We're In the Hospital Now

Well you know what  they say about well laid plans.  M and I are making ourselves at home here at the hospital.  We are hoping to me here (believe it or not) for the next two months.

We were admitted on Thursday night. When I came home from work on Thursday I had some unusual symptoms. I felt no pain though.  M convinced me I should call the doctor, and the doctor said I should go to nearest hospital.

We were admitted upon arrival at the hospital.  They did tests on me and the baby, and everything at first seemed fine. The last test they did showed that my water had broke or there was a tear. We were of course both shocked.  I said, but I am only 26 weeks.  The nurse assured us that they had just delivered a 23 weeker, and everyone would be in place if I started contractions.

From that point on they made it clear that we weren't leaving until the baby was born, no matter when that is going to be.

We were told that the first 24 hrs are the most critical. They started me on meds to prevent contractions, meds to prevent brain aneurism if baby was born that night, and gave me a heafty dose of steriods to jolt the babies lungs to grow faster. The second dose we were told was to occur 24 hrs later, and that would be the end of the first milestone.

At about 10:00 p.m. doctors and nurses from the micro premie nursery came in to tell us about the protocol and about what they could do if the baby was born now. "Team of 6 specialists with specials skills to incubate and put IVs in the smallest of veins, a special incubater etc." Was about all I could comprehend.

By midnight I had so many tubes in me it was hard to move.  The monitors were on most the night, dinging almost every hour.  I was told I couldn't move at all and needed to lay on my back.  Of course M and I hardly slept.

On Friday, we met with our new obgyn since my ob is through a different hospital and we will be with the new hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy.

8:00 a.m. the new OB performed an ultrasound. Relief all good news.  I had no contractions through the night and the fluid around the baby was still in the normal range. Apparently, the baby makes the fluid and can replenish what has been lost.  Baby's heartrate and vitals were also good. The doctor suggested there may be a small break in the amniotic sac, and best case scenario it could heal. However, even if it healed, I would still have to stay in hospital, but I would be given some more freedom. Meaning I could take a shower and get out of bed to use the bathroom. (Small pleasure for most... Huge pleasure for me)

Friday afternoon we spoke to the high risk pregnancy specialist from the USC Group. He performed another ultrasound. Said baby was on target for weight and size about 2lbs at this point.  He looked over my vitals and he said that the biggest thing they worry about is infection after barrier between mom and baby has been broken.  As of now, they said that there was no indication of  infection, but to prevent infection they would start me on a antibiotic cocktail for the next 48 hrs.

He gave us a printout of the ultrasound:

http://instagram.com/p/eSzw5ulEeE/

The specialist gave us a milestone timeline.  Although he reiterated that everyday from this point until 28 weeks was important. He gave us a breakdown of millstones to look forward to. 

First milestone was that night when I would get my last steroid shot for the baby.

Next milestone could be next week if all goes well, they could take me off of some of the IVs, I could take a shower etc.

Next milestone, September 26 (28 weeks) if baby born lungs would be more fully formed.

Next milestone, October 24 (32 weeks).

Next milestone, November 7 (34 wks) baby coming out, risk of coming out less than benefit being in.  Baby would only need short time in hospital.

So far no contractions still, so that is good.

Xoxo,

Ahttp://instagram.com/p/eSzw5ulEeE/

Glider

For a few months now I have been looking for rockers and gliders.  I wanted to get something that would last a long time, would look great in our living room, and would be used after we are no longer rocking the little one.  Whenever that will be.

Well, we actually bought one!  On Friday night M and I went out to dinner at the LA Farmer's Market for a delightful French dinner. Yummy.  It was actually very good even though I couldn't have any wine.

After dinner we headed over to Pottery Barn Kids.  My purpose was just to test out a few of their gliders that I had looked at on line.  But after testing four. M's mind was made up, he had found the perfect one for our living room. Which, I was very happy about because it was the best one I had seen and it will fit perfectly in our living room décor (navy and orange).

So here it is PB Kids Comfort Grand Swivel Glider  (we didn't get the ottoman, but the gray and white piping is what we got). 



The slipcover can be removed and dry cleaned. So that was a plus as I am sure we will need to do that, and eventually after our kids get older and if we want to keep it, we can order another slip cover. 

And can't you just see it with this pillow from Etsy.



Or this one (also on Etsy).



XOXO,
-A

Our Babymoon: Yosemite

This last week M and I went on our babymoon to Yosemite.  We both had a wonderful time and baby and I made it on a few trails :)

The highlight of the trip was watching the Perseid Meteor Shower from Glacier Point.  I have never seen anything like it.

Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Yosemite Valley

Tree Roots from a fallen Sequoia

Merced River

  

Mariposa Grove

Glacier Point

Coyote

Just driving through a tree in the Sequoia National Park

The General Sherman - Largest Tree in the World!



The General Sherman

 

Wild Life!

XOXO,
-A

Our Baby Nursery

So I have been working on getting together items for the baby's room.  My plan was to get items that could grow with the baby as he gets older.  I hate the idea of buying something that I will only use for a year or two.  So I found furniture that was versatile.  With regard to the bedroom linens, I chose to register for crib sheets and changing pad covers that were more babyish since I would only use them for the first two years anyway.  I chose curtains and lamps that were more adult so they could be used for years to come.  Here it goes.


