The fish tank delemma

Some of you know that we have a fish tank in our apartment. I like fish and I used to have one in my bedroom before I moved to Southern Cal. I decided that I wanted to pick up from where I left off and buy the same kind of fish and see how they do here in our apartment. But I bought a 5 gallon tank for them this time. Originally I had gotten a fish tank as a wedding gift from my bridesmaids almost 4 years ago. I got some pretty colored white mollys and 2 frogs. The frogs were so cute. They were african frogs who liked the water. When David and I decided to move, (6 months after we were married), we tried to take the fish and frogs with us but they didn't make it. I guess they don't like to be sloshed around in a tank while I was holding them in the U-haul truck. Since those fish and frogs died, I decided it wasn't worth the time and effort to have a fish tank. Plus at the time I was too busy to care for them and they got neglected.
Until I decided that I wanted to start it up again last September.

So to make a long story short, I ran into a problem today. I was cleaning the tank because we are planning on going out of town for the weekend and the tank is long over due for a cleaning. I cleaned the filter and changed the water. But as I was putting everything back together, I noticed that the filter wasn't working (and yes it was plugged in)
This is the first time that I've had a problem with cleaning the tank.

I think it's time to make a decision about the fish. Keep them or lose them.
What will it be? I know that when baby Z comes, I won't have time to care for fish. My baby Z will be so important to me that I will forget about them. Poor fish.......
Lately it is getting more and more difficult to lean over and clean the tank.
But on the other hand, I was thinking about baby Z. I think he would love to look at the fish and watch as I feed them. It might help to keep him entertained when he starts crying. But I don't know if I can keep up with the fish maintenance while we have a baby to care for. I may be able to ask David to help me with the fish but don't know he's pretty busy.

Last weekend

This past weekend, David and I got to go to his sister's graduation party. She graduated from an engineering school in Boston. It was at a park in Whittier. The weather was nice. I talked to some friends and relatives. It was great to be able to talk to some other moms who have had similar experiences.
After that we went to dinner at a fabulous mexican restaurant that reminded me of one that I love at my hometown in Northern Cal. It was affordable and delicious. That is so awesome that there are restaurants that are both good and affordable. Especially mexican food. Yummy!

After the party and dinner, we went to play some games at David's brother's apartment. It was fun.
This was much needed because I was emotional all last week. I wasn't handling things very well. It was so nice to be able to laugh and relax.

Does this hurt? How 'bout now?

Today I had a glucose test at a lab to see how my body reacts to sugar.
I had to drink an orange colored drink and then I had to wait an hour and then take a blood test. Yes the old poke and poke thing that I dread. I should be used to it by now but I don't know if I ever will. Today was even more exciting because this time the technician poked my hand. I think I don't have any veins in my arms at all. The hand seemed to hurt much worse than my arms, from what I remember. I'm so glad that David was with me. I looked into his beautiful brown eyes while I winced at the same time. Ouch it hurt. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I don't think that I have a very high pain tolerance and it makes me afraid of labor.
The drink reminded me of orange soda. It wasn't too bad except I was hungry, but what's new? I'm always hungry. I have to eat a lot because Z baby is growing so fast.

The other neat thing is that when I was waiting the hour in the waiting room, there was another woman who was having the same test done. She looked to be about my age. I saw her take the same orange liquid that I did. We started talking and as it turns out, she has the same doctor that I have, she's registered at the same hospital as me and her due date is the same. Also, she is also living in a 1 bedroom apartment and wondering if she will be able to move or not. Wow! I thought that was amazing. Here I was in the lab having a test done and I met another pregnant woman and we had these things in common.

In other news, the weather has been down right icky and sticky. For the last couple of days, it's been pretty miserable. I either want to go swimming or just stay inside in an air conditioned room.

not telling

I just wanted to say that I am planning on disguising our baby's name until he is born. I don't want to give it away. From now on I will be using: little boy Z, little baby, baby Z or something like it when I talk about him.

I'll announce his full name when he comes into this world.(October 6 is the projected due date). Or I'll have my husband do it for me. I have a big feeling that typing on the computer will be the last thing on my mind at that time.

25 weeks! Yeah Baby!

