Friday, December 26, 2008

X-Mas '08
















We had a wonderful X-Mas this year. I love the hustle and bustle of Christmas time. It's my favorite holiday (aside from my birthday) LOL I love getting together with family and making new memories.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

IT'S A GIRL!






Well...well..well..it's about time!! YEA! We finally found out that our newest addition will be a lil' baby GIRL!! Her name is going to be Zoee Ambrielle and we are so excited that we now can add pink and purple to the things that we purchase for her. At our latest sonogram, she didn't have any problems this time opening up her legs to give us a sneak peak. Mike and I have been busy working on her nursery. We are excited because we are doing most of the artsy fartsy stuff ourselves. I will definitely post pictures as soon as we get it completed. Might be a little while though because of Mike's busy schedule. But we can't wait for it to be completed and for our bundle of joy to get here. She's been moving around a whole lot and she's quite the active lil' booger. I wish all of you a very Merry X-Mas and hope that you ring in the New Year with a bang!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

To Buy or Not to Buy..that is the question???

I forgot to add this to my previous post...But yesterday, Mike and I decided to go and do a little walking around..so we decided to go and look around at the mall. Because I am getting a bigger belly and don't really fit into my old jeans..I've been harping on Mike that I need some new ones. But I was a little leary because I'm plus size..wondering how jeans would fit me in the maternity section. So we ventured into Motherhood Maternity and I just went and picked out my size on the racks in all different kinds of washes.
As I approached the dressing rooms...I heard a girl and her husband in the next stall. She was just griping and bawling right there in the stall. I felt so bad for her. You could tell she was really upset about how things weren't fitting. At that moment, I got a little scared, too! I was like..oh, no! If they aren't fitting her..then I'm sure they aren't going to look good on me either. So I sucked it up and entered the dressing room. As I was holding them up to put them on..I started cracking up..cause you know they have that belly band built into them. Mike was sitting outside of the dressing room awaiting for me to come out and model as usual...ha ha! I put on the very first pair and I was hooked. OH MY GOSH!! I mean..I can't tell you how good they looked and felt. I never would of thought that jeans could fit me so well. I mean they fit in all the right places..hips..bottom..legs..belly, length! Needless to say I was very proud to open up that curtain and do my runway walk right there in Motherhood Maternity for Mike and God knows who else. He was just cracking up cause I was strutting my stuff all over the store. LOL No telling what people were thinking walking by outside in the mall. And I had the clerk just rolling. The girl in the next stall had finally come out and she wasn't very big at all. You could tell she was definitely farther along then I was. But she hadn't quite embraced getting bigger and what all that entails. I mean...like most moms would probably agree..there is so much that you go through with your changing body...it gets kind of ridiculous..but then I think of how long I've wanted to have a baby..this is the least of my problems. I don't care if my body becomes warped or not..which I'm sure I'm in store for even more scarier moments..but I'm looking forward to it. I cannot wait to hold my baby in my arms and have the satisfaction of knowing that Mike and I created something so miraculous and wonderful. So...yes, I did buy the jeans in the store..and I'm ready to wear them proudly! HA HA! Thought I'd share a funny moment with ya! Hope you are smiling!

Friday, October 31, 2008

Down with the Sickness..Literally!

Well, last week started off good..other than being really nervous about taking my State Board practical to be a Cosmetologist..I was feeling pretty good. Took my test on Oct. 29th..and aced it! So yes, I'm now a Licensed Cosmetologist. I'm really excited about it..but didn't have much time to celebrate because that very next night started barfing my guts up and couldn't stop..so Mike decided to take me in to the ER since it was a weekend. We were afraid I would get too dehydrated and something would go wrong with the baby in the belly (which I'm sure the baby was thinking..what the heck are you doing out there??) I spent a total of 6 hours at the ER in which, of course, I got a rookie nurse who put my IV in wrong. I was filled with a bag of fluid...took a ton of blood for testing..and then sent me home with anti-nausea medication. As though my body hadn't been through enough..that same evening... my left arm started to hurt really bad..and I had a numbness in it that I've never felt before. I kind of figured my blood pressure had shot up...so we rushed back up to the ER (thinking..LORD..what are we in store for, since it is officially Halloween night in the ER) We made it in and like I thought..my blood pressure was extremely high at 194/122. They rushed me in ..put all these probes on me..checked the baby..and put another IV in my arm ( I was a little leary about it..because of the outcome of the night before's nurse). The doctor said I must of had a bad reaction to the anti-nausea medication ..in which it can cause tremors. So I was sent home again after having more tests run. Mike and I were sooo exhausted. All we've done the rest of the weekend is sleep and I've tried to choke down crackers and soup (there is only so many crackers and soup that you can eat before it becomes old). My stomach seems to be doing better..my body doesn't ache as much from the horrible convulsing I was doing during my Exorcist barfing the night before. Thanks to those who called and checked up on my and who prayed for me to get better. I'm getting there slowly! Of course, I still have the drainage that I've had over a month now..but it has gotten better where I can at least breathe out of my nose now. WHEW! But here's hoping that I will have a better November than October. And I'm wanting to get back to work before I get too big to work..so I'm hoping that everything will go okay from now on and through labor. Hope you are having a better week than I have had...

