I am trying to decided whether or not to vaccinate. I guess I should mention that this has to do with me, not my son. :) I know its a raging hot topic nowadays whether or not to vaccinate your children due to the suspicion that vaccines may cause Autism. For the record, Robbie and I believe that vaccines are wonderful and essential to providing a safe and healthy environment for everyone. The risk is too great not to vaccinate, and there are so many diseases that have been eradicated because of them. Those children who may have developed Autism from vaccines have been determined to be genetically pre-disposed to the disease, so there is no way of knowing what actually triggered the condition.
Anywho, back to me. I work in a public school, so I'm often bombarded with the latest sickness going around. Although, this year has been pretty good (knock on wood) as far as getting colds and the flu. Last school year was awful, I've never been so sick, that frequently before. Hopefully my body is building up a super duper immune system. With that said, the H1N1 vaccines are about to be released to the general public. As a pregnant woman, I am numero uno on the CDC's priority list for the vaccine...but I'm still deciding on whether or not to get it.
The only reason I hesitate to get the vaccine is because its only been developed and tested in clinical trials for several months (rather than years). And from the researching I did, no trials were conducted on pregnant women. Obviously doctors hesitate to enlist pregnant women in drug trials, which unfortunately leaves a large data void to fill with any drug.
From my research I did learn many things that encourage me to get the vaccine. First, the H1N1 flu strain is obviously a derivative of the hundreds of flu strains out there...so the vaccine is very similar to the typical flu shot given out every season...and that vaccine has been proven safe for pregnant women.
When given to a pregnant woman, the baby is born with the immunity created by the vaccine. This is good for me because my son will be born in the midst of the flu season, and I'm at a higher risk for getting the flu/spreading the flu because I work in a school. And if you read any headlines about the H1N1 virus, 9 times out of 10 the school is where it breaks out.
So will I get the vaccine? Probably...it seems like the benefits of protecting myself and my baby outweigh the risks.
With that said, I did learn this week that I am Rh negative. I've heard about the Rh factor before, but wasn't quite sure what it was about. Basically, I'm at a risk for my body attacking my baby. If my baby is Rh positive (which is highly likely since only 15% of the population is Rh neg) my blood will work to create antibodies to attack my baby's blood if they were to come in contact with one another (most likely during delivery, but possible in utero). If untreated, this can cause serious birth defects and possibly become fatal for the baby. Lots of "ifs" would need to happen, but fortunately this condition can be treated with a couple shots.
The biggest concern is for second and subsequent pregnancies. By the time another baby would come along, my body has had plenty of time to create hundreds of thousands of antibodies looking to destroy Rh positive blood cells. So again, the shots come into play. The drug tricks my blood cells into thinking everything is okay, that there's no need to attack other blood cells. Why do I picture a cheesy cartoon where one blood cell is dressed as a security guard, and another blood cell is disguised in some funny costume?
I found out that my mom is also Rh negative, so that must be where I got it from. She told me that she had the injections done with all 3 of her pregnancies. I turned out fine, didn't I? :)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Life of Maverick: week 25-ish!
So I know I just posted a blog blurb. But when I saw the picture of me in my Cardinals maternity shirt, it reminded me that I haven't posted a "belly pic" in a while on the blog.
This was taken last week or so. I'm currently 24-25 weeks preggo.
Maverick has been moving more and more everyday, and I can't get enough of it. There is just something so reassuring when I feel him doing what feels like karate chops on my innards. :) When I was first feeling movement it felt like tiny muscle flinches, or sometimes gas bubbles. Now, the only way I can describe it is that it feels like someone is poking you with a stick...but from the inside. Also, it used to be in just one spot. Now I sometimes feel pokes in two places, at the same time.
The really cool/very freaky thing that has recently begun is actually watching my stomach move when he moves. I was resting a book on my tummy while reading, and it actually moved when he kicked it. Crazy! Robbie was super freaked out when he was talking to Maverick and he saw my stomach move in response. How awesome is that?!
The past couple of days my stomach has felt so full and hard that I don't know how it is going to grow for 3 1/2 more months without exploding! I have to put cocoa butter on my tummy because my skin actually hurts sometimes. And I often wake up in the middle of the night with "round ligament pain" in my abdomen. But it is all worth it, and I love it. I feel so blessed and praise God for allowing me to experience this.
This was taken last week or so. I'm currently 24-25 weeks preggo.
Maverick has been moving more and more everyday, and I can't get enough of it. There is just something so reassuring when I feel him doing what feels like karate chops on my innards. :) When I was first feeling movement it felt like tiny muscle flinches, or sometimes gas bubbles. Now, the only way I can describe it is that it feels like someone is poking you with a stick...but from the inside. Also, it used to be in just one spot. Now I sometimes feel pokes in two places, at the same time.
The really cool/very freaky thing that has recently begun is actually watching my stomach move when he moves. I was resting a book on my tummy while reading, and it actually moved when he kicked it. Crazy! Robbie was super freaked out when he was talking to Maverick and he saw my stomach move in response. How awesome is that?!
