelling gets much worse when it's hot and it is also much harder to breathe right with all the humidity....

Contractions have been bad, some more painful than others, but overall horrible. Also, my belly feels super heavy and I've had lots of heartburn this week...

Sleeping has become the hardest task ever; if I get to sleep 5 hours a night, I'm very lucky! Also.. I can never find a comfortable position and always have to settle for sleeping on my left side..not fun!

My boobs hurt like hell and I feel horribly fat... Other than that... yay for only 30 days left! I'm exactly a month away from my due date.

My next doctor's appointment is tomorrow... we'll see what that brings!

Beach pictures (round 2)

I was able to spend some wonderful time at the beach this weekend and took some photos. Although I know it's crazy to bare the belly at this point, I was brave enough to do it... and here is a picture! No laughing allowed, please! ;)

A couple of bad days...

These past two days have been bad.. I haven't felt like myself and my uterus has been contracting like crazy!
Yesterday, as I was driving home from work, I felt an intense urge to pee... I just couldn't hold it in... then, right after that, my belly got so hard and I was in pain. I exited the highway right away and started looking for a restroom... When I got to it.. it didn't pee and the pain went away... it was really scary.. I thought the baby was going to come out....
Then at night, I had a similar incident and started hyperventilating... I couldn't go to sleep as I felt so hot and nauseous as well...
Today I have been feeling so exhausted and have had contractions all day long... I really hope these things don't mean anything because as much as I want to see my baby, I don't feel quite ready yet!!!!
On a good note, there's only 34 days left to my due date! Isn't that crazy??

Week 34

Here I am, 5 weeks away from my due date and getting as anxious as can be... I'm starting to go into "freak out" mode since this is more real by the second. All along I have felt like I am so ready for this and now I'm not so sure...but I guess it's too late to go back! ha ha!

This week was a bit rough on me because it is extremely hot outside and I've been having hot flashes throughout the day for the past few days. Also, due to the extreme heat, my hands and feet continue to get really swollen and I can barely fit any shoes anymore.

My heartburn is a little better and my hunger is under control. Sleeping at night is not so pleasant but I guess it could be worse. I have a doctor's appointment next week, where they will do the Strep B test and will also check for effacement and dilation. I'm officially two weeks away from being "full term", which will put my mind at ease, although I highly doubt this baby will come before 40 weeks based on my previous history (Olivia was 4 days late!). I am arming myself with patience and tolerance to cope with the next 5 weeks accordingly.

Braxton Hicks!

It's official... I'm feeling tons of Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) on a daily basis. This is driving me insane! I'm about 6 weeks away from my due date and my uterus will not stop contracting. I know it's false labor contractions because I've been through this before and this is exactly what happened when I was about this far along in my first pregnancy.
Also... I feel a lot of pressure in my pelvis, which could indicate that the baby has started to drop..yay for that, although it doesn't really mean anything....
This week I lost my mucus plug and that felt weird, although I know it's just my body getting ready to give birth within a month or so....
This is when pregnancy gets exciting and the end seems a lot closer... it's crazy how fast time has been passing and how excited I'm getting!
I can't wait until next appointment, when the doctor will check for dilation and progress!! wow! baby Gaby will be here in no time!! ;)

Week 33

Wow! Only 6 weeks left to my due date... that is very amazing and exciting! I can't believe that only a few months ago I was announcing that I was pregnant and complaining for "all the time" I had to wait.. Now that day is just right around the corner and now I'm getting scared! ha ha!

This week was "ok", not as great as last week but still fine... I felt a bit of heartburn here and there but nothing unbearable. Also, some nights I was able to sleep for more than 5 hours straight, now...that's an accomplishment....

On the not so good side, I have to say that I'm still having trouble digesting my food and often have difficulty breathing. Baby Gaby's position is making me very uncomfortable because she's still pretty high and stuck in my ribs. I hope she's starts to drop within the next two weeks or so and I start to feel a bit more comfortable. I have experienced a lot of swelling lately; my hands are feet are huge and I can no longer wear my wedding band... oh well... I guess I made it far enough...hopefully my fingers and toes will go back to normal...;)

I had my 34 week appointment today and it went well. Gaby's heart rate was around the 160's and my blood pressure was 120/60. I have gained a total of 17lbs and everything seems to be on target. My belly is measuring about a week ahead, which the doctor said it's normal at this stage. My next appointment is scheduled for June 24th and then I have an ultrasound on July 2nd to see the baby's size and position... I can't wait!

