A quick change

Ohhh how fast a week can change things. Last night I had some bleeding and ending up going to the hospital to get checked out. Our little angel is doing great, but I am already have some light contractions. This is normal but accompanied with bleeding is not totally normal. We ended up taking a dose of steroids to help her lung development just in case she decides to join us before 34 weeks. I am SUPER disappointed because I would have liked to take NO drugs at anytime. I have been taking Hypnobirthing and I am really trying to focus on a calm, natural delivery. I take this as my second real lesson as a parent. Number one was when we had to switch doctors due to the first doctor giving us incorrect information about our baby's heart. I am now resting and the bleeding has almost completely stopped. I am just praying we get to as close to 40 weeks as possible! Any hiccup along the rode makes you feel so protective of your baby. Your mind races with what you should do, not do, did you do the right thing? We both want a big family so I pray we are making all the right choices.

Guide to a great pregnancy

So here we are on week 31 of a wonderful pregnancy and I thought I would share some insight on what I have learned helps on this journey. For some reason I love doing top ten lists....they seem to cover it all or maybe it is just my OCD personality trying to release all my thoughts.

1. Exercise! I am not talking about lose weight, get in shape exercise. I am talking about pre-natal videos, yoga, stretching and some light cardio. I have exercised 4-6 times a week during my entire pregnancy and I know it has saved me from back from aches, stopped swelling, and has given me an overall sense of well being. Bryan and I have have bonded a lot through exercise together as well. There is nothing like a long walk with your baby's daddy...hehe!

2. Relaxation. I make a point to relax, lay down, and listen to some reggae or classical music daily. The baby feels my good vibes and if I am lucky this will make her a calmer newborn as well.

3. I stopped reading baby books, blogs, and all the nonsense they scream about what "could" happen. If it happens, I will look it up. But until then, I am healthy and content.

4. Education. I took as many women health classes as I could in college and even went on to take extra classes after college just for fun. I feel I had a lot of knowledge going into the pregnancy that saved me a lot of stress and worry.

5. Indulging. I have eaten very well but have also had a lot of fun ordering some great desserts!!

6. Being in love. How in the world could I even survive without Bryan? Yes, we argue, bicker, and fight, but I can not imagine a life without him! We are so excited to bring our baby into this world together. We have a life we both only dreamed of and it is a reality. When my hormones are raging I have to remember that one....

7. Gratefulness. I am just flat out grateful for every event, every moment, and everything in my life.

8. Hypnobirthing. We are currently enrolled in a class designed to teach you to relax and let go during labor. It has actually lessened if not released my fear of childbirth. I am actually excited for labor and I am ready to have a natural birth calm and relaxed.

9. The baby boom. I have so many friends that are pregnant, are mothers, or are trying to get pregnant. This has made my pregnancy that much more fun and amazing!

10. Shopping for a girl. I mean is this not every woman's dream if she admits it or not?! I get to shop for a little baby girl!!!

State of Mind

I am officially working on the second week of my third trimester and I am still waiting for it to get "hard". If is going to happen, it should happen now, right? I have had the most amazing twenty-nine weeks of my life carrying my little baby girl. I have had a lot of unpleasant symptoms (acne being the worst), but everything is a state of mind. NOTHING they say is bad is really that bad. I am definitely beyond blessed that I am not working and my husband praises my pregnant body every chance he gets. Okay enough of my bragging because I know I am like only a few who feel this great during pregnancy. I just can not help but be so happy and grateful. I take nothing for granted!

Weight Gain

So I seriously have to vent. The offenders are not likely to read this anyway. What the hell is up with people letting a PREGNANT person know how fat or big they are. First of all, I am one of ther smaller preggos I know so God only knows what the real fatty's deal with! I have had so many people gauk at how big I am. I even had someone tell me I loooked FAT in my bathing suit. What???? I know I am not fat so shut the you know what up! I started my pregnancy in amazing shape, I workout everyday, I eat like a freaking olympian, and I have freak skinny people genetics. The point is what is said to the really, truly fat people? It makes me sad to think about what comments they have heard. I really do not think people understand or remember that you are supposed to gain weight.

All I know is I am healthy, my baby is healthy, and even if I do not look it, I FEEL good pregnant! So all the pregnant haters need to shush it. I LOVE MY BODY AND I LOVE EVERY SINGLE CHANGE THAT IS BEING MADE FOR A NEW LIFE.

