Woman charged with malicious castration

How could one NOT read a story with that headline? Apparently, she did it with her BARE HANDS and he required FIFTY stitches! She must have those really long acrylic nails or something. This happened at a Christmas party and my favorite quote of the story is "All three [victim, attacker and hostess] were heavily intoxicated, police Chief Frank Powers said." NO DOUBT!

Another Blizzard ?!?!?!?!?!??

This is not normal for Colorado front range - 2 blizzards in 10 days?
I am working from home again today. Took Kimo to the ear doc's this am. He has negative pressure and it could be this, yada yada, it could be that yada yada. Net result, I have to take him back yet again in 4 months. I wonder if they don't just like the steady stream of $30 specialist co-pays and insurance checks. That's not very nice but when you work 55 miles from home and the doc is 15 miles in the opposite direction, a "simple" appointment becomes a logistical nightmare.
I know da kane is a lot closer, but I handle all the medical appts because he doesn't get all my questions answered and can't repeat the appointment verbatim for me when I get home.
This is related to my strong interest in medicine. This is how I prefer to describe my hypochondria!
I was able to get the heartbeat on my rented doppler over last weekend. I am not listening daily as there is some debate over the effect of the sonic waves on the little bean when used a lot. Boy, let me tell you what a reassurance it is to be able to hear him/her.
I've been a LOT MORE nauseous this past week or so than the first trimester, which is weird. Whatever it takes to get to a healthy bouncing June baby!

Elf Name

Your Elf Name Is...

Twinkles Hot Chocolate

What's Your Elf Name?

Blizzard!

My Goodness! The Christmas Blizzard of '06 is upon us. It's been windy and snowing like crazy since 6 am.
If you want to get into the mood, check out this site - this is the scientist that took the snowflake pictures on this year's secular postage stamps - Snowflakes. Very cool. I think a crafty type person could do some very neat stuff with those pics.
Yesterday's appt was reassuring. Honestly, until I get the amnio back and maybe not even until 20 weeks, I will be unsure of this and somewhat nervous. It's just inevitable after 4 losses in 5 pregnancies in 4 years. All prayers, white light and good thoughts are appreciated. You will notice I got over the jinx enough to post my pg ticker above.
The Christmas pic is just of DS and I because da Kane has STRICTLY PROHIBITED release of his photos! I did get a nice shot of da Kane and DS for my office and a surprisingly good shot of da Kane and I (I generally detest pics of myself) this year. Our family shot was disappointing, but que sera, it will make me look that much more stunning in next year's.
I have eaten terribly today. I don't know what it is about working from home so close to the kitchen, but I don't eat actual meals, I graze a lot and I don't focus on protein like I am *trying* to do. Much like I do on weekends, but at least on those days I try to have regular breaky/lunch times with DS.
My fasting blood sugar was better today - 86. Not surprising since I had a run-in with a piece of fudge before bed. Doc wants it below 90 while pregnant. I with the stupid Dr R-J would get in touch. A rant for another day.

Fasting Blood Sugars Dropping?

I'm a little concerned that my fasting blood sugars are dropping when my meds and insulin dose are staying the same. Could my cold be causing this? Or the fact that I stopped Progesterone supplementation a week ago? I don't think I'm eating that much differently, but I am not snacking much after dinner because I'm either going to sleep or I'm battling heartburn. This has me worried that something is wrong with Little Bean.
Luckily, I have an ultrasound at 11 am today - that will put my mind at ease. Then, after that I will call the endo's office, if I can get through during their short window of operation - 8:30 to 11 and 1:30 to 3:30 or something ridiculous like that. I want to know why he wanted to see me every 4 weeks last preg and this time he hasn't wanted to see me yet and I'm 13 wks. And shouldn't he be testing my TSH? I thought the synthetic thyroid would need to be adjusted during preg.
I guess I was due for a day with a lot of questions - it's been a few. If anyone knows anything about this stuff, PLEASE POST.
PS Little Bean is just fine - kicking and rolling and bouncing up a storm. I can see why Tom Cruise had to buy his own ultrasound machine. It would be tempting if I had the money.

Mommy and James Xmas '06

Mommy and James Xmas '06
Originally uploaded by Ottoette.

Not too bad, don't know how they can charge what they do and not take the glare off my specs. I can do it, but no time yet!
13 WEEKS today!! WooooHoooooo! Bye-buh 1st trimester!

Me as a Christmas Ornament

You Are a Snowman

Friendly and fun, you enjoy bringing holiday cheer to everyone you know!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

Not morning sickness

I had an awful 48 hour bug. I am still not better, but at least I can sit upright and type a little.
Got the test results. My odds of a Downs baby based on my age alone are 1 in 22. After the screening, it's 1:421. Odds of Trisomy 13 or 18 on age alone are 1:41, post-screening, they are 1:801. I am pretty happy with those numbers, so we will wait on an amnio and skip the CVS and risks with that.
Do NOT want to go to work today. Am going to try and take tomorrow off so I can get ahead of the xmas stuff. I wasn't doing too badly but 2 sick days in prime card/shipping time messed me up. I would like to get EVERYTHING wrapped up this weekend so I can enjoy the week before Christmas. Not likely but I can Try!