Week 32

This week was amazing!!! I felt great the whole time and had no symptoms whatsoever, aside from being exhausted and sleepy, of course....
I felt so good I even got a hair cut and all and I feel pretty for a change! haha!~
Baby Gaby remains very active and I still think she has a party inside my belly... a very fun one too...
My nights have gotten a bit better; I'm able to sleep about 6 hours straight and only get up about twice a night... not too bad compared to 5 or 6 times...
I've started to prepare for the arrival of our little one.. at least mentally.. the scene of having two kids is getting more and more real and very exciting...
Olivia has gotten better with my belly, she doesn't punch it as much and instead she kisses it and talks to baby Gaby through my belly button...it's really cute; hopefully she won't go through the sibling rivalry, which I dread....
There's only 7 weeks left to my due date and very soon the exciting doctors appointments will begin... I'm definitely looking forward to some physical progress as well!!!

Belly shots...

As my belly gets bigger, pictures are always a great way to document the pregnancy's progress... Here are some "cute" belly shots from this weekend

55 days left!!!

The countdown is ON!!! and this is getting exciting!  I feel good... exhausted and huge, but still good!

I've been super emotional lately; I think it's a mix of emotions.. I feel happy, torn, unprepared, anxious, excited.. it's crazy!!!  It's so hard to describe all the feelings and things that are going through my mind at this time... I just hope I'm able to sort all of this out before Gaby gets here!

I'm starting to wonder if she'll be early or late... this is crazy!!!

Week 31

The countdown continues and this pregnancy is slowly coming to an end...

There are only 8 weeks left to my due date and it almost sounds unbelievable; this has been quite a journey, with ups and downs but a great one after all....

This week the heartburn from hell came back along with a feeling that I'm not properly digesting the food I eat; I've started taking papaya enzymes, which helped me with this problem when I was pregnant with Olivia....thankfully they still work and make digestion much easier for me...

Also, I am peeing way too much; I go to the restroom at least five times within an hour and it drives me nuts...I am so sleepy all the time and sometimes feel that I'm going to fall asleep while driving... crazy.. I know..I hope it doesn't happen! ;)

This week I experienced a concern regarding my low blood pressure, but after speaking to my doctors and several nurses, I realized that it is quite common to have low blood pressure during pregnancy and it's definitely better than it being too high...

Baby Gaby moves A LOT.... it's great to feel reassured that she's doing fine, but sometimes it's very painful and uncomfortable....My feet are often swollen but overall not too bad.

I had my 32 week appointment this morning and it went great.  My belly measures exactly 32 weeks, Gaby's heartbeat was about 156 and I've gained  a total of 15 lbs during the pregnancy.. not too bad.  Hopefully things will continue to progress accordingly during the next 8 weeks. My next appointment is scheduled for June 9th. 

Breastfeeding and breast pumps...

When I was pregnant with Olivia, I attended several breastfeeding classes and was convinced that she would NEVER have any formula, or at least not for the first 6 months of her life...
When she was born, the story changed (just like every other idea I had)... it turns out that she was a very hungry baby and it seemed like my breast milk was never enough... Parenting is so unpredictable and this was one of those things that helped me realize that!
Well, I was still able to breastfeed her (supplementing with formula) for at least 4 months and then I weaned her and we were both happy campers...I thought breastfeeding was not "my thing"...I tried pumping but that never worked since my breast pump was so crappy....
This time around, I'm determined (once again) to breastfeed exclusively and maybe a little longer so I've been searching for a good breast pump. While I will not stress out if breastfeeding doesn't happen, I want to at least know that I did everything in my power to make it possible...
I have decided to rent a pump instead of buying one, so that I can get a really good one, even if I can't afford to buy it... So far I've found several good sites that offer monthly pump rentals and several other options....we'll see how that goes! ;)
Here are some:
http://www.lactationconnection.com/
http://www.pumpstation.com/
http://www.mybreastpump.com/
http://www.breastisbest.com/

Getting ready for baby....