Sick

So I have been so sick the past two days. Sick and pregnant just plain suck. I feel so bad for my little baby having to hear me blow my nose and cough every four minutes. "Sorry Baby...I put myself on bed rest to get better". I thought blogging might help me focus on some positive. I thought I would write the top ten things I am looking forward to before our little angel is born.

1. Getting a chance to cruise in my new Acura RDX! The other Acura was just too small for a baby.... Baby number two we are going to upgrade again to the MDX.
2. Finding out the baby's sex. I am dying with anticipation to know what is growing inside of me. Are you a boy or girl sweet baby??
3. Going to Maui in June for our last child free vacation together. It has been a great couple of years alone but next year Hawaii will be with Baby Sacco.
4. Buying baby clothes.
5. Decorating the nursery.
6. My baby shower
7. Going to San Fransisco for the Fourth of July! Speaking of, I need a cute red, white, and blue outfit...
8. Spending time with my husband. There is no one I would rather travel the world with or do nothing with...
9. Growing. I am sort of lying on this one, but hey, it is a healthy part of pregnancy.
10. Getting some warm weather!!! Am I the only one who feels San Diego is a damn ice box?? Bring me warmth please!

Pregnancy is amazing

I know it has been awhile since I have posted a blog. I have been having too much fun relaxing, hanging with Bryan, and growing my belly! If you do not already know, I quit my job. It was a must! I was so stressed out, and I all I wanted to do was savor these precious nine months and the young years of my baby. Quitting my job was the best decision I have made so far. Yes, I do love to work and I was a work-alcoholic, but now I can put all that energy into my family. Soooo worth it...and I am grateful that we are in a position to do it. The thing is I would have never tried to get pregnant unless I knew I could be with my baby every day. Life is actually quite long so in the broad spectrum of things it is only a short while that your children are young. Those hours and moments will never come back. Bottom line- our house is calmer, less stressed, and happier.

I also have to say to all those complaining pregnant women, I do not get it??? Pregnancy has so far been the best months of my life. Good and bad. I love every second that I can think about a baby growing inside of me. It is the most natural and beautiful thing a person can ever experience. I know I sound all organic and cheesy, but I mean it. I feel so blessed beyond words that I have a child on the way. What in life is more miraculous? I can care less about the acne, the sickness, and the stuff I am too embarrassed to talk about. I see it as a right of passage into motherhood.

Life is good and I feel so good pregnant!

I am Pregnant!

I think a timelime will help clarify.


February 16, 2010: I went to the gym for my daily cardio (I miss my runs already) and I had some weird cramping. Not alarming just different. I thought I had eaten too soon before my work out so I headed home. For some reason I thought I should take a pregnancy test. Before my test, I sent Bryan to the gym because I was so defeated. In my head there was no way I could be pregnant so soon. Probably TMI but we were not "trying" and we were just letting fate take control. It had only been a month! I peed on that little stick with no hesitation, looked down, and immediately saw a positive!!! OMG OMG!! My first thought, "I am reading this wrong". Bryan came home to see me shaking in disbelief. I ended up taking ten more positive tests in the next few days. We were in complete shock and denial. There is no way this could happen so soon, or could it?


February 16 to March 2, 2010: I was feeling great and still in a little denial. I was completely hopeful that I would have no morning sickness, and I was the optimy of health. Oohhhh was I wrong. The nasea slammed my body like a huge wave. Car sickness, allergies, food aversions, you name it....I felt it. When will I ever enjoy food again?


March 3, 2010: My first doctor's appointment. I had to beg the doctor to keep telling me that I was pregnant. I just could not believe it! All my tests came back positive and healthy.


March 4, 2010: My first ultrasound and I am definitly pregnant. That little heartbeat was so crazy, weird, amazing, shocking, and wonderful. I left the doctor's unable to sleep with excitement. Our little Sacco's heart is racing at 121 beats per minute...a very good heart rate for such a little thing. The doctor said if we came even a few days earlier we could have missed the heart beat. I was so glad we saw it.


March 5 to March 30, 2010: Watching my body change every day is incredible. I love my growing body making room for our little baby. Still very sick!


March 31, 2010: Our four week check up and beginning of our second trimester! We got to hear the heart beat again!



So yes, it is true! We are having a baby!

