Jeremy and I are moving tomorrow, and I cannot wait. We currently live in a tiny 450 square foot "apartment" in Lincoln Park. I say apartment, but it's more like a closet with a bathroom and kitchen. It has one window. Yes, you read that correctly. One window - and it's not in our bedroom. It's dark and small and crowded. We have been dying to get out of there.
Our new apartment in Evanston is roomy, airy and breezy. Windows in every room. Vintage wood cabinets, bay windows, open floorplan. Just in time for a new addition. :)
When we rented this apartment, we didn't really think about the fact that it was only a 1-bedroom. That's all we needed, and we can't afford too much more than that. Chicago is expensive! So, no nursey for the baby. I do think I'll convert part of the huge dining room into a play room/nursery, however. Who needs a table and chairs? Hehee.
It's such a huge apartment that I don't think not having a seperate nursery will be any big deal at all. My mom always told me that babies need way less than people think, too. Always good to know. Jeremy is secretly thrilled that we won't have to pay to furnish a whole huge nursery, anyway. That man.
I can't help but be so excited to move into this new place. It's on a beautiful, quiet residential street, with a huge park right down the way. It's a gorgeous neighborhood. And it's the first house my baby will ever live in, which makes it even more special.
Life is so good right now.
So if we can just get past the whole "moving" part of moving, that would be great.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Crohn's and baby...
I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease on July 22, 2010, 8 days before my 30th birthday. I remember being so groggy, waking up from my colonoscopy, and the doctor's face swimming above mine as he said, "Jennifer, you have Crohn's disease, just as I suspected." I was still too confused to know what that really meant, and I remember asking if I would still be able to have children. He laughingly brushed it off and told me that it didn't matter right now.
Well, it certainly mattered to me.
He is no longer my GI doctor.
When Jeremy and I started talking about trying to have a baby a few months ago, I nearly worried myself sick wondering if the Crohn's disease would have any negative lasting effects on my body. I spent the last 2 years in flare after flare, never fully getting to remission. I had been having Crohn's symptoms for about 5 years before I was diagnosed, so who knows what my body had been through. My normally slim and muscular 130 pound body whittled down to 105, and then back up to 145 on prednisone. (I hate you, prednisone. Never again.)
I'm currently on Remicade, a strong IV infusion drug that I receive every 8 weeks. I also take Imuran daily (an immunosuppressant), Lialda, Vitamin D3, fish oil, Vitamin B12, Iron, a probiotic, and prenatal. 15 pills a day - which I don't mind at all, as long as I stay healthy. I've been in remission since my first dose of Remicade in April 2012.
But the fear remained after every month that I wasn't pregnant....did Crohn's somehow scar my body in ways I wasn't aware of? Was I going to be able to have children?
I was overjoyed when I picked up that little stick and saw those 2 pink lines - but I was also overwhelmingly relieved. Crohn's had taken a lot away from me, but it couldn't take away babies and my future. I still can't believe it.
I still haven't lost all the weight from the prednisone, and it looks like I won't for another 9 months. I'm upset that I'm heavier than I want to be, but at least I am healthy and in remission. I still miss being a size 2, but I do not miss the pain, sickness and horror being a size 2 cost me. I'll be 20 pounds heavier any day if it means that I'm pain-free. And I am. Which is the best feeling in the world. (I promise, it's 100 times better than being a size 2!) :)
I know, deep down, that if I was still a tiny size 2, sick and flaring, that my body would not be able to support a pregnancy. So I thank God that I have some extra meat on me, healthy and able to get pregnant and nourish another life.
I'll be continuing on my Remicade and Imuran throughout the pregnancy. There is some controversy about whether it's ok to remain on such strong drugs - some GI and high-risk obgyn's say no. However, most doctors realize that in order to have a healthy baby, you must have a healthy mother. And without these drugs, I am not healthy.
I can only pray that the rest of this pregnancy continues smoothly...I'm only 4weeks and 2days, so I have roughly, oh, 35 weeks and 5 days left....:)
Well, it certainly mattered to me.
He is no longer my GI doctor.
When Jeremy and I started talking about trying to have a baby a few months ago, I nearly worried myself sick wondering if the Crohn's disease would have any negative lasting effects on my body. I spent the last 2 years in flare after flare, never fully getting to remission. I had been having Crohn's symptoms for about 5 years before I was diagnosed, so who knows what my body had been through. My normally slim and muscular 130 pound body whittled down to 105, and then back up to 145 on prednisone. (I hate you, prednisone. Never again.)