It's really starting to hit me! I WILL have another baby in two months or so! Wow!
So far, I've already had my baby shower and even bought our double stroller...
Also during the past few days, I've been looking through Olivia's old clothes and getting ready to wash them and organize them in the drawers... this is crazy!!! For the first time during this pregnancy, the fact of having two daughters has become a reality...
I'm so torn...while I'm excited to have another baby, I feel bad to have to share my love, which means taking some away from Olivia....I continue to wonder if I'll be able to love Gaby as much as I love her... is this normal?
This is a picture of a few of the things that we have for baby Gaby... our house is a mess with so much stuff.. but it's so exciting!!! I can't wait for her to be here! ;)

We bought our stroller!!!

I'm beyond excited today as I finally bought the double stroller for our babies! Yay! Not only did I get the stroller, but it is also the one that I REALLY wanted! It took me a couple of months to convince Iggy that the stroller would be worth the investment, but he finally agreed and gave me the "ok" to buy it....he's so good to us!
After lots of research, I ended up getting the Phil & Ted's Dash double stroller in black. It was great because I found a website (http://www.babybecause.com/) that had a sale; they had the stroller with the doubles kit FREE and free shipping as well for $549.99. I though it was awesome, considering that the stroller was almost $700 at the local baby store! Now, I just have to wait until the stroller is delivered! I can't wait!!!Here's a picture of my "dream" stroller!

Really low blood pressure!

So far, this pregnancy has been a good one... Aside from the  common symptoms of pregnancy, I have been able to keep the "bad" under control and have had a rather uneventful journey....

Yesterday, however, I freaked out a bit when I took my blood pressure at home and it was 90/40.. I thought that was kind of low and decided to call my doctor's office, just to make sure that such low numbers were not dangerous or abnormal in any way... 

Well, the nurse didn't return my call until today (which is an OK turn around time) and I proceeded to tell her about my concern... She questioned my eating habits and I told her I normally eat breakfast, lunch and dinner... she then told me that I wasn't eating enough and I should be snacking at least every 2 hours!, "what if I'm not hungry?", I asked.. and she said.. you HAVE to eat more than your regular meals... 

So, here I am... I feel like such a bad mother for starving my baby, but then again, I feel fine... isn't that a sign that my baby is fine as well?.... after hearing what the nurse had to say... I guess not!

Week 30

This week was pretty decent, considering the size of my belly and the fact that I'm in the last 10 weeks.... As of today, there are 65 days left to my due date and I'm already on the single count for weeks...9 weeks left!!! Sometimes, when I look back at the day I found out I was pregnant, I get very amazed.. I can't believe this pregnancy is almost over and soon we will have another baby!

I feel "ok" for the most part... some back pain and heartburn at times, but it's manageable.. Sleeping is still a huge task, but I have found some positions that are not too bad... My boobs are very sore and I feel huge....oh.. and I'm super hungry all the time!!!

Other than that.. this week was uneventful in terms of pregnancy drama! haha!

Next doctor's appointment is scheduled for May 26th, so a week from today... then, I'll start seeing the doctor every two weeks!

Baby Shower

I had my baby shower today and had a wonderful time with friends and family. The food was yummy and there were lots of desserts as well...
I received many fun gifts from my registry and a bunch of gift cards from Babies R Us.. I can't wait to go shopping for baby Gaby... what a great shower I had... and I'm so thankful for so many good people in my life! ;)

70 days left!!

I just had to post today! I'm so excited!! I can't believe I have 70 days left.. and I feel GREAT!
Thank you God for such a wonderful pregnancy... I know I've been whining for a while but I am so happy for being able to have children and experience the miracle of pregnancy..
I never thought I'd say it.. but I think I'm going to miss this belly! haha!!
Yay for 70 days left!!!!!!!

Week 29

I'm happy to announce that things are starting to look up! Not only do I have only 10 weeks left, but I also feel so much better this week. I'm glad I'm starting to have a better outlook in regards to this pregnancy because even I was getting tired of being so my whining and negativity...
The heartburn has somewhat subsided and I've been able to control my emotions a lot better...also.. I've been sleeping better for the past week and Gaby has been so much nicer to me!

I'm still exhausted and of course I feel huge, but somehow I've started to see the light at the end of the tunnel a lot closer than I did last week.

I met my friend's newborn this past week (she also has a girl Olivia's age), and it made much more real.. the fact that we were pregnant together and her baby is already here definitely gives me some encouragement...

