Wah-Wah, Wah-Wah, Wah-Wah

It's a broken record. I am talking about my last visit with the high risk doctor this past Tuesday. The baby's AC-Abdomen Circumference, is still measuring 2 weeks ahead and my fluid level is up. The fluid is being increased because the baby is peeing a lot, she said. Again this is because of sugar intake.

Dr. Palmer once again suggests I continue to limit my sugar and starches and EAT MORE PROTEIN. She is also saying that I should have a bedtime snack.....of meat! Gross! Honestly, meat is the one thing I could easily give up. It is my least favorite food group. I could say I am trying to give back to nature and earth, by skipping a few meat filled meals, but I just naturally prefer, for example, cheese enchiladas over beef, and opt for the vegetarian burrito at Chipotle. My family of four can eat out at our neighborhood Mexican restaurant, Las Lomas, by sharing a bowl of queso and Fajitas for 1. Yes 4 can eat for 1 because I usually only put 1 piece of meat on my taco. So adding more meat to my diet is a challenge, but I have been trying. The bedtime snack, a leftover meatloaf sandwich (that Mark suggested last night) is not my idea. I opted for a protein bar and will try again tonight. I don't know if I can choke down real meat right before bed. (I would have rather ate one of Cort's leftover cupcakes, but I refrained---aren't you proud)

The baby is otherwise healthy. He weighs 3 lbs 12 oz. I think this is right on track. I did ask if the AC could only be suggesting that he may be a big baby. She said no, because he would be measuring big from head to toe, not just his abdomen.

Seriously, I just wish I could enjoy my last pregnancy without all the nit picking. I am being made to feel like my choices of food will some how damage my unborn child and it will be all my fault if something is wrong with him. Cort was born 6 weeks early. He was robbed of the last gestational weeks to develop and he turned out perfectly fine. How can I being harming this child? A girl I work with, younger than me, confessed she smoked her entire pregnancy!!! I just want to splurge here and there on a dessert.

I know I am complaining a lot, but pregnant women revolve around food. Every time I am hungry or think about eating, faced with the choice----what I want or what I should eat----I almost just want to skip it altogether.

Maybe next time I should just wear ear plugs and smile away at the baby on the monitor. Because yes, there is a next time in another 4 weeks.

So some of my fans out there might say, go ahead and splurge. And tonight I will. We are headed to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Cort's birthday, just the 4 of us. Since Mark is on a strict diet, by his choice, and Keaton can't eat pizza (we get him a hot dog), Cort and I will be sharing a pizza. I love ChuckE's pizza! And I might even have a cupcake!!! And then I will try to eat that leftover meatloaf at bedtime. :)

It's a Celebration!!

Today is your Birthday!!!

I can't believe you are 5!!

I AM SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN!!

Cort 'Cougar' Roberson

My preemie the day we took him home

I loved to watch him sleep Having fun with brother in the wagon

He was serious about his passie!
Poor little nose. This is one of the many times he ate concrete with his nose.

Oh, if I could go back to these days. I had so much fun staying home with these little guys!

Gotta love the hair!

Smiley!

Can't believe he is turning 5!

Hope you enjoyed a little trip down memory lane. I thought in preparation for Cort's birthday, I would share some interesting, although random, facts about Cort.

1. Cort could ride a Razor Scooter before he was 2!!! He didn't want to be left behind big brother. And we just took his training wheels off his bicycle last week.

2. Responds with 'I already know dat' after you tell him something.

3. He had a full blown, screaming, kicking, tantrum that lasted an hour right before his 3rd birthday party at Pump It Up. I had to sneak him a pacifier to calm him down. (We had already given up the pacifier and given them all to Santa) It was the only way I could calm him. Thank goodness he has mellowed out now that he is older.

4. He didn't like it when his food was broken. For example, cheese slice, pop tart, breakfast bar. If it was broken, he would want a new one and have a meltdown. The above #3 began when the slice of cheese tore as I opened the plastic wrapper.

5. Pitter Patter goes the rain--Cort went around saying this one day and it stuck. Every once in a while someone in our family will just say it out of the blue and we bust out laughing.

6. 'Ba' as in the sound the letter B makes-Ba----Cort once made Keaton cry just because he wouldn't stop saying 'Ba' in the car on a long road trip. Then we threw in 'Pitter Patter goes the rain' and I was almost crying from laughing so hard. This may have been the same road trip, Keaton tried to convince us he could speak Chinese.