I'm currently on Remicade, a strong IV infusion drug that I receive every 8 weeks. I also take Imuran daily (an immunosuppressant), Lialda, Vitamin D3, fish oil, Vitamin B12, Iron, a probiotic, and prenatal. 15 pills a day - which I don't mind at all, as long as I stay healthy. I've been in remission since my first dose of Remicade in April 2012.
But the fear remained after every month that I wasn't pregnant....did Crohn's somehow scar my body in ways I wasn't aware of? Was I going to be able to have children?
I was overjoyed when I picked up that little stick and saw those 2 pink lines - but I was also overwhelmingly relieved. Crohn's had taken a lot away from me, but it couldn't take away babies and my future. I still can't believe it.
I still haven't lost all the weight from the prednisone, and it looks like I won't for another 9 months. I'm upset that I'm heavier than I want to be, but at least I am healthy and in remission. I still miss being a size 2, but I do not miss the pain, sickness and horror being a size 2 cost me. I'll be 20 pounds heavier any day if it means that I'm pain-free. And I am. Which is the best feeling in the world. (I promise, it's 100 times better than being a size 2!) :)
I know, deep down, that if I was still a tiny size 2, sick and flaring, that my body would not be able to support a pregnancy. So I thank God that I have some extra meat on me, healthy and able to get pregnant and nourish another life.
I'll be continuing on my Remicade and Imuran throughout the pregnancy. There is some controversy about whether it's ok to remain on such strong drugs - some GI and high-risk obgyn's say no. However, most doctors realize that in order to have a healthy baby, you must have a healthy mother. And without these drugs, I am not healthy.
I can only pray that the rest of this pregnancy continues smoothly...I'm only 4weeks and 2days, so I have roughly, oh, 35 weeks and 5 days left....:)
Monday, August 27, 2012
4 weeks, 1 day
How Far Along: 4 weeks, 1 day
Size of Baby: Poppyseed. So basically, peanut, you're teeny tiny!!
Continuing Symptoms: Exhaustion, sore breasts, crampy.
New Symptoms This Week: No new symptoms this week. It's very early!
Sleep: I am going to bed so early nowadays…well, I've actually been falling asleep on the couch! When I do sleep, it's very deep sleep with crazy, vivid dreams!
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing yet, really. I'm wanting more salty treats lately, though.
Movement: Way too early for that!
Gender: We obviously don't know yet, but Jeremy secretly is hoping for a boy, even though he'll be thrilled either way.
Maternity Clothes: Not yet, thank goodness. However, I do feel very bloated!!
What I Miss: I'll be honest. I miss beer! With football season right around the corner, I'm going to miss my beer while watching the Chargers!! :)
Special Pregnancy Moments: seeing that 2nd line turn pink on Tuesday, August 21st, and seeing the look on Jeremy's face when I told him I was pregnant!
What We Are Looking Forward To: Our first prenatal visit and ultrasound on September 18th. We can't wait to see the heartbeat! :)
Size of Baby: Poppyseed. So basically, peanut, you're teeny tiny!!
Continuing Symptoms: Exhaustion, sore breasts, crampy.
New Symptoms This Week: No new symptoms this week. It's very early!
Sleep: I am going to bed so early nowadays…well, I've actually been falling asleep on the couch! When I do sleep, it's very deep sleep with crazy, vivid dreams!
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing yet, really. I'm wanting more salty treats lately, though.
Movement: Way too early for that!
Gender: We obviously don't know yet, but Jeremy secretly is hoping for a boy, even though he'll be thrilled either way.
Maternity Clothes: Not yet, thank goodness. However, I do feel very bloated!!
What I Miss: I'll be honest. I miss beer! With football season right around the corner, I'm going to miss my beer while watching the Chargers!! :)
Special Pregnancy Moments: seeing that 2nd line turn pink on Tuesday, August 21st, and seeing the look on Jeremy's face when I told him I was pregnant!
What We Are Looking Forward To: Our first prenatal visit and ultrasound on September 18th. We can't wait to see the heartbeat! :)
The beginning...
Dear Peanut,Today I am 4 weeks, 1 day pregnant. I truly thought this day might never come. I could not believe my eyes on Tuesday, August 21st when I saw the two little pink lines appear. It was 6 pm, and your dad was playing basketball at the gym. I raced to Walgreens, and basically bought their whole section of pregnancy tests! I was shocked beyond belief when the word "pregnant" appeared on the digital test.
When your dad got home, all he kept saying was, "Are you kidding?" He was in shock, too. Neither one of us could believe it. We are happy, overjoyed, scared, nervous.
Your due date is May 5, 2013. Cindo de Mayo! A true San Diego baby :)
I can't wait to meet you in 36 weeks. I know you will be the most adorable baby anyone has ever seen. But for right now, please stay right where you are.
Love,
Mama
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