Baby Dresser (and perfect size for a baby changer) - Amazon:



Changing Pad Cover (Land of Nod):


I love this idea, the peg board, for over the changing table (This picture is from Better Homes and Gardens):




Delta Four-in-One crib (toddler, day, and full) (Amazon):

Crib Sheet (Land of Nod):


Crib Skirt (the green stripe side) (Land of Nod):



Mobile for Over the Crib (Amazon):



Blanket for over the side of the crib (Target):



Curtains (Land of Nod):



Lamp (Land of Nod):



Banner (the picture is from Land of Nod, but I thought I would try to make this):



We have a futon now in the baby's room that we plan to keep, so I thought throwing a couple of these pillows on the futon would bring it in step with the rest of the room:

Childrens Pillow Cover Nursery Pillow Green Pillow Elephant Pillow 16x16 Cushion Cover



Green Pillow Covers Throw Pillows Lime Decorative 20x20 Set of 2 Cotton Home Decor



Can't wait to get everything and put it all together!

XOXO,
-A

I'm Back or Should I say We're Back!

So its been about a year now since I posted last... but I think I needed a break for awhile to get my life in order.  You know the basics -- eating right, exercising, spending time with friends and family. 

However, now that I'm back as some of you may already know, M and I are expecting our first child, a boy.  We both couldn't be more thrilled or excited.

So... today, I will leave you with some bump pics.

Three months:

Five months:

 

 

 

XOXO,

A

What did you do with your extra hour...

I feel very guilty to say that Los Angeles had absolutely wonderful weather this weekend.  It was like an Indian summer back where I grew up in Iowa -- very warm, but the smell of fall is in the air.

So with my extra hour this weekend, it only seemed right that I make a pie-- a fresh apple pie to be exact.

The pie turned out wonderful, and I really don't know why...but the recipe and what I did is below...

Crust Recipe -- This recipe makes enough dough for one 10 inch pie, and a top and bottom crust for a nine inch pie (my 10 inch pie was pumpkin, that also turned out well)

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 Cups  + 4 Tablespoons Vegetable Shortening (room temperature)
• 4 Cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 8-10 Tablespoons of cold water
• 1 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 Teaspoon of sugar for sprinkling

Directions

• Cut Shortening into flour and salt mixture using a fork
• Sprinkle in water
• Form dough into one ball and put in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes
• Divide Ball into thirds and roll dough into crust
• Put pie filling in shell and then top with second crust

Pie Filling Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 8 medium Granny Smith Apples peeled, cored and sliced.

Directions

• Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, and let sit for 20 minutes in the refrigerator.

Bake apple pie in an oven for 40-50 minutes on 425 degrees.  Pull out of the oven and spread 2 tablespoons of butter on the top of the crust and sprinkle teaspoon of sugar on top.  Serve with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream.

It was so yummy that I had a really hard time saving a piece to take to a co-worker today.

What else?

Matt and I shared a bottle of Rose Sparkling Wine (Santa Julia) that we nursed all weekend listening to the new jazz radio station I found on iTunes.. and of course eating the pies I baked.  Simply, wonderful...

I hope you had a happy and most wonderful Monday . . . and that good weather is headed your way!

Ms. W.

Carmel By The Sea

M's short film was an official selection of the Carmel Art & Film Festival (and was in the best of shorts block)  so we decided to make a long weekend of it and head up the road to Carmel.  Here we are at the festival.

If you are ever in Carmel, I would recommend going during the festival.  It is really chill, not pretentious in the least, and it just adds a lot of additional things to do while you are there.  Other than M's film we saw Amour and The Sessions.  These are two adult films worth seeing if they ever play in your area and, if not, I am sure you will be able get them from Netflix later. 

Other than the festival we spent some much needed time at the beach.  If you walk straight down Ocean Street in Carmel it leads to a lovely beach that we discovered on our second day there.

We also ate at some charming restaurants while we were there, and I would recommend them all if you are looking for a place to eat in the area.  But alas, I do not want this post to be too long so I will just write about my favorite, Le Bicyclette.  (We also ate at Cassanova, The Trailside Cafe and Coffee House, Massaro and Santos)

This was my number one meal of the trip, and yes it was a ham and cheese sandwich or a croque-monsieur. To die for! The cheese was so good.  I paired mine with a sparkling wine which was perfect.

M got the salmon salad which was also good, but not as good as mine.

The other food on the menu also looked good:

 

But we saved the best for last -- a pumpkin creme brulee with a raspberry caviar and scone.  And best of all...it was served in a pumpkin. 

  And you can't leave Carmel without doing some wine tasting:

 

Next, we headed out on the 17 mile drive which is a windy road that takes you along Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove.  On this ride you will see beautiful views of the ocean intermixed with golfers. 

 

Okay . . . so far .  . . so good, but really the best part of our trip was the drive home.  The drive from Carmel to San Simeon on the PCH is probably the most beautiful drive I have ever taken. I took most of the pictures below from our car while we were driving . . . so the pictures do not give the drive justice, but at least you will get the idea.

 

 

About an hour or two after you leave Carmel, you will see a big sign for Nepenthe.  This is a great place to stop and have lunch.  The food is good, but the view is absolutely great.  You literally sit up at treat level and look over the ocean.  It opens at 11:30 a.m., and it fills up fast so try and get there early.

 

 

 

A few more hours down the road, right before you reach San Simeon, there is a beach that you can't miss where hundreds of Elephant Seals hang out part of the year.

 

 

 

Last, but not least, Hearst Castle is a must stop if you are driving down the PCH.  (Be sure to book your reservations on line before you make the trip.)

 

I could do this trip over and over again...there is just so much to do, eat and see.  I am hoping M and I can make this trip an annual event.

Ms. W.

 

Oh and I almost forgot to post my favorite picture from the weekend.