Hes here!!!!

Dont want to spend too much time on the computer, I'd rather stare at our beautiful baby boy so I'm gonna make a REALLY quick update and post a picture or two :)

First of all, I am recovering VERY well. Back down to my pre-pregnancy weight already, and even lost a few extra pounds. I can't believe it.

Labor/Birth Story:

Got my first contraction around midnight Tuesday morning. Nothing regular, but intensifying so around 730am off to the hospital we went. By the time we got to the hospital and hooked up, I was regularly contracting every 2 minutes! Got the epidural around 2, started pushing at 6ish and after 13 minutes at 6:16pm, our big baby boy arrived!!!! 9 lbs 5 oz, 22 inches long. No tears or anything! I couldn't have asked for a better labor/birth. Everything was amazing. I did want to give up with the contractions I was having the 30-60 min before my epidural tho. He is a very good mixture of both of us, as no one can tell who he really looks like. He does have daddys nose and chin, mommys lips and birthmark and both buddy and I's colic(we have the SAME one-crazy huh?)

Collin is the sweetest, cutest, most amazing baby ever! The last 2 nights hes been up from 3-6sih but other than that he eats usually about every 2 hours and once a day will go about 4-5hrs.

Thats all :) Heres A picture...after his first bath :)

38 week belly

So today I'm 39 weeks but this is the most recent belly picture I have...from last Friday. Its on my cell phone thats why its so small, but you get the idea. The child needs to drop already!!!!
Still not a thing going on. At my next appt-on my due date-I will be getting checked and if my cervix is favorable, I'll also be getting my membranes stripped. Please pray that something is going on!! My last day of work is on tuesday, I'm definately ready to be done for a little bit. I'm going to miss everyone so I will definately be visiting both places of employment to show off the little one :)

38 weeks

I know, I sorta fell off the face of the earth.

I started my new job on the 7th of july and form than on the whole month was filled with orientation and by golly, working haha. It's going very well so far, everyone I work with is very helpful and caring, and fun too. I only have a few half shifts left to work (the entire 8 hr shift got to be 2 much so I've only been picking up 1/2 shifts).

Less than 2 weeks until Collin is due, and not a SINGLE sign hes coming anytime before than lol. Not a single contraction, besides braxton hicks which I've been getting since about 34 weeks. I've been trying to walk everynight, buddy even went with me the other night, it was nice.

Everything for Collin is ready, everything for me, is not lol. I've just been trying to keep up on the house and what not so that when he does decide to come I dont have to come home to a messy house because that will NOT be fun. I'm actually getting scared for his arrival-not so much him coming but the whole labor process, I'm not sure I wanna do this anymore hahaha. I'm very excited to meet him and hold him and love on him, but i'm NOT excited about what I have to go through to get to that point. I'm not to uncomfortable, but I surely do have my days!!!!

Buddy got called back to work this past week after being laid off for a month so thats a blessing.

Nothing else is really going on. Hope everyone enjoyed their summer, I know I was blessed with not having typical summer weather.

slacker

So its been over a month since I've written anything, my apologies. Nothing has really been going on that I felt I should write about. SOrry. Heres just a quick update.

As of today I am 28 weeks and 2 days. Things have been going really well up until a few weeks ago when I started having these "spells." I get lightheaded/dizzy, my arms and legs feel weak and jello-like, things start turning dark, etc. I mentioned this to the midwife and she thinks I just need to increase my fluids..so far its not really helping a whole lot so at some point if I keep having them I will give the office a call. I attempted my 1 hr glucose test yestarday, and was 10 minutes from finishing it when I had a spell, and ended up throwing up. Argh. We'll see what the doc says hopefully next week, if they are gonna make me re-do the one hour since it wasn't "complete" all the way, or be ok with the results they have from a 50 minute test lol, or just have me do the 3 hour. Im soo hoping they will just be ok with the results.

I got a new job..at a local retirement village. NEVER EVERRR wanted to do long-term care, but hospitals werent pulling through with any jobs for me so thats where I want, and to say the least, I am actually ok with this. I will be getting paid $3 more than what most hospitals would have started me out with, sweet. Its only per diem, which sucks because I'm sick of these per diem jobs but I didnt have a choice. I had to leave my job as an aid at the hospital and get another RN job. I start on the 7th. Being per diem will actually work out very well once collin decides to make his arrival, so yay. Theres lots of hours for me to pick up right now, so lets hope that continues through the month of august and part of september.