I had a follow up ultrasound for the amniocentesis test from June 1st. That ultrasound was last Monday. It was great! The doctor said everything is looking good and little boy Z is healthy. He's about 1 1/2 pounds. Wow! He's growing fast. The doctor kept saying what a beautiful baby he is. I already knew that. On Wednesday, I had a regular check up appointment and I asked some questions. My feet and hands have been so sore lately. The doctor says I have corporal tunnel syndrome in my hands/wrist. What a bummer! He says it's normal to have that during pregnancy. It's crazy how it's not just the womb that is affected. Being pregnant affects my whole body.
I get light headed and my heart beats irregularly when I climb stairs. I get gaggy and queasy when I smell certain things or if I'm too hungry. I get tired from doing laundry during the day. What else? I cry when I'm overwhelmed and frustrated. I have very peculiar dreams at night.
I'm not trying to complain, I'm just amazed at how this pregnancy is affecting me. I had no idea what to expect. Of course I have heard some things about it, but pregnancy affects every woman differently. Some women sail through it and enjoy every minute of it and some women can't wait until the day they give birth because it's so terrible.
I don't know where I stand. Sometimes I get excited and I just love feeling my baby kick and move inside me and sometimes I just hate every thing about being pregnant. I cry because I feel left out of things and I just can't do what I used to be able to do before I was pregnant.

I guess I'm just full of different emotions. Some of them are irrational and some of them don't make sense. Just ask my husband. He puts up with a lot. It's pathetic how I cry and yell because there are dirty dishes on the counter and my feet and back hurts too much to wash them. He does help me when he can but he's busy with work and he needs some time to relax and enjoy himself.
I cry when I look at the apartment and it is slowly getting cluttered with baby stuff already and it's not even October yet. Pretty soon we will have to make a path just to get to the bedroom.

By the way, the little boy Z is moving right now as I type!

Pool time

Yesterday David and I went swimming in the pool at our apartment. It was a good way to cool off. It was so refreshing and our baby liked it too. He was kicking as soon as I got out to go and sit on the sun chair. He wanted me to go back in.
David had fun with some of the kids in the pool too. It was neat to see him interact with them. He's going to be such a great dad. He is great with kids.

Notice how everyone was in the shallow end? I like the shallow end too.

Time with friends

Yesterday I was able to spend some time with my friends. We went to lunch at El Torito Grill and then had ice cream at Golden Spoon, very yummy.
I was the only one who had shorts and a tank top on (out of the 4 of us). I have been so hot lately. It is amazing how my hormones make me so hot and uncomfortable and the weather is not helping.
All in all I had a good time just hanging out. But I had a hard time walking up some stairs to the restaurant. It is on a hill and apparantly it was too much for me on a hot day or something because I started feeling a little light headed. I had to stop and take some deep breaths. Then when I was eating, I just about choked on something because it didn't go down right. Anyway, I panicked a little and ran to the restroom because I was starting to get really nervous with people watching me. I just sat quietly and took some deep breaths and I was better.
I really wish that I could have enjoyed the day better. All 4 of us who met at the restaurant have been waiting a while to get together. We have been busy or it was because of me and I was sick. I have nice and understanding friends. Even if they don't understand what it's like to be pregnant. They are all single and it's kind of tough for me to be the only married and pregnant one in the group but they are all really good friends. It was kind of funny that they were all talking about how they were going to go surfing and sky diving, and how much they loved rollercoasters. I just sat and listened and wished that I could do that stuff. Not the sky diving and surfing though, that is too scary for me. Rollercoasters are bad enough.
I has been hard for me to just sit and wait. I sometimes get a little frustrated that I can't go iceskating and things like that. I know that it is for the best and I can't do any activity that could cause me to fall or hurt myself but it is hard because I love iceskating and it is cool in an ice rink and it would feel so good on a hot day. As I am sitting here, I have a fan blowing right on me in the bedroom. We've been keeping it on all day and all night because it's so hot, along with the air conditioning on in the living room. Ugh! It's no fun being hot and pregnant.

24 weeks (5 1/2 months)

Hope you all like these pictures!

my brother

I just found out that my brother asked his girlfriend to marry him. She said yes!
I'm so happy for them both. They haven't picked a date yet though.
He surprised her and she didn't even know about it. It was cool. I didn't know that my brother was so romantic.

Congratulations Tim and Reada!