D & E- Day 31

I always wonder why so many people have such a hard time with diet and exercise. It feels like everyone has a never ending struggle with food and weight. While I am no expert on the subject, I have invested many hours with a certificate in Women's Health and Fitness and also made sure all my electives in college had something to do with Women or Health. I thought I would offer up some advice to everyone based on what has worked for me. I know it has worked because I feel great physically and emotionally, and I never feel an ounce of guilt when I do eat something "bad". So here it goes, take it or leave it.

1) DO NOT DIET!!
Diets are temporary and leave you fatigued and grumpy. You are most likely not eating foods that will keep you strong and healthy. Diets are dangerous and you will not be taking the needed steps toward changing your food habits permanently.

Instead, change your food habits. Here are some ideas:
Breakfast:
Oatmeal or Cereal : get that fiber and folic acid so needed in a female diet! (I am not talking about Captain Crunch either) Kashi has some good cereal choices. Get calcium (also so needed) from low-faw milk.
Blueberries (or any other fruit you like): get those antioxidants that fight disease.
Wheat Toast: Carbs do not kill- they are needed for energy!
Yogurt: organic or low fat

Snacks: snacking is good! Keep your metabolism moving and remember to snack healthy
Almonds (just a handful): get that vitamin E for pretty skin and so much more

Lunch:
Soup: I do not know why (maybe just a childhood favorite) but I love soup for lunch. Pick something light with veggies and protein.
Salad: skip fatty dressings and go for some oil and vinegar. Try to get salad with some protein like eggs or chicken
Wheat Pasta with Olive Oil (add whatever else you like): pick whole wheat over white every time.

Snack again: pick something light and healthy (at your own discretion).

Dinner:
Turkey Burgers: yum! cook it in a pan with olive oil (cook everything in olive oil). Get rid of butter all together
Broccoli: the powers of broccoli... sooo many nutrients. Remember the greener or darker the fruit or vegetable the better. Steam your veggies too! Drizzle some lemon on it for flavor.
Rice: whole grain or brown

These are just ideas, but hopefully you get the point. What I try to envision with food is how it is supporting my longevity. Most of us want to live a long time! Food is a huge way to get there! I ask myself how this is killing disease and making me a happier person? I have also learned the more healthier I eat, the less I crave the bad things. Your body will be sustained if you are eating right! So when you are at a party and crave something yummy or someone has made a to die for dessert, you will not feel bad about indulging.

Now on to Exercise.
Tip: Do not go crazy on yourself. Make a goal of 30-90 minutes of exercise four to five times a week. Try the elliptical, buy some DVDs, or go hiking! My favorite is the Biggest Loser work outs or a 40 minute run.

I hope this helps someone. Our world is full of (sorry to be blunt) chubby, unhappy women. Let's empower ourselves and make good choices.

I have one more complaint. Pregnant Women are NOT Fat. If you are having or had a baby, be easier on yourself. Your body changed or is changing for a reason. Gaining weight is critical to the health of your baby. Remember to love the changes in your body because they happened or are happening to create life. Your focus should be health not six pack abs and a model figure!

Happy Wife,Happy Life- Day 30

I feel amazing today. I wish I could divulge into why, but that will come later! God has shown us his timing is real and miracles happen every day.
I also have to state how S E X Y it is when your man does your laundry and folds all your clothes as perfect as he can. Nothing makes me more happy than a domesticated man. I am grateful beyond belief and humbled every day for the qualities my husband has. He works at least 50-60 hours a week and his success is beyond well deserved. On top of a crazy work schedule for both of us, he is still attentive to my needs. And let us just say, I have a lot of them. No shame ladies...your man will treat you wherever you set the standard. I witness way too many woman being walked all over by their husbands and even worse, their children.
Women of the world, remember "Happy Wife, Happy Life". Let your husband pamper you more than once in a while.

Information Technology Sucks- Day 23

I am addicted to information. I want to know as much as I can about every subject. Google is my most trusted friend. I planned our entire wedding through google on an island we had never been to. I will not eat anything, stay anywhere, or plan anything without a thorough google search. Reviews are the only way to know the truth....or is it?
Lately I have been re-thinking my love for information. It is too easy to read a review on why a hotel sucks because they do not have in room coffee or why a person hated the waiter and gave a one star to an amazing restaurant. I seriously freak myself out with horrible online statistics of stories about death, airplane crashes, and the worst- case scenarios. I think my love for information has taken away a lot of spontaneity in my life.
I have learned very quick that the statistics are not always right and that ANYTHING can happen. I live so much of my life through other peoples experiences and advice. I am giving that up. Today I am creating my own experience!