Buddy started his own tree and lawn service business about a month ago. He put an ad in one of the local papers and thats where hes gotten all of his calls from. Hes gotten a couple jobs already, and given out even more estimates-hopefully some of those people will call and hire him for the job!!

Heres pictures: the bedding set we picked out and belly pictures from today

is it pregnancy hormones??

Tomorrow I'll be 24 freaking weeks. Only 16 more to go (better not be any more!!!). Nothing has changed regarding my pregnancy. I've still only gained 2-3 pounds :) I've been getting heartburn-more like acid reflux lately but its nothing horrible, yet. Next dr. appt is next thursday and I think than he will let me know when I need to do my glucose tolerance test. Lets hope I past the first time.

This month(weekends) are superr busy. The ONLY day we dont have something going on is June 27th. This saturday is Michael's(buddys older brother), girlfriends, youngest girl's birthday haha if you get that. We have been invited to the party. I think we also have a graduation party to go to for someone from gibsonburg. Sunday we have a mcgee grad party. Next saturday is my brothers graduation party, yes I have a brother lol. Than that sunday I have 2 baby showers...I cant wait until mine. The followingg weekend(the 20th/21st) is the annual Perkins family reunion in West Virginia so we'll be making the 4 hr or so trip there for the weekend. We've only gone once since buddy and I have been together in the last 3 years and the food was soo yummy last time so I cant wait. Than Finally, the 28th is my cousin's graduation party. After that...it will be July. Holy moley.

And now...I dont know if its just pregnancy hormones if buddy is really truly pissing me off. I mean no doubt hes making me bad but I dont know if its just stupid little petty stuff or not. I feel like ever since I got pregnant hes been on my shit list a whole lot. Its always one thing after another and all these things are just piling up and I keep telling him that if things dont change I'm gonna go away for a few days just to clear my mind because I can't handle much. He tells me im just talking stupid and I need to grow up and act my age. Whatever. I'm just so overly frustrated with his crap lately(last few months that is) that I dont know what else to do. I try and mention stuff to him and he just throws things back in my face. He acts like me being pregnant is the easiest thing in the world and isn't an excuse for anything. I dont really use it an excuse except that I sleep alot. Thats for a few reasons..not much longer and I'll hopefully have a full time job and WONT be able to sleep whenever and second..once the baby comes I will be kissing sleeping goodbye. So when I have the chance and Im tired, I sleep. So be it. Who knows. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions??

Last but not least. I'll find out next Tuesday or Wednesday if I'll be offered the job at bay park. Woot. My director comes back from vaca on monday so she said she'll prolly start making calls on the 9th which is tuesday.

Ok thats all. I'm just waiting for buddy to get home from his dentist appt/paying some bills so we can get dinner on the grill and head to Jamie and kevins for a little bit.

21 weeks 3 days

Not in the mood to go into detail so bare with me...

Our anniversary weekend was very wonderful!! I soo enjoyed my glass of champagne and can't wait until I can say "yes, I'll have another." I have a few pictures-mainly of our "suite" and I'll put a fewww on here but to see them all check out my myspace or facebook for all of them.

As for baby, I have an updated picture of my belly as well. It doesnt look like it has grown much in 3 weeks but who knows. Here ya go..

20w 5d

So today I'm 20 weeks and 5 days. Had a dr. appt. mommy and baby checked out well. 1 pound weight gain this ENTIRE pregnancy thus far...but really I have 4 more pounds to go until I'm on the plus side because I was already down 5 pounds for my first dr. appt. Either way, so far so good. My belly is definately growing though, so I know baby Collin is as well!!!! I think this upcoming sunday I'll have buddy take another belly picture. Also with baby news, Collin has been much more active since 2 weeks ago when I wasn't even sure if I was feeling him or not. Not only can I definately feel him, but we can SEE him as well. ANDDD Buddy FINALLY felt him move tonight :):) Yay.