Our little boy

I found out the results from the Amnio test that I had last week. The doctor told me that everything came back fine. I need to come back and have a follow up level 3 ultrasound because in the ultrasound I had last week (along with the amnio), the doctors found 2 potential problems. One was the length of the bones in the arms and the legs, (they were shorter than normal) and the other was that there was fluid in the kidneys. But both of those things don't seem to be a bad problem, it's just that the doctor wants me to have a follow up ultrasound just to see how our baby is growing. David and I both love to see our baby on the big screen and to hear his heartbeat. It's awesome! Thanks for all of your prayers.

He's moving around a lot. Everytime I feel him, I seem to stop whatever I'm doing and put my hand on my stomach. Even if I'm talking, I'll stop and say "Ah, he's moving again or he's awake now". It's funny.

Another thing, I'm pretty convinced that he is going to be really smart because he has be taking my brain cells. It's a good thing and perfectly normal but I have been feeling ditsy lately. I'm sure I'll be fine as long as I don't go take a test that requires my brain. It just hasn't been working very well, along with my memory. I think I have pregnancy alzheimers or something.

The things that have happened since the last post:
1. We've registered at the hospital where we are suppose to have our little bundle of joy in October!

2. I've cried some more because I'm still worried about our living/moving situation amd what we should do. I have been constantly praying about this and it's been hard for me to trust the Lord.

3. I've been getting out an about more often and it helps a lot. Walking is good and I have been enjoying the fresh air.

4. I have been slowing down. I can hardly do laundry and ironing with out feeling achy and tired.

5. My 5 1/2 month belly (or around 23 weeks) is starting to get in the way. I just can't do what I used to be able to do. Tieing my shoes is becoming more and more difficult. It's a little easier if I sit down to do it. Oh and shaving?, I'm just going to have to get used to the idea of having long hair on my legs, because in a few months, I won't be able to see my toes or legs. Hmmmmm... that should be fun.

6. I'm really starting to look forward to holding our baby. I'm thinking of ways to make the time speed by because I really can't wait to be a mom. I'm actually excited about caring for him and putting all the cute clothes on him.

7. I've been educating myself by reading a lot about pregnancy and taking care of newborns and raising kids.

It's hot and I'm 22 weeks

I'm so hot. Ugh. I don't know what I'm going to do in a couple of months when I'm really really uncomfortable. Right now, I'm at the uncomfortable stage. Also, some time soon I need to buy some cooler clothes that fit me. I'm trying to buy as I grow but it's hard when I'm hot and I don't have very many summer clothes. I also want to go swimming but our apartment complex has a rule called "no swimsuit, no swimming". Pretty dumb, especially since I don't have a swimsuit that fits me at all. I don't know if I'm ready to go out and buy one either. I want to swim but maybe not that badly.
I've also been self conscious with my current body shape. I look funny and awkward. I just don't feel comfortable about letting my pregnant belly hang out if you know what I mean.

Just to let you all know, I had the amniocentesis test done yesterday. We had the genetic counseling, the ultrasound and the amnio. It was a big day. The doctor hasn't ruled out Downs Syndrome so David and I decided to have the test done to find out. They weren't able to see anything obvious in the ultrasound that would indicate Downs Syndrome but we will have to wait about a week to get the results back. The amnio test wasn't too fun but it wasn't as bad as I had expected. After the test, I was told to take it easy for a few days. That meant no cleaning the house, no doing laundry and no grocery shopping. So I've been lazy and not doing much. But it was difficult to just sit around and look at the laundry and realize that I David and I were both running out of clean clothes. But I resisted doing any thing that would over exert myself. David wasn't feeling well so it was a blessing that he had the day off and didn't have to work.

In other news: I've been feeling movements. Our little boy is very active. So active in fact that it was hard to do the amnio test. There were 2 doctors who perfomed the test. One of them had to guide the needle with an ultrasound to make sure the baby doesn't move. Yikes! The baby had to be in just the right place so that they could take a sample of the amniotic fluid. I just closed my eyes and prayed.
I've been feeling a lot of movement and little thumps. No more fluttering. These are his little tiny cute feet and arms and the rest of him moving all around. He even did a sumersault during the ultrasound yesterday. I didn't feel it but I saw it on the ultrasound. He weighs almost a pound now and is about 8 inches long. Yeah!