Also, I'm so excited about my baby shower coming up this Saturday! Can't wait 'til then! ;)

Amazing 3-D Ultrasound

After two failed attempts at a 3D ultrasound, where Gaby didn't let us see her face; we finally had an awesome 3D experience today. We were so lucky to get 3 sessions for the price of one since the baby didn't cooperate at first...so I guess I wasn't that bad!
This time around, she let us see her face and then some.. She smiled, yawned, rubbed her face, sucked her thumb, scratched herself and even "waved" at us... it was so cute... We also got some good pictures and a DVD of the session as a free bonus. The DVD contains most the session in 2D and 3D and lasts about 20 minutes.. it is great!
The most wonderful thing is that Olivia came along and was able to see her little sister.. she kept pointing at the screen and smiling... so cute!!!!
It was such a nice experience to see our baby in 3D, she is so beautiful... even the tech said that her face looked so perfect! We're now even more excited to meet our little girl and bring her into our family! ;)
Here are some pictures of the ultrasound... If you've never seen a 3D ultrasound, the images might be hard to make out...otherwise, her face is very visible! ;)

Week 28

The third trimester has proven to be horrendous! I'm feeling so sick and uncomfortable already.. I don't remember feeling this bad EVER! Good thing there's "only" 11 weeks left! Somebody please remind me, why is pregnancy so long???

This week was another week from hell, starting with horrible heartburn that just won't go away and just a general feeling of discomfort that is persistent every day...

My nights are horrible too... I can rarely find a comfortable position to sleep in and Gabriela just won't stop moving around... I have to pee at least every two hours every night and often feel like throwing up! I also feel fat and ugly.. I don't even think the pictures can lie anymore! ;(

Besides the physical discomfort, I'm also very hormonal and extremely emotional. I have crying spells and just a general sadness... I'm physically and emotionally exhausted... I hope this ends soon! As of today, 79 more days!!!

Baby Shower invite

So, after debating whether or not to have a baby shower for baby #2, my friends convinced me that I should at least celebrate with a little get together... I caved and we will have a shower (a small one) on May 17th... It will be *girls only* and not very fancy, but at least we will get to celebrate the anticipation of Gaby's arrival! Here's the invite I made for the shower!

3-D Ultrasound

Today we went in for our follow up 3-D ultrasound. The session didn't turn out great because once again the baby wasn't cooperating. She kept her hand in front of her face for most of the time and we only got one picture, which is blurry and not so clear.... I was a bit disappointed since I really wanted to get a good view of what she might look like, but I guess we'll meet her soon enough!
On a brighter note, the tech is giving us another chance, so we get to go back for free next week for one last try. I hope Gaby decides to let us see her face and allows the tech to take a couple of more pictures.
Next appointment is scheduled for Thursday May 7th at 7pm. Wish us luck!
Here's the one "decent" picture we got today!

Week 27

Week 27 is over... there's only 12 weeks left to this pregnancy and it seems like an eternity.. I know I'm sounding very negative but time just seems to be dragging on....

This week was better than last but still not that great... The heartburn did get a bit better but my back is killing me...I've been experiencing horrible lower back pain and I continue to get extremely exhausted.

Also, I feel like my feet are swollen and my belly is getting really huge...

On a lighter note, I did have a great prenatal appointment today. So far I have gained a total of 9 lbs and my belly is measuring right at 28 weeks; also my blood pressure is very good and I seem to be doing well with the growth. Gaby's heart rate was around the upper 150's, so perfect. The doctor did say I need to drink lots of fluids and pee more often because some traces of bacteria were found in my urine. He said it was nothing to worry about but did recommend that I drink some cranberry juice on a daily basis...

My next appointment is scheduled for May 26th, and then appointments will be every two weeks until week 36; from then on.. every week.. crazy, huh?

I passed!!!

So all the anxiety I felt during this past week was good for nothing... I got a call from my dr's office today to inform me that I passed my glucose challenge test with no issues. The score was 134, which puts me within the normal range! I was so happy to hear the news. The nurse also said that everything else looked fine too, including my hemoglobin, so that means I'm not even anemic this time around (I was with Olivia)... Yay for good news... keep them coming!!!
I have another routine appointment tomorrow, will report on that soon! ;)
Now, let's have some CAKE!

Awesome Ultrasound today!!