Speaking of this sunday, its Buddy and I's first wedding anniversary. Saturday we have reservations at bellamaire suites in pburg. We are getting dinner at biaggis right across the street-where I WILL have a glass of champagne :) Can't wait. And we are getting a couples massage in our room. I think thats our only plans since money is tight, which brings me to my next subject.

Buddy was fired from his job a week ago. The guy that fired him is a big joke with people I guess...when people not even in the same company find out who buddy was fired by, they laugh because he fires SO many people-anger issues lol. Either way, he doesn't have a job. Luckily, a good friend of ours is a painter and so buddy has been able to work with him for 9.00 and hr which is no where NEAR what he was making but its SOMETHING for now (and we don't even know how long he'll be able to work with them). It's not even enough to pay the bills so we'll see. He's been looking and calling around.

Last but not least, I bought a car today!!!! I've been in need of a car since February and have looked at quite a few, and stopped for awhile out of frustration and a few other things. Well I looked at a local dealership the other day and found a few that I liked so I went today, and got one. It's a 2006 Silver Ford Fusion with only 27000 miles. Sweet. I actually got it for the selling price that it wasnt supposed to be listed at lol. I guess a guy was supposed to change the price online and never did so lucky for me I found the car online initially so they had to honor that price. I'm pretty satisfied with it.

Other than that, I don't think much has been happening.

Oh yeah, congrats rach on adding a new family member to your perfect family!!! :):)

ultrasound pictures

nursery theme

Ok so I need some help since Buddy doesnt see a need to decorate the baby's room, therefor not giving me his input or creative thoughts. Argh.

The color of the room is a brighter green. Carpet isnt white..but its not really tan-maybe a real light tan??

I've looked on babies r us' website but nothing really stood out for me....

Help! :)

baby collin

So...


Its a boy!!!!

Collin Michael :):)

I've never seen Buddy so happy before. Hes pumped :)

He was weighing in at 9oz.

I'll post pictures tomorrow night after I have my aunt scan them.

Stay tuned!

...We got some 3d/4d shots and he looks pretty stinkin cute if I might say ;)

you think you want an update huh?

How about you wait until after tomorrow when I will have a biggggg update ;)

18 week belly

belly

So I dont have any good pictures of my hair in my belly pictures and I looked absolutely horrible in the pictures anyways soooo I just cropped me out :) Sorry. But heres my belly today (17 weeks and 3 days). I swear I feel like it looks bigger in person but maybe not.

17 weeks

((Almost)) 17 weeks, today is my last day in the 16th week. So what has been happening? My belly is definately showing, and my innie belly button is now flat with my stomach/skin. I had a few episodes the other night where I think I might have felt the baby move, but I really am not sure AT ALL. Besides April 28th (we find out the sex, less than 2 weeks!!), I'm so looking forward to me being able to surely feel the baby and for buddy to be able to feel him/her as well. When I had an episode the other night he stopped and put his hand on my stomach like he would be able to feel it or something, lol. Hes excited to feel the baby :) I havent thrown up in a few weeks, yay. I have been having days where I am nausous still though, but NOTHING compared to the nausea I was having in the 1st trimester. I should post a picture of my belly. :) ha

Work..I'm still at bay park working as an aid, no RN positions are open at this point. Anne grady I am officially on the books as an RN and I work on friday-not to mention I havent been there since february so Im super excited to see my kiddos, and be in nurse role. It will be somewhat of a change because I'll have to get into nurse mode and out of aid mode ha. Im excited for the 10 dollar pay increase as well :) yay.

Buddy and I's 1 year wedding anniversary is coming up, may 17th. As of right now we have booked a room at bellamaire suites in perryburg and added the anniversary package to it. So we get an early check in at 2pm, coupon/gift certificate to biaggis, late checkout at 1pm, pre-lit candles when we wish to have them (prolly when we get back from dinner), a jacuzzi in our room and also a couples one hour massage. Im super stoked :) At biaggis I think im going to break down and have a *gasp* glass of champagne. No hate mail, please. Rach-you found themed present ideas for wedding anniversary-whats the 1 year?

I'm getting my hair cut tonight, and *another gasp* highlited. Im being a rebel lately, but thats the only things Im doing so far that you arent 'supposed' to do during pregnancy. My midwife actually never mentioned the hair color/highlite thing but I still know its not recommened. Oops. Im sure the baby will be ok :) Sorry if I offend you guys lol

RN

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After having to take all 265 questions I passed NCLEX on the first try!

