172 Beats per Minute

Since last week's scare, I can gladly report that L.L. is good and healthy!  I went to my appointment today to follow up since I was released from the hospital and everything checked out well.  At first, the doctor didn't think he'd be able to detect the heartbeat the monitor, but he said that because I'm thin, he should hear it just fine!  YAY!  So at 9 weeks, the heartbeat was at 172 bpm and sound great.  He told me that I could begin telling my co-workers because the likelihood of a miscarriage is rare at this point and with that strong of a heartbeat, but I think I will still wait a couple more weeks!

Another "thank the Lawd" moment!

What's happening at 9 weeks according to Baby Center?
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

My Hubby ~ My Help and My Hero!

Another Thank you Lawd moment for me!  Well since my last post,  a few things have happened!  Well after my post last week, I showered and prepped for bed.  One little thing changed my night.  I had felt stomach/gas pains before, but these pains were debilitating and caused nausea, vomitting and light headedness....and of course, Daddy L is gone and I'm home alone.  Finally, I got to the point where I called Daddy L to let him in on the pain I was feeling, but I didn't want to alarm him.  He was at his weekly poker night with the bruhs, but in lightening speed, it seemed like he was there to rescue me within the hour (mind you, he was already 45 minutes away in Bowie)!

As he entered the house, I was lying on the second floor on my back with my legs elevated on the walls.  So in lady-like fashion I call out to him, "don't be alarmed, I'm on the floor when you get up the steps because I can't move!"  Needless to say....he was ALARMED!

Action Jackson took over in my husband!  He called the obstetrician and after realizing that I literally could not move, he called 911.  Once the paramedics got to the house, they came upstairs to get me.  They picked me up....and I passed out!  Next thing I knew, I was at the bottom of the steps in Daddy L's arms!  So they put me on the gurney and took me to the nearest hospital, Franklin Square.

After a series of tests, we found out that the baby's heartbeat was strong and I'm now in my 8th week.  Through all the pain I was feeling, L.L. was unscathed!!  Whew, what a blessing!  But the next question was....so, what's wrong!?!  Short answer...a ruptured ovarian cyst!  So I entered the hospital on Sunday night and was released on Tuesday night.  During this time, they drew blood every few hours, hooked me up to an I.V. drip, checked my vitals around the clock and gave me I.V. Dilaudid.  If nothing else, they were THOROUGH!

Now that I'm home, I'm feeling much better!  I took off for the week which was hard for me to do, but I knew I couldn't risk overly exerting myself.

Here's a few meaningful expressions of love of I received from my hubby, friends and family.

One of my favorites made by my Hubby, 

Grilled Chicken Salad with mixed greens, olives, onions, bell peppers, cranberries, pecans and feta 

With my favorite dressing -- Ginger Mandarin Dressing and tasty Tiramasu!!!

Get Better Soon Fresh Flowers

Get Well Wishes!!

Getting my Practice

I can't have a complete blog without mentioning my 2 little ones that think they're my babies now!   Meet Miles and Nina!

Today's Visit to the Doctor

Today was our first prenatal appointment.  It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  We both had our list of questions to be answered and other than the few questions regarding what I should eat, how should I exercise, can I still take my hair vitamins, etc., my questions were few.  They took 6 viles of blood, a urine sample, conducted the pap smear and read a packet full of information to us....a little overwhelming, but I appreciated the thoroughness!

Maternity Pics...A must do!

I've always wanted to capture as many moments of my pregnancy as I could and what better way than to hire a professional photographer for a private photo shoot.  I've read some tips for selecting a good photographer and 3 tips stood out!

1. Choose a photographer who is "consistently inconsistent".   This will assure that the poses are NOT typical and standard.  (i.e., hand-formed heart on the belly)
2. Embrace nature or outdoor scenery.  
3. Your home is where you are most comfortable...what better studio than your house!

So...we'll see!  I still have plenty of time to decide.  Here are a few of the more intimate poses I like.

Food ~ Friend or Foe?

Okay....today started out very well.  We woke up and headed to our local grab-a-bit of breakfast spot, Double T's Diner.  I ordered my usual, french toast with bacon and eggs.  These days I can never eat even half my food...it's usually about 1/3 of the portion and food has NOT been my friend.  So afterwards, Daddy L. and I had plans to go to the Capital Jazz Fest and see some of our favorite artists like, Ledisi, Raphael Saadiq, Gerald Albright, etc.  But before that...we were going to mulch the backyard landscaping. (whooo...just the sound of all this exhausted me).

Well today, at 7-weeks...L.L. changed our plans! Stomach pains, nausea, gas and bloating, what an uncomfortable feeling!!  I consider myself well read and as much as I try to anticipate what I'm going to endure, the articles didn't call for this!  I read that at this stage of baby development:

"I'm Tiny But Gaining Fast!  The baby is about 1/3 of an inch, the size of a grain of rice. Development of the arms and legs continue although the fingers and toes haven't yet formed. The brain is growing as well as the lenses of the eyes, nostrils, intestines, pancreas and bronchi."

But nonetheless...no FUN or productivity today!

Good thing I cleaned the house already; otherwise, I'd be miserable and surrounded by a dirty home...now that would really make my stomach hurt!

Virtual Shopping

Okay....I know it's probably WAY too early for this baby to be consuming so many of my thoughts and too early to be preparing for the nursery, but I can't help it...I'm a planner by nature!  I spend so much time online just gathering inspiration on everything from nursery design, bedding, gliders, car seats and the list goes on.  I figured I'd use this post to show you a couple of things that have caught my eye, but I have yet to fall in love with any one thing.  Regardless of the sex of the baby, I have a modern and gender neutral design style in mind.  Notice I say, it's what I have in mind, because Daddy L. has an eye and so he has his idea of what OUR baby should sleep and play in.  But...since it's my blog...I'll show you what I like!  :-)

These have too much of the same color scheme, but I like the clean look of these designs

The black 4 in 1 nursery furniture really appeals to me!

Right now, mint green and black is the color scheme I'm thinking of, but I haven't seen a design inspiration that will help me land on a definite look.  One thing's for sure....what you won't see in L.L's room is pepto pinks or baby powder blues!!

Peek-a-Boo...I See You!!!

Boy or Girl???  Who knows but God...but all I can say is Thank You!  Today, Daddy Lavender and I went to our first ultrasound appointment.  The doctor confirmed my estimate and indeed I am 6 weeks preggo!  I have been SOOOO blessed to have NO morning sickness, nausea, or any other icky pregnancy symptoms, but the books say that this is the week when all that begins.  Not for me though, as they say in the Baptist Church...."I'm not claiming that;" however, my boobs still feel like bricks and I do get headaches periodically, but other than that...I can't tell that this little 3mm baby, the size of a lentil bean, with a heartbeat, is in me!!

So amazing...a bean with a heart!

We saw on the ultrasound that Little Lavender's (aka L.L.) heartbeat was at 128bpm (classified by the sonogram technician as NORMAL)!  At this stage and with the little miracle growing, NORMAL is a GREAT word to hear!  I tell you....it's the little things that matter so much these days.
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On another note, I told Daddy Lavender this past weekend, that one thing he will have to bear with me on is my neurotic and anal side...specifically keeping a CLEAN house!

I will need to meditate when  L.L. arrives and I'll have to deal with spilled juice, milk, dirty carpet, and a house that's not clean!  Saturdays are my days to clean and I just have NOT broken down to hire a cleaning service.  I think no one cleans your house like you...but with a baby and NO free weekends to devote to all day cleaning....I may start conducting interviews??

I LOVE a clean home!