The past couple of days my stomach has felt so full and hard that I don't know how it is going to grow for 3 1/2 more months without exploding! I have to put cocoa butter on my tummy because my skin actually hurts sometimes. And I often wake up in the middle of the night with "round ligament pain" in my abdomen. But it is all worth it, and I love it. I feel so blessed and praise God for allowing me to experience this.
It's lookin' like a good October!
So, you wouldn't know it by our blog, but we are HUGE baseball fans. (I'm trying to remedy this!) Baseball is the most glorious and sacred element to our history, specifically St. Louis Cardinals baseball. It has been such an epic part of both mine and Robbie's lives. Our families are bonded together by God and Cardinals baseball. :)
Okay enough of the cheesy sentiments, but here's just a glimpse of what I'm talking about. My wonderful family and friends threw me a Cardinals baseball theme wedding shower. Someone made these hats for Robbie and I! Awesome!!
Now, to my original inspiration for writing. I am highly in danger of jinxing our beloved Redbirds, but I feel that if USA Today already printed it then it should be okay. :) An article published today has predicted the Cards will be in the World Series this year...something we've all been feeling the past couple of weeks. Sure there is about a month left in the season, but barring catastrophe, we should make the playoffs. Woooo hoooo!! The Cardinals are doing what they do best, and that is win. I'm hoping that the addition of John Smoltz will add another spark to our victory drive.
Post-season Cardinals baseball is a culture like none other. As a fan of the entire sport of baseball, I've enjoyed traveling to other stadiums like New York and Chicago. But nothing even compares to Busch Stadium in October. This brings back fond memories of sleeping outside the stadium for playoff tickets. (Back when they let you. Now it's all online)
Maverick is already prepared to be baptized into Cardinal nation. :) My first maternity shirt I ever wore read, "Future Fan" on the belly:
Tonight the air is very cool, crisp, and autumn-like. Breathing it in makes me excited for a Red October!
Okay enough of the cheesy sentiments, but here's just a glimpse of what I'm talking about. My wonderful family and friends threw me a Cardinals baseball theme wedding shower. Someone made these hats for Robbie and I! Awesome!!
Now, to my original inspiration for writing. I am highly in danger of jinxing our beloved Redbirds, but I feel that if USA Today already printed it then it should be okay. :) An article published today has predicted the Cards will be in the World Series this year...something we've all been feeling the past couple of weeks. Sure there is about a month left in the season, but barring catastrophe, we should make the playoffs. Woooo hoooo!! The Cardinals are doing what they do best, and that is win. I'm hoping that the addition of John Smoltz will add another spark to our victory drive.
Post-season Cardinals baseball is a culture like none other. As a fan of the entire sport of baseball, I've enjoyed traveling to other stadiums like New York and Chicago. But nothing even compares to Busch Stadium in October. This brings back fond memories of sleeping outside the stadium for playoff tickets. (Back when they let you. Now it's all online)
Maverick is already prepared to be baptized into Cardinal nation. :) My first maternity shirt I ever wore read, "Future Fan" on the belly:
Tonight the air is very cool, crisp, and autumn-like. Breathing it in makes me excited for a Red October!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Am I being too unrealistic?
As every new parent experiences, everyone has advice for you--whether you have requested it or not. Probably the thing I hear most is "enjoy (fill-in-activity-here) now, because when the baby comes you'll never enjoy it the same/or at all again".
I feel sorry for the people that give that advice!!
The way I feel about that advice is the same way I feel when people make a big deal about "enjoying life the best you can before you get married". They make it sound like a prison sentence! And for some people, maybe it is. But not for me!
I'm not naive to the fact that babies change everything. I work with children aged 3 to 12 for a living, so I know a thing or two about kids. Robbie used to work where I work now, so he has plenty of experience in that arena too. So we know that life won't be the same.
But why does that have to be bad? The way I see it is that I will get to share my favorite things with this new person in my life. Sure, it may be a bit more challenging...but where's the fun unless its challenging?
Maybe I'm being a little too unrealistic here. But you gotta hold on to something to keep yourself sane when your kid is throwing their sippy cup into the penguin tank at the zoo!
I feel sorry for the people that give that advice!!
The way I feel about that advice is the same way I feel when people make a big deal about "enjoying life the best you can before you get married". They make it sound like a prison sentence! And for some people, maybe it is. But not for me!
I'm not naive to the fact that babies change everything. I work with children aged 3 to 12 for a living, so I know a thing or two about kids. Robbie used to work where I work now, so he has plenty of experience in that arena too. So we know that life won't be the same.
But why does that have to be bad? The way I see it is that I will get to share my favorite things with this new person in my life. Sure, it may be a bit more challenging...but where's the fun unless its challenging?
Maybe I'm being a little too unrealistic here. But you gotta hold on to something to keep yourself sane when your kid is throwing their sippy cup into the penguin tank at the zoo!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Is the baby a Ruby or a Maverick?