My wonderful hubby gave me a 3-D ultrasound package as an early Mother's Day gift..how sweet is that!!
So.. since I've been so eager to see baby Gaby again, we went today to La Ideal baby store for a session. The tech was super nice and gave us a lot of "screen" time with the baby....
At first she wasn't positioned right so we couldn't see her face (she was giving us her back). The tech took some measures and told me the baby weighs around 2lbs and is measuring right around 27 weeks.... awesome news!
We then waited a moment and I turned to my side so baby turned around, however we couldn't see her face because she kept covering it with her hands and feet. The kid would NOT let us take a peek... she is already very stubborn!
During the ultrasound, we were able to see her sucking her thumb, yawning and opening her mouth... it was so cute!
Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures because due to the position of the baby, the 3-D u/s couldn't be completed. However, we do get to go back for free for another try. I scheduled an appointment for next Wednesday at 6pm. Can't wait 'til then!

Week 26

This week has been the week of heartburn from HELL!!! I feel like some kind of dragon who could spit fire out of her mouth...it's horrible!! No matter what I eat or when I eat it, I always feel a burning sensation that I just can't deal with....

Sleeping at night has become a bit more comfortable (oddly enough), maybe because I have mastered the task of sleeping with a belly attached to me... I'm sleeping for longer periods of time and getting up less times a night...

My belly keeps growing and although I haven't hit the 30-week mark, I feel huge! Not a good feeling... but I guess it's part of the package.

We took a trip to DC on the weekend and it was great but I felt very exhausted with all the walking and running around... I think that was my last trip before baby comes...we sure had a blast!

Also, I had my Glucose Challenge test yesterday (see previous post)... I'll find out the results next week!

Glucose Challenge Test

Today I had my Glucose Challenge test, which is the 1-hour test that is done to diagnose Gestational Diabetes. I went into the lab at around 8am and waited about half an hour to be called. Then I drank the infamous "orange drink", which by the way didn't taste as bad as it did last time... and I waited an hour.
After the hour went by, the phlebotomist drew my blood and I was free to go... By the time the test ended I was starving since I had to fast this morning....
Now I have to wait for the results and hope I pass this test with flying colors so I don't have to go in for a 3-hour version of it (called the Glucose Tolerance test)! We shall see!!

Week 25

Another week is gone and I'm starting to see a light at the end of this tunnel! I'm officially on to the double digit day countdown.. how exciting is that!! 99 days to go as of today!

This week was pretty decent considering I'm about to enter the 3rd trimester. I'm extremely exhausted and "sleepy" is my status quo, but the heartburn has gotten better and the weight gain is under control.

This week, baby Gaby has been extremely active. She punches and kicks all day long and I can barely sleep at night. I'm still peeing a million times a day, but I guess that's not so bad since I drink so much water during the day.

Next week I have my glucose challenge test, which I hope to pass without any issues. I have stopped eating any sweets to prevent any issues with the dreaded test. My next prenatal visit is on 04/28.. can't wait til then!

I have added a belly picture for this week, although I think my belly looks smaller today because of the position of the baby....my arms do look fat as hell so I feel like a cow!!!!

100 days to go!!!

According to my pregnancy ticker, there are "only" 100 days left to this pregnancy!
Wow! That means tomorrow, as I close the 25th week, I will be in the double digit countdown, as opposed to the triple digit! Yay!
I just wanted to share today's excitement! I will post again tomorrow about week 25!

Belly shots at the beach!

25 weeks, 2 days and counting.. Here are some pictures I took at the beach today....I was brave enough to sport a bikini.. it was fun!!

Week 24

So as of today, there are "only" 15 weeks left to baby time as I enter my 25th week. I have to say that this pregnancy is starting to drag on... I'm already desperate and starting to feel like I've been pregnant forever...

This week wasn't so great. I have had tons of heartburn and a lot of difficulty breathing. I get very uncomfortable at night and also some weird nausea in my sleep. Besides that, baby Gaby is pressing down my bladder and I have to pee constantly...not fun!

A couple of days ago I felt horrible. I think she assumed a strange position and was making it very hard for me to breathe. I started to feel very dizzy and extremely nauseous and told Iggy to take me back home. Thankfully, the horrible feeling went away within minutes of laying down but I was pretty scared.