7. Cort could chew gum at 2 1/2. I specifically remember giving him gum on our way to Disney World on the airplane. It didn't take him much longer before he could blow a bubble.

8. Cort could count to 12 at 18 months. Listening to big brother pays off.

9. Cort calls our china cabinet, the chinese cabinet. (And one day he even referred to it as the Japanese cabinet.)

10. Cort I think understands time, but has somehow mixed up how he refers to time. For example, he will say yesterday when talking about something that happened a long time ago or last year when talking about something that happened yesterday. It is also cute that sometimes when we wake up from a nap he will say he wants breakfast, like he thinks it is morning. Sometimes he will refer to tomorrow as 'after this night'.

11. Cort goes full force at everything he does. There is no thinking about it or 'testing the waters'. This can make a momma very nervous, especially one who doesn't deal with blood very well. Good example, riding his bike now without training wheels. He just takes off and goes super fast! I am so afraid he is going to crash. He even tried to do some tricks like big brother. I try to explain Keaton has 2 years more experience, but I don't think Cort cares about that logic.

12. Cort has lost 2 big toenails. He lost the one on the right foot at age 2 when Mark opened the bathroom door at McDonalds on his little foot wearing sandals. Then last summer, Cort opened a mini refrigerator door on the big toe on his left foot while at a friend's house. Luckily they have both grown back with no permanent damage. The toenail fairy even came to visit him the last time!

13. Cort says 'LOOK IT' when he wants your attention or is showing you something.

28 Almost 29 Weeks!!

Knowing the baby will be delivered via Cesarean by 39 weeks, I can now say there is only 10 weeks left!!! I am definitely getting excited to meet this new little Roberson boy. And yet, I wish there was some way I could stay pregnant forever. I know, how weired, but I do love being pregnant and this will be the last time....pretty sure.

I saw Imtiaz yesterday for a quick and routine visit. All seems to being going great. Total weight gain 24 lbs. I am okay with this.

I told her my migraines, for lack of better diagnosis, were getting better. I almost made it a week without an episode. I think by saying that, it put a jinx on me and I had one yesterday afternoon. It was not as intense and only lasted for 15 minutes, so I am hoping they will become farther and farther apart until they completely stop.

This baby still needs a name.....any suggestions?? I might have to go back to Kiptyn, Kirby, or Cullen if I don't come up with any other ideas.

Not much else going on right now. We are getting ready for Cort's 5th Birthday. Mark took the boys to the Boat Show and I will try a post some pictures soon

Doctors, Doctors, Tests, Tests

Well, a lot has happened since my last post December 31. I just haven't had the energy to put anything into words for a post. But I'll try.

First, the good news, I went for my Glucose screening 1/6 and I do NOT have Gestational Diabetes. I am very excited about this news, although thought if I was diabetic, it might explain the other issues going on. I am, however, anemic and started taking iron supplements this week. This doesn't surprise me, I was also anemic when pregnant with Keaton.

I mentioned before I was having episodes of flashing lights in my eyes. I have already seen an eye doctor and chalked it all up to be 'optic migraines' as she said. The problem.....they keep happening and closer and closer together. I have had a total of 7 episodes, including 3 last week and 2 so far this week. After once again discussing with my OB, she did suggest I go ahead and see a neurologists. I met with Dr. Washburn at Northwest Neurology on Monday. I passed the physical neurological exam she did on Monday and then returned on Tuesday for an EEG. The EEG also was clear. For the most past we can rule out anything as serious as brain tumor. She said she has never had a patient with a brain mass pass the physical exam or EEG. Although she has recommended that I go ahead and have a CAT scan.

Her thoughts are that it is most likely the optic migraines, which she calls Migraine Aura. It can also be called ocular migraines, eye migraines, or silent migraines because it presents itself with just the light show and no headache. In definition, a migraine is not a headache, the headache part is actually just a symptom of the migraine. A migraine is a neurological disorder, or a spasm of the blood vessels that supply different parts of the brain.

Her other worries are that it could be partial, simple seizures, small seizures in a specific part of the brain, or Optic Neuritis, which could be an early sign of MS.

So a lot to process. Do I go with the diagnosis that it is just Migraine Auras and hope that they are being caused by the changes my body is going through in relation to the pregnancy. Wait for delivery and see if they stop? Or do I take the next step and go for the CAT Scan.