Sunday, October 5, 2008

A Heartfelt Moment

Today was a wonderful day because Mike turned 38 and he also got to feel our baby move for the first time.
What an exciting day for this to happen! Ever since I've been able to feel the baby move, which is called quickening (lil' butterflies) we've spent every night laying in bed...spending time with our lil' one in the womb. We want our baby to become familiar with our voices..Mike often plays and talks with it (I say it..cause we still don't know if it's a boy or girl yet). It's so cute and just warms my heart seeing how Mike is enjoying bonding with our baby, just as much as I am. We are going to be trying music next! We're going to play music that is soothing and relaxing to us and see how the baby responds since the movements are getting stronger.
Baby Arguello is enjoing laying on my left side for some reason. It can be uncomfortable at times...but hopefully as he/she grows the weight of the baby will shift to both sides. It's almost like it is hiding..ha ha!
Only 14 more days until we find out what we're having..we hope our lil' one will be cooperative! HA HA! We are soo excited and can't wait!
I've also come to realize that I guess I haven't officially been sick, but that I have all this drainage and congestion because of the pregnancy. It's really uncomfortable..kind of feels like you have a constant cold. This is going on my 2nd week..and NOTHING is working. I've tried medicine (Dr. Approved) and saline nose douches (which are very interesting) you name it..I've done it (as long as it's been safe for pregnancy..so if ANYONE has any comments about this..or any suggestions on how to ease the congestion..please feel free to email me and let me know.
stenoqueen15@grandecom.net
Until next time...Hope you are having a great day! BIG SMILE!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Second Trimester

I'm starting out the second trimester wonderfully. Your dad says I have "THE GLOW" that most pregnant women get. Your dad seems to be more affectionate, too. We cannot wait to find out what you are. I actually still have pretty clear skin. And no morning or evening sickness. Really don't have any unusual cravings. Just trying to eat healthier. I'm definitely more aware about what I stick in my mouth. 14 weeks--Sept. 17th--My first monthly checkup--We'll be doing this up until the very end when I go in and see Dr. Davis more frequently. Everything looked good..but he seemed to be worried about that old ugly birthmark I have on my left leg. It seems that woman that are pregnant are more susceptible to skin cancer than most people. He wants to keep an eye on it. 15 weeks--Sept. 23rd-- I felt you move...just fluttering of course..kind of like butterflies in my stomach. I feel you move the most while laying in bed at night when I'm rolled over on my right side and I have you kind of squished. You're probably squirming..saying..let me out of this cramped space! HA! Your dad likes to feel of my belly often ...he likes to see if he can feel you move around in there, too. Hopefully in a few more weeks he'll be able to do that. My belly is definitely getting bigger, even though you might not be able to tell that I'm pregnant..because I was overweight before we started growing you inside of me.Sept. 26th--Called the college to see about getting a free sonogram session to see what we're having. They scheduled it for Oct. 21st. WE CANNOT WAIT. The waiting game will finally be over and we can proceed with the nursery and getting the baby registry together. I'm getting bigger so it's time to go and buy some materity gear. This should be interesting! But, we have some names picked out already!BOYs: Gavyn Wayne Arguello or Noah Wayne Arguello GIRLs: Avarie Ambrielle Arguello or Zoee Ambrielle Arguello. I also have a lil' cold this week..no fun. I'm so worried about taking medicine while pregnant that I'm taking it easy on the meds...but I cannot seem to get rid of this stuffy nose. I really cannot believe how fast it is going. We're almost half way through the pregnancy and it seems like I just found out that you were in there.