Im officially Stephanie Perkins BSN/RN. YAHOOOOOOOOOO

nclex will be my B****

Nclex is today...in 2 hours. Im shaking. My nerves are going CRAZZYYY. Only other time I've been THIS nervous was my wedding day. Ativan-please!!!!

Buddys home today.

I'm 15 weeks today. ALmost 4 months!!!!!!

whats happening?..personal

Im diagnosing myself with Post Tramatic Stress Disorder stemming from our break-in in Aug or Sept last year(cant remember).

It all started last night. I was at home getting ready to go to bed and I started feeling like something was telling me not to go to sleep whatsoever. I felt like my heart was racing, and like I was short of breath. I was scared out of my mind all I could do was cry uncontrollably in fear of what may happen if I went to sleep. I ended up staying at my grandparents and was able to relax somehow and fell asleep. All was good when I woke up.

Now Im feeling anxious again. Not like I'm not supposed to sleep, just real anxious and panicky. I picked up to go into work 11-7 tonight so I was sleeping for a few hours. I woke up and just felt like weird. Im kinda afraid to go home and shower and crap. I dont know if its a mixture of my hormones going whack and buddy not being home, or if its the start of something somewhat serious. And mind you, Im already on medication for anxiety(that has been under control since starting meds like 5 y ears ago).

I definately don't want this to continue because I feel like Im back in high school and having panick attacks! If you've never had one, they are SUPER SCARY. I dont know how long to let this keep happening before I call my doc. I dont want to call tomorrow and than be fine but I dont want to keep going through this, if it keeps happening.

All I can do is cry because I dont know what is happening to me.

another day

Well, Buddy is gone AGAIN. I think this is the 3rd time hes been gone since I last posted, being home a total of about 5 days. He will be gone 2-3 weeks this time. We both struggled with the fact he would be leaving, but in times like we are dealing with, work is a must and we must do what we have to. That being said, I returned to work last night at the hospital. Started out well, and then was down hill on and off from than on. I actually ended up throwing up a few hours before the end of the shift. But somehow, I survived and Im super proud of myself even though I was almost in tears many times because of not feeling good.

Had a regular monthly checkup today. Im down 7 pounds from last month, and 12 pounds total. Ekk. Heard babys heartbeat-high 150, low 160. Everything was good.

I will be 14 weeks on thursday and I'm super excited :) I just hope every new week that arrives, will bring me a little bit more relief and eventually I'll be back to "normal."

I'm still not showing at all, but at times I do have a little pudge(i just think its fat though haha because its not there all the time). I do think its a little tiny start though!!

We get the ultrasound order on april 28th, so after that we can find out what were having, depending on when we schedule the ultrasound :) I cant wait!!!

Happy 24th birthday to buddy today, he at least got to hear the babys heartbeat because I recorded it on my phone and sent it to him.



And p.s....rachel-where are you????????

work

So yestarday since i had been feeling decent I figured I would go into work today. Today came-bright and early at like 530 for some reason and going into work was NOT going to happen. My stomach has been soo upset and it hasnt settled down yet :(

I'm soo over this nonsense and wish for it to be completely over NOWWWWW.

alone

Buddys gone for the week :(

This weekend was a very good one. Saturday we went to eat at Pizza Hut and than bowling a few hours later..I bowled 3 games and never felt sick. Yestarday was very productive. I got quite a few loads of laundry done and did some much needed cleaning in our room...it feels so much better in there now!! I'm really hoping that means things are starting to ease up on me! Im ready to ENJOY being pregnant ha.

baby at 11 weeks

picture 1 is baby with its legs crossed at the ankles. picture 2 is babys arms up. 3 is babys feet in the air. and 4th is body shot :)

heart rate was 173. everything looked good i guess.

Get to see baby again

So tomorrow I go for my 1st trimester screening which means...I get to see baby AGAIN!!!!! I cant wait just to see how much he/she has changed and grown in just a little under 2 weeks. I better get more pictures :) Today I am 11 weeks..whoa. c'mon 2 weeks..hurry and get here. I desperately need to get out of this 1st trimester rut!!!