The "We" Factor- Day 14

You all know what I am talking about. The "We" factor is the moment when everything turns from "I" to "We". "We hated that movie", "We love that restaurant", "We want to go there"...you get the point. This may be a phrase that the single world despises. Miranda on "Sex and the City" pointed out this "We" factor years ago and even she ended up married and happy despite her hate for the "We". I do not think people lose themselves in the"we",they are simply with people who are like them. Even better, a partner might get you to enjoy things you never thought you could or together you can dislike something and feel solice that someone else hates it as much as you. It is inevitable that people become a "We".

24 Hours in Vegas- Day 13

I am glad to be home sweet home after a quick weekend in Vegas! I left Saturday morning in a rainy storm that followed me. I was missing Bryan who had been out there all week for work. After a quick lunch at Tacos and Tequila, I was beyond excited that they could make my guacamole without onions. I mean seriously, is it a culinary necessity to put onions in everything? Next was time for my massage that my husband insisted that I go to. Am I the only person in the world who does not care for the spa? I have no idea if I am supposed to walk around naked or what. Half the spa is fifty somethings comfortably displaying their sagging bodies while the other half are twenty somethings not sure what to do. I am the twenty something that has no idea what to do. Do I get butt naked and go in the sauna? Do I talk during my massage or keep quiet? I am clueless to spa etiquette. I would rather do my own pedicure and throw a bottle of massage oil at Bryan. He knows where to take it from there...
Once my spa experience was finally over we headed to the Mandalay Bay Events Center for the UFC fight which led to "lets count the Tap Out Shirts Contest". Lets just say this was an overwhelming task because everyone had one! I do not and will not ever understand the love of Affliction, Tap Out, Ed Hardy, and tacky graphics on shirts. Can we please end this epidemic of bad taste? The fights were bloody, gruesome, and actually a little boring. I just do not get the need to beat the shit out of someone, and I really do not get the need to watch someone get the shit beat out of them. Then we were off to dinner and "The Club". Can we make a few adult rules together? Rule number one is phasing out Ed Hardy and Tap Out. Rule number two is if you are over thirty, you are not allowed in a club? By age thirty, you should have your local watering hole for happy hour and that should be the extent of your drinking and dancing life. The highlight of the trip was black jack at the Playboy club where I won quite a bit, and then won for the drunk girl we were with. I can not complain about being a winner. The best part of my weekend was some tea and the game at home on the couch with my doggies and husband.
Weekend Lesson:
Going out is lame and gambling is fun when you are winning

I qualify for what??!! - Day 9

My god! I am only twenty-five and I qualify for Social Security income! You have to be working for ten years for these benefits. I have been working over ten damn years! How depressing is that? There are people my age that have barely started their first job, and I am in my eleventh year of the work world or what others might call the "real world". I have not had a summer off since my freshman year of high school. How awfully depressing. I have not had a moment of unemployment, in fact, I have had times where I had two or three jobs at once. And for what? Let me take a moment to reflect here:
1) My first car
2) Undeniably cute clothes and shoes....yummy... my favorite thing to spend money on
3) Independence!!
4) My Education
5) My Rent...back to the independence thing
6) Endless nights at 21 drinking...this lasted only a short while....my liver thanks me now
7) Travels- Backpacking Europe, Hawaii, Cabo, Road Trips through California...
8) My second car
9) A solid resume
10) A Purpose beyond "I don't know what I want to do with myself"

Okay. I feel better now. You know I could have been less motivated, but I did not allow myself to have the chance. I guess this is why I am documenting this journey into motherhood. Will my children see me as the young, motivated and excited person I was? If you watched Modern Family last night you could see my point. Claire met up with her old co-worker. The co-worker was career driven, childless, husband less, and on the top. Claire felt that she was only viewed as a "stay at home mom". It was a complete analogy of how I feel now. Family is more important than career, but it does feel good to work.