I have tried several self concocted theories of what could be causing these episodes. The first my contacts. Maybe my eyes were rejecting my contacts due to pressure changes going on in my eyes. I know that your eyes can change during pregnancy. Even experienced a prescription change during my pregnancy with Keaton. But this theory was thrown out the window after I had been wearing my glasses for over a week (and I hate wearing my glasses!!) and still had an episode.

I then moved on to my next theory that it was because I was anemic and my body needed more iron. I began the iron supplements on Tuesday and was episode free Tuesday and Wednesday, but had an episode this morning. So that theory is out the window.

I also thought maybe it was triggered by a dip in my glycemic index. Most of the episodes do happen in the morning. So I have begun eating breakfast as soon as I wake up instead of waiting until I am ready for work. It doesn't seem to be having an effect since again, I had one this morning.

I wish I just knew what caused it. Is it simply the increased blood circulation in my body or the increased hormone level???

I plan to just observe the next few days and make a decision about the scan next week. I think it is safe to have it done being pregnant, mainly the decision lies in do I want to pay for something that might not give me any answers. I know that it would relieve some fears again by ruling out anything major.

It brings me back to when Keaton's pediatrician suggested we have an ECHO and EKG done on him when he was 9 months old. (Remember this was just a few months after he sent me to a neurologists for his head shape) We had to go to TCH and they had to put him under for the procedure. I just knew nothing was wrong and we were going through the motions, but found out that he did in fact have a small heart defect.

I see Imtiaz again Jan 20 and have another ultrasound Jan 26. In the meantime, I think I deserve some Tiramisu---my new craving.

25 Week Ultrasound

Tuesday I went for my 25 week ultrasound at Dr. Palmer's office. Mark didn't join me this time due to the fact he was involved in a minor fender bender that morning. It was cold, yucky, and rainy but I made it to the Medical Center for my afternoon appointment.

This baby boy already checks in at 2lbs 3 oz per their measurements and calculations. He was in a breech position, but I don't really think that matters at this point. I feel like he is in there doing somersaults anyway. Dr. Palmer said the AC -Abdominal Circumference is measuring 2 weeks ahead and again referred to my eating habits. I researched on my own some about the AC, via the internet. The AC is not used to determine fetal gestation or growth, but to estimate birth weight.

Seriously, if the insurance was not covering these visits 100%, I don't think I would go. I mean, being considered high risk just because I am over 35 is a little absurd to me. Shouldn't I have been high risk with Cort having placenta previa. I was like a walking time bomb. At any moment I could start bleeding....and did at 30 weeks. But since I'm not paying for it and I get to see my baby I go. I'm just not sure how much of this I can buy in to. I mean, come on, it is apparent Mark and I have big babies. Why would we think the 3rd one would be any different. Why is that not taken into consideration. Keaton was full term 9lbs 7oz, Cort was 6 weeks premature and still weighed in at 5 lbs 9 oz. Don't they say they keep getting bigger the more you have also??

Of course, there are problems associated with having bigger babies, mostly when you labor and deliver. We already know we have opted for a c-section and the baby and I will not have to undergo that stress. Since Keaton was large, they tested his blood sugar level every 3 hours the first 2 days. It never seemed to be much of an issue though.

Regardless, I am taking the doctor's advice and making minor changes to my diet. Per Dr. Palmer, the one giving the instructions, I don't have to eliminate anything from my diet. Just add more protein, especially for breakfast and dinner. I was eating cereal thinking it was a healthy option, but cereal gives you no protein and a lot of sugar. She wants me to eat 1.5-2 palm size servings of protein for dinner. That way the baby is not 'taking all the sugar from my body' during the night while I sleep and when he is most active. She said, and I quote, have a kolache or chicken biscuit for breakfast instead of cereal. If you are going to have spaghetti, have meatballs and spaghetti, if lasagna make sure it is meat lasagna.... Not so bad, I think I can make these adjustments. But let's remember, when I was pregnant with Keaton I was pounding the honeybuns, ding dongs, twinkies and my diet never was an issue. My doctor never even said much about my weight gain (except the the time I gained 10 lbs in 4 weeks) I only had 1 ultrasound with Keaton the entire pregnancy, didn't' have GD and he was born robust and healthy. In my opinion, this pregnancy will be the same, except an added bonus, I am not gaining the same weight. To date 18 lbs with 15 weeks to go, right on track.

I hope this doesn't seem like I am complaining too much. I am grateful for modern medicine, but sometimes you find yourself being referred to doctors for no reason. Like the time Keaton was 5 months old and our pediatrician said we needed to see a neurologist since his head looked to be abnormally shaped. I drove to the medical center, parked, made my way to the office with 5 month old in tow, waited in the lobby only to see a neurologist literally for 30 seconds. He stepped in the room, looked at his head, said it was completely fine and left.