Robbie and I went to the doctor yesterday, and we got our first ultrasound done. A couple suprises awaited us. First, my intuition about how far along I am in my pregnancy was correct. I always had a feeling I wasn't quite as far along as the doc originally said. The ultrasound showed that I'm actually about 21 weeks, which means the due date moved from December 1st to the 10th. But really, babies like to make their own plans so it very well could be Dec. 1st. :)
Second, we really wanted to find out the gender. Until now we've nicknamed the baby Rubick--a combination of Ruby and Maverick. Ruby Mae for a girl, and Maverick William for a boy.
As soon as the sonographer put the wand on my belly she said, "Are you sure you want to find out? Because it's the first thing that popped up on the screen!" We told her we reeeeeeeally wanted to know and she pointed to the screen and said, "What do you think that is?"
Cue dramatic music:
I would like to introduce our son, Maverick William.
So that's when reality set in. I'm going to have a son. It is almost too much for my brain to process!
It was really crazy to feel him move and simultaneously see him move on the screen. He was also really squirmy during the ultrasound, so much so it was hard for the sonographer to take "pictures" fast enough. I guess I shouldn't have had the burrito for breakfast.
Here are some more pictures to enjoy. I can't stop looking at them...
The sonographer said that his face would look like "skeletor" and she wasn't kidding!
Someday those little feet will be running around the house getting into trouble.
This is an amazing shot of his leg. Such a clear picture of all his leg bones.
At one point he actually had his foot in his mouth, and this is a shot of him sucking his thumb.
I wish that we could have captured video of this. We watched all 4 chambers of his heart beating.
Can't wait to have you here Maverick!
Second, we really wanted to find out the gender. Until now we've nicknamed the baby Rubick--a combination of Ruby and Maverick. Ruby Mae for a girl, and Maverick William for a boy.
As soon as the sonographer put the wand on my belly she said, "Are you sure you want to find out? Because it's the first thing that popped up on the screen!" We told her we reeeeeeeally wanted to know and she pointed to the screen and said, "What do you think that is?"
Cue dramatic music:
I would like to introduce our son, Maverick William.
So that's when reality set in. I'm going to have a son. It is almost too much for my brain to process!
It was really crazy to feel him move and simultaneously see him move on the screen. He was also really squirmy during the ultrasound, so much so it was hard for the sonographer to take "pictures" fast enough. I guess I shouldn't have had the burrito for breakfast.
Here are some more pictures to enjoy. I can't stop looking at them...
The sonographer said that his face would look like "skeletor" and she wasn't kidding!
Someday those little feet will be running around the house getting into trouble.
This is an amazing shot of his leg. Such a clear picture of all his leg bones.
At one point he actually had his foot in his mouth, and this is a shot of him sucking his thumb.
I wish that we could have captured video of this. We watched all 4 chambers of his heart beating.
Can't wait to have you here Maverick!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Good news all around!
This past weekend Robbie and I volunteered for the "Saturday Jubilee" food drive. The goal of the food drive was to replenish all the local food pantries, because for the first time ever they had to start turning people away. Most of these people are families who find themselves in this tough situation for the first time. So many local churches and non-profit organizations got together to accomplish the Saturday Jubilee.
There is not a better way to describe what happened than to watch this video:
How amazing was that?? I sat outside a local grocery store to collect non-perishable food and cash donations, and the thing that blessed me the most was watching people give who they themselves were unemployed or struggling financially. It was cool to strike up conversations with people about how they wanted to "pay it forward" because others had given to them.
In other good news (maybe not as impactful) Robbie felt the baby move for the first time last night!! I've been trying to get him to feel the baby for a few weeks now, but it never failed--every time Robbie put his hand on my tummy the baby stopped moving. So I enlisted the advice of some mommies to try to make it happen.
Robbie's mom said that she craved Fudgesicles while pregnant with Robbie, and she used to poke him with the stick to get him to move. (Robbie of course blamed all of his life problems on this) So we tried this same method, and it worked!! It was quite ticklish for me, and apparently for the baby because it kicked (or punched?) my belly button really hard while Robbie had his hand on my tummy. Yay!
There is not a better way to describe what happened than to watch this video:
How amazing was that?? I sat outside a local grocery store to collect non-perishable food and cash donations, and the thing that blessed me the most was watching people give who they themselves were unemployed or struggling financially. It was cool to strike up conversations with people about how they wanted to "pay it forward" because others had given to them.
In other good news (maybe not as impactful) Robbie felt the baby move for the first time last night!! I've been trying to get him to feel the baby for a few weeks now, but it never failed--every time Robbie put his hand on my tummy the baby stopped moving. So I enlisted the advice of some mommies to try to make it happen.
Robbie's mom said that she craved Fudgesicles while pregnant with Robbie, and she used to poke him with the stick to get him to move. (Robbie of course blamed all of his life problems on this) So we tried this same method, and it worked!! It was quite ticklish for me, and apparently for the baby because it kicked (or punched?) my belly button really hard while Robbie had his hand on my tummy. Yay!
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