I am a hippie at heart- Day 7

I am probably one of the biggest hippie at hearts that I know. I secretly want to save the world. I want to rescue all the needy animals, I recycle and cringe when I see others that do not, I try to eat organic and green, and I would consider myself a flexatarian (someone who eats meat rarely). Hmm...what else. I believe in gay marriage (you know less than fifty years ago black and whites could not legally marry? fought by the same group that is fighting against gay marriage), I voted for Obama, I am a Sociology major, and I work in Environmental Health and Safety. I think that spells out my hippie love. My husband, on the other hand, is fiscally conservative and socially liberal...thank goodness. I can handle arguments over taxes, but I could not handle arguments over civil rights. During the election, my McCain supporter and I are argued until we gave up on each other all together. We agreed to disagree on all subjects political. We will never see eye to eye on so many issues. I guess this keeps our conversations more interesting and lively. I am insanely passionate about the things I believe in and so is my husband.
My point is that we do disagree on a lot, but we do not disagree on family and values. We want a safe and happy home for each other and our children to be. (Disclaimer- I am not expecting yet!) We both come from dysfuntional families. He is the son of divorced parents and I am the daughter of an dying alchoholic. I think the thing that bonds us is that we want something different for ourselves and our children to be. We know our family will never suffer through divorce or addiction. Life is too short to live unhealthy! With insanely hard work ANYTHING can be accomplished. I am exactly where I always wanted to be. As a child I could only dream of this kind of normalcy. I almost have to laugh at how easy "normal" can be. The only piece of advice I would give to anybody is, "Do not be lazy". I hate the saying "good things happen to those who wait". That is just ridiculous! "Good things happen to those who get of their *ss and go for it"!

I have two children already- Day 3

Yes, it is true. I have two babies already. My sweet Bogey and Kahla. I do not think I would be so prepared and ready to love without them. They have been a huge inspiration leading up to my hopeful motherhood. My dogs have taught me about responsibility, loyalty, unconditional love, discipline, schedule, and the list goes on. In all honestly what is the difference between my dog babies and a human baby?? I am totally joking people!! My dogs lower my blood pressure, give me kisses when I am sad, wag their tail when I am happy, and I can see that God created these animals just to be my companion. Bryan and I have raised our dogs TOGETHER. This is the real part of the learning experience. We have learned to love outside of each other, and is this not what parenthood is? Learning to love and raise a being outside of one another? We have had to schedule babysitters when we go out of town, go to the veterinarian when they are sick, spend all kinds of money(well they are a tad spoiled), deal with chewed furniture, poop, and pee. For most, this would be annoying and too much work. For us, this is JOYFUL! What our dogs give us in love replaces what we have to give up for them. I look to this as what being a parent is like. All the things you are "giving up" is replaced by the beautiful being you are raising. My hope for our future children is that they love animals like we do and they have a compassionate heart. Bogey and Kahla are both rescued, and I could not imagine it any other way. I would go as as far as saying as soon as our first kid is old enough to want a dog, we will be running to the shelter and adopting the ugliest mutt they have! I have made a promise to myself that our next dog will be the most "over looked" dog at the shelter. Three dogs and a few kids...why not? The more the merry...right?

My Birthday Wishes for Bryan- Day 2

Okay, well maybe more like my birthday promises. Bryan is turning thirty tomorrow, and I am so excited for him! So I have thought of a few promises for him as we begin this journey together.

Promise # 1- I promise to support him in his career (did I mention that his support and encouragment for me is endless?)
Promise #2- I promise to stay healthy and fit (this is a big one!). You have to feel good about yourself to feel good in your relationship. I truly believe this...eating right and excercise is an exact parallel to happiness and state of mind.
Promise # 3- I will always make time for us to be alone. Bryan is my best friend, and I will work at staying connected even when it seems impossible.

Besides the sappy promises, Bryan got hooked up with a Marc Jacobs leather briefcase. Let's just say it is a man bag because he was so envious of my Louis...

I also made a photobook from photos ranging from baby until now. I LOVE the book and it took so much time to scan every damn photo. I royally screwed up because I did not put one single photo of his mom in there...not one! We can never show her...so sad :(

Why?- Day 1

Why? Why am I writing this blog? Maybe I miss school and writing my thoughts so often, maybe I am bored, maybe I just have to hear myself think out loud. All of these are true, but the number one reason I am writing this blog is to relive and remember this experience into motherhood. I want to love my choice more than anything I have ever done. I want my children to see that happiness exists and that marriage can be forever. I want them to know that two people can create a family and be entirely joyful and fullfilled. We live in a world of too many questions and to many "what ifs". I think its time we stop asking questions and find that love can be real.
You see I have been plagued with the desire of motherhood, but I have also been so afraid of it. I am a self proclaimed feminist. I believe woman should take control of their lives and give everything they have to their education and career. I fight with myself everyday on the complicated and almost unrealistic idea of career and motherhood. The haunting question is do you choose both or one? This is my journey into choosing only one.