I will have the glucose test next Thursday which will give us much more of an indication if my sugar is off. I guess I will have to eat my words if it does come back with a high result. I get to see the baby again Jan 26 at my next ultrasound. Guess we should get to work on finding this little boy a name. I don't even feel like I have a starting point.

Christmas

As the holidays go, we had several parties to attend. Keaton and Cort's school parties were on the same day, Friday 12/18. Mark and I first attended Keaton's party in which his class gave a presentation of 'The Night Before Christmas'. Keaton did a great job saying his line that we had practiced the last few weeks. He knew it by memory and looked out to the parents. The majority of the other kids read their line and hid behind their pictures. I was very proud of his hard work.

I had initially thought I would not make Cort's class party since it was at 3:00. Mark had planned on going with Keaton who we signed out early. I ended up not going back to work after Keaton's party since I had made an eye doctor appointment. Surprisingly, I was also able to make it back to Cort's class for the end of the party.

Peyton, Cort and Evan

Keaton's class presentation

Keaton's class party

The following Saturday was my company, Corrugated Concepts & Packaging, Christmas party. Each year the owners hold a Christmas gathering at their home. Mark's dad babysat the boys so we could have a few hours out that evening.

I can't believe how fast Christmas came this year. (and now gone) My parents arrived at our house Christmas Eve morning. Mom had made homemade lasagna that we enjoyed minus Mark. Mark had not been feeling well the days before and was able to get a doctor's appointment that morning. The doctor sent him to the ER for tests, so Mark spent most of Christmas eve at North Cypress Hospital. All tests came back fine, so they sent him home and over the next few days he did begin to feel better. Maybe it was just too much holiday food.

Christmas Eve everyone, Mark's parents, Aunt Kerrie, and my parents, joined us for a candle light service at our church. Our family participated in the service by lighting one of the advent candles.

After the service we feasted on Rudy's BBQ and Blackberry cobbler at our house. After dinner, we settled the kids down, set out cookies and milk(soy) for Santa, and tucked the kids in bed. Surprisingly, they were pretty tired and easily fell asleep. Mark and I, on the otherhand, stayed up till midnight trying to get a peek at Santa!

Santa did not disappoint. He brought Keaton and Cort a new Basketball goal and remote control cars, as promised in the email he sent earlier in the week. He also brought basketballs, a new skateboard, and a kick flipper, ---a skateboard without wheels to practice your tricks.....(hoping to minimize injuries as my sons push their physical limits. More about this later. I am reading a new book, Boys Should be Boys), stockings overflowing and a sports pillow chair with matching blanket. The pillow chair and blanket have actually turned out to be one of the boys' favorite presents.

The boys slept till 7:00. Okay, well Cort was whistling in his bed at 6:30 but never ventured out until around 7:00 when Mark went up to get them.

The boys, especially Keaton, loves his basketball goal. At this point it is still in our house because the weather is so cold and wet outside. So far, nothing has been broken from all the slam dunks.

The kids thoroughly examined all their gifts from Santa and then we enjoyed sausage balls and candy apple cider for breakfast. I was surprised at how easy it was to convince them we were going to eat before we opened all the presents. After breakfast, we opened some presents from under the downstairs tree before making our way upstairs to the the next tree.

Keaton's Christmas wish list included DS, PSP, XBOX 360, PS2, PS3.....I think you get the point. Cort's wish list included the Devastor Transformer...price tag 80-100. Wellllll, don't think these things were in the budget. Not to mention, Mark has been against opening the door to video games. After much discussion, we gave both the kids hand held video games. Keaton got a Leapster 2 and Cort a VTECH Cyper Pocket. (With the idea they can share---it's like having two different games) They both have educational games that are age appropriate. In addition, we have discussed the responsiblilty of taking care of the games, not leaving them on the floor, to show that one day, some day, in the future we would feel they may earn a DS.

Our Christmas unwrapping lasted until after 9:00 when we hit the kitchen to begin preparing Christmas lunch. Mark's parents once again joined us and we feasted on a delicious ham with all the side dishes--in my opinion the best part. After being up late, getting up early, and stuffing yourself, nothing is better than a Christmas day nap. Friday night, we played Uno Attack next to a fire in the fireplace and watched Night at the Museum 2.