My belly is still growing and it is very itchy. I'm hoping time starts to speed up because this is getting exhausting!!!!

Excuse me... I need to pee!!!!!!!

I'm currently averaging between 20 to 25 daily visits to the potty.. this is crazy! I have never peed so much in my entire life.. not even when I was pregnant with Olivia.
I get up about 6 times every night and feel a very intense pressure on my bladder... it is rather uncomfortable.. and during the day, all I do is pee.
I wonder if this craziness will ever stop or else I'll have to start wearing diapers soon! ;)

Dare to bare the belly...

I finally dared to bare my belly... it's getting big... I hadn't posted many bare belly shots because I just hate all the stretch marks that my 1st pregnancy left on it.. but oh well.. here it is.. getting big!! 24 weeks and counting!

Week 23

Another week is ending today as the light at the end of the tunnel gets closer and closer. This has been BY FAR, the best week of this pregnancy. If it wasn't for my belly (and the very active baby inside it), I wouldn't even know I'm pregnant.
I had a doctor's appointment this past Monday and things are looking great. I have gained a total of 6lbs since I got pregnant and the baby's heart rate remains around the 160's. According to the doctor, I have done a "phenomenal" job with my weight gain and the baby sounds "beautiful". It is such a relief to know that things are progressing positively. I feel huge and ugly but I'm sure that will change once I have the baby and get on a diet and exercise regime.
Within the next 3 weeks I will have my Glucose Tolerance test; I'm actually dreading that test since there's always a slight chance of failing it and having to retake it...oh well!
My next prenatal visit is scheduled for April 28th; by then I'll be about 28 weeks along and starting the third trimester! God.. I can't wait!
No belly picture this week! Will update when I hit 25 weeks! ;)

Week 22

So.. as I continue to cruise through the 2nd trimester, the idea of having another baby becomes more and more real and I get ever more anxious...

I'm into the 6th month of this pregnancy and I have a lot of crazy feelings running through my head... Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be able to love Gabriela as much as I love Olivia, but I guess it's normal to feel this way...

I feel good for the most part; of course, I'm always exhausted but I guess it could be worse. My appetite is crazy but so far I've had no cravings. I haven't weighed myself lately but I have a doctor's appointment coming up on the 30th, so I guess I'll get a weight report then.

Heartburn is still acting up and sometimes I get an upset stomach, I hope that gets better soon.

There are 17 weeks left to this pregnancy and I can't wait to get into the single digits of this countdown!

Week 21

This is the end of the 5th month of this pregnancy as month #6 beings on week 22. What a journey this has been.. so different from my first pregnancy.

This week has been bad... I've had a ton of heartburn and have been extremely emotional..Also, I feel like I have gained so much weight during the past few days... I feel so fat that I'm even afraid to step on a scale..I have the appetite of an elephant and sometimes I feel like I can't stop eating...

My feet are swollen and sleeping at night has become a real challenge since I can never find a comfortable position. My belly has gotten big and baby Gaby is very active, especially at night.

I really hope the next 18 weeks go by fast because I'm starting to feel very uncomfortable and anxious!

Week 20

Week 20 is officially done and I am cruising through the 2nd trimester... I've been feeling great! Of course, there's always a little bit of heartburn here and there, but I really can't complain!
I'm super tired, as always, but I have already accepted that symptom as well. The baby has been very active lately and I just love to feel her kick and move around.. it is such a great feeling..
I have started to gain some weight, which really worries me at times, but then again I can't really focus on it all that much.... I guess I will have to implement a huge diet when I have the baby..
Iggy and I have decided that we will bank this baby's cord blood, just like we did with Olivia. We have already received our packet and will use CBR again... we feel confident that our decision regarding this matter is the best!
No belly picture this week, will update next time! ;)

Week 19

Ok, so I'm at the end of week 19! This means I'm halfway to baby! yay! I still can't believe that I've made it this far without hating being pregnant.

This week was "ok" except for the extreme fatigue that I feel every minute of the day. I'm also extremely emotional and teary; it's hard to watch a sad movie or anything that is half bad... this is crazy!

My belly certainly has popped and it's getting seriously big, according to my doctor it is measuring around 23 weeks, which I personally think it's a bit of a stretch...oh well!

I had a great doctor's appointment this week and was told that I've gained a total of 4lbs, which isn't too bad. My goal is to gain 20lbs at the most and my doctor seems to think I'm on the right track.