I have been taken off the schedule at work until the end of the month. Im really hoping I have a good day before than and can call and go in for some hours though. We'll see....Its a blessing that this has happened because I think it will take a lot of stress off of me. Now I just have to make sure I work the last few days of the month so I can get my required hours in.

I've never been so tired/lazy/sick all at once in my life. Its got to get better!!! :)

we got to see the baby

Soo I'm going to post the ultrasound pictures :) but I guess I'll update a little bit first....

Arizona was AMAZING. Its way better than florida, hands down. I felt good most of the time, with mornings being the only time I really didnt feel well. Thank god for that. It was way too short of a visit there, especially since we had to come back to below freezing temps. Ugh.

The day after we got back, I had my first Dr. appt. It was about 1 hr and 15 minutes, mainly just history session. They drew a few tubes of blood, and attempted to hear the heartbeat via a doppler. Well after about 5 minutes and no luck, I was given an order for an ultrasound. Ultrasound was perfect. We saw the heart beating before we heard it, but it was beating away in the 170s. We also saw the little bean moving around which was amazing :) It was overall a very good experience, thankfully. According to dates I was 9 weeks and 5 days but the baby was measuring 9 weeks and 2 days. I dont believe they will be changing my date, so as of right now I still stand at September 25th. I was given the opportunity to decide if we wanted to do the first and second trimester screens and buddy wanted me to do so I said yes. Well, I'm not sure if I am gonna go through with it or not, its going to depend on if insurance will cover it or not. If they do than I should be getting another ultrasound as part of the first trimester screen sometime between 11 and 13 weeks depending on when I make the appointment. If the tests come back and say the baby may have something wrong with it, its not going to change anything so some people would say just dont even do it. We'll see. My next appointment is March 23-day before buddy's birthday.

How have I been feeling??well last thursday was real bad, probably the worst thus far. I was actually dry heaving quite a bit, which I havent been doing. I ended up having to call off work because I was up literally ALL night wednesday bc of not feeling good and then waking up after sleeping for 5 minutes only to find myself trying to sleep in the bathroom. Hopefully I can return to work this week and be good because I cannot afford to lose my job with everything else thats going on right now.

I still havent gotten a new car, still looking. Im going to get a ford escape I do know that.

Well thats about all I have....RIP Mike Kayden :(:( Heres some pictures :)----well the pictures wouldnt post after all of this and I gave up trying to mess with it :( I wanted to save them but o well

8 weeks

Well now that I'm pretty much 9 weeks pregnant, week 8 has had me sick, sick, and stillll sick. :( I hate the feeling and wish for it to end. I barely eat anything, and its not healthy.

I'm hoping tomorrow has me feeling 100 times better or im gonna cry, and keep crying haha. We are also supposed to be going to Arizona tomorrow until monday night. I cannot image going if im still feeling the way I do, and have been. Im not even excited to go because im so afraid im not going to be feeling better. All i have been able to do is lay on the couch alll dayyy long for almost a week. Please pray that things look up tomorrow!!!

When we get back, I have my first doctor(midwife) appointment!!! IM realllyyyy hoping for an ultrasound. Hopefully my due date will still be the same, if its not i hope its sooner rather than later.

Our house is such a pigstye I hate to even be home :( I dont think our house has ever been this messy before. A friend of mine is coming over to clean tonight thank god!!!!

my car has passed away

So yestarday Buddy and I did some minor running around. We noticed this really weird sound coming from the front of my car and it ended up getting worse by the time we were finished. It would make the noise when I started my car up, and then when I would push on the accelerator. I had buddys dad listen, my grandpa, my step-dad, and finally my uncle. My uncle thought possibly the water pump or the motor(which he was leaning more towards). We dropped it off at a local car dealership/repair place last night so they could run a a diagnostic on it this morning.....What did they find....blown motor. 4500 installed haha. YEAH RIGHT. I could only get MAYBEEEEE 2000 outta my car haha. Needless to say, shes a goner :( I have been planning on getting a new car in a few months, but not right now. Im not in any financial state to be getting a new car right now, but in a few months I will be making double what im making now((pending that I pass boards and find an RN job)). Soooo yeah im stuck driving buddys 1989 car haha. I hate that im married but feel like im not because buddy and I do not "share" anything really. He insists that we have seperate accounts. He didnt even want to file our taxes together lol. So in a time like this when Im in need of a new car, do you think he'd help me out for a few months until my income doubles? Nope..he tells me "I have 2 vehicles that you can drive until you can fully afford a new car". This is true. Its just soo frusterating. Granted he helps me out a ton, since I've been living for free since the beginning. But sometimes I just feel like we arent even married. Ugh.