Saturday morning mom, dad, and Kerrie left to check out some after Christmas sales and then start home while we got ready for round 2. We headed to Nana's house for a Roberson Christmas.

Mark and all the cousins on the couch

Even though Keaton felt Santa didn't get his letter, WII knew better.....

Nana and Papa got our family a WII

Uncle Adam and Aunt Julie got us Mario Cart

So much for no video games. So far, we have enjoyed our WII as a family. The idea behind the WII is that it is something we can all do together, not like a hand held DS that the kids play by themselves. I have never been a big video game player so I am starting off at the same level of the kids. I'm sure it won't be long before they pass me.

Kids and Dads playing together

It's a good Christmas!

2 Doctors in 2 Days

I saw Dr. Imtiaz Thursday afternoon for my 24 week appointment. I saw her at 22 weeks, but she is going to be out of town for Christmas and New Years, so I had to squeeze in one more appointment before she left. Everything is still normal and going well. There were two topics we discussed.

If you remember, I wanted to confirm with her this whole business of limiting starches and sugars. She was in agreement it should include breads, rice, pastas, as well as dessert type items. She did say fruit was okay. I asked her why and after her first response of 'because your are pregnant' this is what I got out of her. It is my choice at this time to limit the sugar intake in order to prevent Gestational Diabetes. I didn't have GD with either Keaton or Cort, so why worry now. She stated that since I am 35, I am more likely to have GD this time. Limiting my sugar intake now could decrease the odds of being diagnosed with GD later in the pregnancy. Okay, so I can accept that answer for now. I will be screened for GD on Jan. 7 and cross your fingers it is negative. I am trying to watch what I eat, but it is the holiday season. Not an easy task. I have tried to increase my protein and veggie intake.

The other issue I wanted to discuss with her was 'the party in my head'. I failed to previously mention at the PJ and Pancake party I had an episode of flashing lights in my eyes that lasted 15-20 minutes. I thought at first it was because I had hit the M&M bowl pretty hard and my sugar was too high. It's the hypochondriac in my I think. I coined the phrase later that I was having a party in my head that no one else was invited to. It seemed like a disco ball flashing in my right eye. This is not the first time it has happened. I have had episodes since college, but maybe 1 to 2 a year. I think the only reason it bothered me more this time is because I am pregnant. I wanted to make sure it was not related to the pregnancy. Dr. Imtiaz didn't think so since there was no protein in my urine and my blood pressure was fine at 118/72. She did suggest I see an eye doctor.

I had pretty much decided I wouldn't go to the eye doctor. I mean it had happened before and was nothing. Except it happened again Friday morning at work. This time is seemed more intense and was in both eyes. So 2 episodes in 1 week, this didn't seemed usual. I immediately made an appointment with Dr. Jenkins. They fit me in Friday afternoon. She would normally dilate a patient's eyes that is complaining of flashing lights, but they cannot dilate your eyes if you are pregnant. Luckily, they have the ability to take a computer image of your eye, an Optimap. She reviewed the optimap for holes or tears in my retina, and there were none. With that ruled out, she thinks that based on my description, I am having Optic Migraines. At least I am one of the lucky ones that does not have the intense Migraine headache following the light show. I do however, feel a little cloudy headed. Optic Migraines can be triggered by many things, from food to environment. It is different for every person. I have no idea what could trigger mine. Over the weekend, I tried to rest my eyes by wearing my glasses more.

Also, to note, I am at risk for a retina tear since I am so near sighted. She said any trauma to the eye or head could easily cause a retina tear. Signs of this happening could be a lot of floaters or curtain vision. She said if any of this occurs, I should be checked out immediately.

Next doctor's appointment, December 29 with Dr. Palmer for another ultrasound. We will see if it is still a BOY!!

2nd Annual PJ and Pancakes

This past Saturday we had our 2nd Annual PJ and Pancakes Party hosted by The Taylors. John read the Christmas story from the Bible to the kids to start off the evening.

Here are all the kids round the tree anxiously waiting, but for what or who?

SANTA had arrived!

He passed gifts out to all the girls and boys.

Keaton and Cort must have been good this year since Santa brought them each a gift early.

Keaton and Cort loved the new PJ's we bought especially for the party.

K-Mario Bros.

C-Buzz LightYear

They each got superhero watches with an image projection.

After Santa left, we had a feast of sugar! A Pancake buffet with all the toppings.

Then Ms. Jennie led the kids in a craft.

This year each child made a Rudolph ornament from a brown bell.

The following morning the children sang at church.

"Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "Joy to the World"