Always waiting

Just vomited for the first time this pregnancy. It was the damn protein bar I had for breakfast. It can make me kinda nauseated even when not pregnant. Yuck, just want a nap now, but I'm at work!
Waiting, waiting, waiting on the Peri's office to call with the rest of the 1st trimester screening results. They told me Mon or Tues - I should have known it would be Tues or Wed!
Yuck, yuck, yuck, can't get the smell and taste gone. Must go brush teeth now.

Debating Decisions

I am questioning the CVS test again. 1 in 100 causing a m/c (miscarriage) doesn't seem too bad, but the amnio is 1 in 1000. I can't imagine the devastation if I had the CVS, then had a m/c that may have been caused by the CVS, then found out the genes were all normal.
I guess I'm taking my lead from the specialist, Dr. Bill. He would actually perform the test. Since Dr. Bill kept going on about how invasive it was and how the amnio is safer; naturally I was influenced. My reg ob/gyn, Dr. H., tried that on me too, but I reminded him that we had done CVS with Kimo and I knew his wife had done CVS on both their pgs, including twice on one because the first sample didn't grow.
The question always comes down to what would we do with bad results. If you would terminate, the sooner you know the better. I am still not sure. We were so sure in the past, but there is such a range of defects and possibilities.
I must get back to being semi-productive. My day off was wonderful but I didn't get a whole lot accomplished.

So far so good on 1st Trimester Screen

The little bean was kicking and waving up a storm. Good strong heartbeat AND he/she measures right on for our 6/23 due date.
We had some trouble getting him to pose for the Nuchal Translucency measurement which mean a lot of probing around with the transvaginal ultrasound. Can you say - Ow? But got one somewhat clear shot and it was 1.5 which is right in the middle of what they want to see, anything over 2.5 is really pointing towards Downs.
Ultrasound Tech and hubby thought they saw a dangle between the legs, but I missed it. I have a gut feeling it's a boy anyway.
5 days till the hormone work comes back and we'll have a better look at our odds of major chromosonal problems. We will PROBABLY not do CVS and just wait and do an amnio. It will depend on the results on Mon or Tues.
I am very happy with the results so far.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers and good wishes, I could really feel them today.

Today's the Big Test!

I am SO anxious! 5 hours to go and I'm about to jump out of my skin.
I am not worried they will find genetic problems, I am worried they will not find a heartbeat.
Da Kane is coming up to go to the appt with me.
Dang root canal is bugging me big time today. Not fun.
Sleep was spotty and much interrupted last night. 1 Phone call - 2 DS nightmares - 2 potty runs and insomnia each time from thinking about today. No wonder my tooth hurts. I have often noted that my pain threshold lowers substantially when I am tired.
I have been thinking about the Wheel of Fortune card below. I have always been extremely lucky. From getting into the newspaper business, to getting moved to Hawaii, to marrying da Kane and having my son. Even moving back from Hawaii to Las Vegas in time for my Mother's final illness was luck. I need to trust that this pregnancy is going to turn out just as it is supposed to.

11 weeks 2 days!

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Feeling ok. No painkillers (even ibuprofen) for several days. Questioning if I need this root canal today. Will have a long talk with dentist before he begins.
Level II ultra-sound and possible CVS (kinda like amnio, but done earlier) on Thursday. Hopefully, this appt will put my mind at rest at least for a little while. It has been difficult to get to this point. Still no heartbeat on home doppler, but still many signs of pregnancy.
Up another pound on the scale. Trying not to beat myself up over it, but try to eat according to plan.

Ahhhhhhhh, falling apart!

Gosh, now I have a cold. Very sore throat, headache, earache, sinuses packed and alternately draining and aching. Tooth still hurts.
Yucky, yucky, yucky.
And big, big holiday events weekend planned. I really would like to spend a couple days in bed. But soccer buddies, library, community tree lighting/Santa arrival, church and 4 yr old b-day party all await. Plus I need to get my holiday letter done AND get the rest of the decorations out and put the boxes away!
Let's cross off the baking I hoped to do - just one batch of cookies, but that's a 2-3 hr project I can't afford this weekend.
This morning is espresso cart day and lobby tree trimming at work - so I must run to fit that in along with the actual work.
Nausea keeps coming and going, now I'm not sure if it's the Little Bean or the cold or the tooth!
I was getting pretty stressed about L.B. yesterday and called my ob/gyn's nurse. My new mantra is "no cramping, no bleeding = all is well".