Week 18

I'm done with week 18 of this pregnancy and time is still passing by very slowly, although I gotta say it's a lot faster than when I was pregnant with Olivia.
This week was decent since I've been feeling "ok". I have been having a lot of heartburn, which is very uncomfortable at times and I'm also super exhausted. I'm having a very hard time waking up in the mornings and my energy level is very low. My appetite is still under control and I haven't gained any weight. I'm wearing maternity clothes and starting to feel comfortable with myself.
This week, we got confirmation about the baby's gender and she is indeed a girl... I couldn't be happier... Olivia will be such a great big sister!

Ultrasound news!!!

I had my "big" ultrasound today and I'm happy to report that it was AMAZING! I could not have asked for a better ultrasound or better news!After an hour wait at my doctor's office I was finally called in to see my little baby. I was happy because Iggy was able to make it and it was the first time he got to see the baby during this pregnancy.The tech took all the measurements and told me everything looked perfect. The baby is measuring right on target and is about 8oz, which the average weight for 19 weeks. She also told me that her heart looked "beautiful" and she's growing steady and healthy.It was confirmed that the baby is indeed a girl so we're sticking to our original plan to name her Gabriela Isabel!We're so blessed and so happy to be able to share such good news! Thank you GOD!!!We got a lot of cool pictures of baby Gabriela, here are some of them...

BIG ultrasound tomorrow!

Tomorrow at 5:50pm it's the BIG ultrasound. This is the ultrasound commonly known as the "Fetal Anatomy" or "Anatomical" ultrasound, where they measure all of the baby's anatomy to ensure that the growth is on track and everything is fine.
Also, it's the ultrasound where they generally reveal the sex of the baby, which I happen to already know. But what if I'm in for a big surprise; what if they tell me I'm having a boy instead? Ha! Anything is possible so I've prepared myself for any surprise that is thrown at me.
Iggy will be coming with me and I'm so excited about that because it's the first time he'll see the baby since he hasn't been able to make it to the other appointments.
I'm anxious, scared, happy, etc... I guess it's normal to feel this way. I just want them to tell me that everything looks perfect! Will post more tomorrow! I can't wait!

I'm loving my doppler!

So, as I mentioned it before, my doppler finally arrived this week and I think I'm in love with this thing.. what a great buy...

I've been listening to my baby's heartbeat every day and I just love knowing that she's inside me and that I'm supporting such a little life...

The doppler is super easy to use, it is the perfect size and it is so much fun... The average heart rate has been between 120-140 bpm, which indicates that she's healthy and having a lot of fun in there!

I'm just loving this doppler.. good thing I bought it! :) It is so addicting!!!

Week 17

I'm officially ending the 4th month of pregnancy since month #5 starts at week 18! I have to say this week was very rough on me. I was sick with a head cold and had crazy nose bleeds for about two days. I don't think those symptoms were pregnancy related but the fact that I couldn't take any medications definitely made the matters worse.

My belly finally popped... for real! and this time I mean it... I'm starting to look huge in some pictures. Some days the belly is smaller than other days, but it's definitely there...

But not all was bad during this past week, there were actually a few good things. First of all, I was finally able to get some cute maternity clothes; some given to me by friends and other was purchased at Motherhood Maternity. Also, I received my doppler in the mail and oh my God! what a great feeling it is to hear my baby's heartbeat...it is the most amazing sound ever... I couldn't ask for more...

Week 16

Here I stand at the end of week 16 and I think this is going so unbelievably slow!!! It seems like time just froze and it's not passing! I'm starting to dread this pregnancy and this is supposed to be the easy trimester! yeah right!

I feel so fatigued and whenever I see my bed I'm lucky if I can stay awake for 5 minutes; I've never felt so sleepy in my life....

None of my clothes fit anymore and I still haven't gone out to buy maternity stuff. Some friends gave me some of theirs but I still feel ugly no matter what I wear...

The worst thing this week have been the evil pimples that I got on my forehead; I never thought my skin could be so greasy and ugly!

I went in for my "Integrated Screen" this past Tuesday and will know the results of that and the NT scan within a week or so.

My next ultrasound is on Feb. 25th and the next prenatal visit is on March 2nd! At least I have something to look forward to in the near future! ha!