Pregnancy news..nothing really. I've been feeling FANTASTIC since saturday early afternoon and I love it!!! Im sure it wont continue like this though. Im thinking Im just going to have good days and bad days until hopefully the end of my first trimester, which at that point I'll have all good days (nausea wise anyhow).

The dog has reached 7 months...equal to terrible twos. He no longer will let me sleep in. He wakes up about 6-8 in the morning to go out than he wont let me put him back in his cage. he'll lay in bed with me for 1-2 hours but after that he just wants to wander around. Since I have to work tonight, I had to have my grandpa come get him so that I could sleep today lol. Oh yeah, Riley also slept with me all night last night. First time I've let him do this and I was super nervous. I just feel like I cant trust him enough to let him be "free" for that long haha.

by the way. Im looking at explorers, grand cherokees, or trail blazers for a "new" car. I desperately will need something with 4 wheel drive for the winters because this past winter found me stranded in my own driveway haha. Cant happen when I HAVE to show up at work lol. Why did I go into healthcare again? haha.

off to shower and get myself ready for work.

so today I'm 7 weeks along and feeling better. ever since Tuesday late afternoon I've turned a small corner and I've been able to function! Thats key since I had an orientation for work yestarday and actual work today. I was getting reall nervous. Im still nausous from time to time, but I'm eating. Such good news. Last night pizza sounded so good that I had 3 pieces..only to kick myself in the butt later on because it made for a rough night of trying to sleep. I still cant wait to feel 100% better...oh hopefully the time will come soon :)

Next week is not only valentines day, but my birthday. Anddd I have to spend it alone and pregnant :( Buddy has to ONCE AGAIN go out of town starting sunday night and not sure how long he will be gone-minimum 6 days, maximum until about the 18th. Please pray that baby and I remain healthy, and safe of course.

We didnt get to spend either of those together last year, either. I was in Guatemala. Part of life I guess. Boo.

I ccant quite possible do this any longer. I'm simply miserable.

I dont want to be pregnant anymore-bad, I know but thats how I feel right now. Ive been naeusous since Friday night, constant. It wakes me up in the middle of the night, keeps me awake, has me shaking in fear of throwing up. I just cant do it. I've not been able to eat because the motion of putting anything in my mouth-even my prenatals, has my stomach turning even more.

Another thing that worries me about it is my job-at the hospitals. I'm new and trying to work my ass off so that when it comes time to apply for an RN job(in like a month), people will see that I'm a hard worker. But feeling like this I cant do it...i can hardly walk around. All i want to do is cry because I feel soo sick.

I've tried eating something so my stomach doesnt get empty but I cant. Buddy bought me these accupressure bracelts for nausea and so far, no luck. I just dont kinow what to do.

I almost wanna go the hospital so they can give me medicine to take away the naesea.

I also am scared to death that I'm gonna hate the rest of my pregnancy and hate being a mom. I dont know why. I've waitted to so long to finally be pregnant because it means I'll be a mom and have my OWn baby :) But lately, im so scared im not gonna like it.

I dont know what to do..

So since i only followed 2 people on xanga, and they both left me to come here....i decided to follow so I can comment and stalk :)

To update on my pregnancy, I am 6 weeks 1 day-today. On Monday I started in with the naeusea. Boo. I was starting to hope I would be a lucky one and not get it. I spoke to soon. Its been an all day occurance, but not lasting all day. It comes and goes throughout the day. Thursday was especially bad...to the point I didnt want to be pregnant anymore!!! :( I havent yet thrown up, but this constantly feeling/wondering if I'm going to isnt working for me at all.

I am still waiting to get my "authority to test" letter in the mail so that I can schedule my boards.

Nothing else to really update on.