Monday, August 4, 2008

First Trimester











My first trimester was wonderful. I only had the gaggies a couple of times..mostly in the morning with drainage. 4 weeks--July 7th--When we found out we were officially pregnant! 6 weeks--July 21st--First Sonogram--That day came..and we were so excited. My parents were so excited that they both had to come, too. When we arrived in Dr. Bello's office..she said, "WOW..never have seen this many people in here just for the heartbeat!" HA HA! You have to remember she is very dry! We got our very first pictures of the baby..looked like a lil' sweet pea on the screen...barely could see it. But we got to see the lil' heartbeat on screen..that was fun!8 weeks--August 4th--Sonogram in Dr. Bello's office...Wow..couldn't believe how much the baby had grown in just two weeks time. The baby was in a prize figher stance. 10 weeks--August 20th- First OBGYN appointment with Dr. Davis. Now, let me explain..my OBGYN is very good at what he does, no doubt..but he just dismisses ever joke that I throw out there. He's very to the point... direct... walking medical dictionary is what I call him. He did a whole bunch of tests..blood...examination..procedural stuff for first visit. He said everything seemed normal and good. But it was sure funny when he was giving me my breast exam while Mike was watching... such an odd thing anyway..you should of seen Mike's face. HA HA!12 weeks--Sept 4th--Thorough Sonogram @ the hospital--This was an interesting procedure..not very comfortable..but VERY rewarding. We got to see about 100 different positions of our baby. It was amazing! Our baby even had a perfect profile. The sonographer kept saying, "I can't believe how perfect it already looks at 12 weeks." She said it weighed in at 2 oz. We even got to hear the heartbeat for the first time. It was so wonderful..LIFE! It was beating at 165 bpm.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The Method to our Madness

During this 4 1/2 years has come the heartache of not being able to conceive quickly. Many, many endless nights of trying and worrying...all the horrible thoughts and feeling..not to mention all the tears of fear that I would not be able to conceive. I still to this day will not be able to share with you the feeling I had of desperation..of hope..of total anguish. And only those that have gone through the same thing would realize all the pain and strain it puts on a marriage. We even talked about adopting. But that just still didn't seem the answer to our prayers. After living in Midland for a while and getting a little more established, we decided to go and seek the help of a fertility specialist. When walking into the waiting room of Dr. Bello's office, I was mortified to see all the faces gleaming up at me. All probably wondering why we were there. I was astonished to see all of these people in there..I couldn't imagine that so many were going through the same things and I'm sure having the same feelings that Mike and I were. You could also see on their faces the sense of hope..of just being in that particular waiting room..hoping for the one true miracle of life. I often wondered how many prayers were said in that exact waiting room. After visiting with Dr. Bello, we had come to the conclusion that this is really what we wanted. She was very optimistic..but very gruff all at the same time. She told it how it was..wasn't sugar-coating anything. We knew it would be expensive, seeing how our insurance and most insurance do not cover infertility. And boy was it! To this day, I sometimes don't know how we mustered up enough money for all those tests, doctor's appointments, checkups, sonograms, etc. I guess God does provide when you need it the most!! She said it would be extensive..some procedures that were going to be unpleasant...(and boy were they). We went through testing after testing. Tested my tubes...tested my eggs... tested your dad's sperm. This whole process of testing took several months. Until finally we found out that it was me only that was the hinderance in this journey. I felt so horrible...I prayed..prayed and prayed some more. I knew that Mike would not leave me because I wasn't able to have his kids..but I also didn't want to carry the burden of not being able to have a kid of our very own..from both of our genes, someone to see a reflection of both ourselves in a small lil' human being. So, Dr.Bello recommended that I take some medication. This medication did a number on me. And how Mike stayed with me through this process is unfathomable. I was horrendous. My moods were up and down..way more than they regularly are. It was like I was a different person...the hormones had taken over!! YIKES! After we realized that medication was not going to do the trick... we started the newest procedure of her checking my eggs..measuring them for size and volume..and then whenever the time was right to be released..she gave me a shot to help the process along. I was given the shot on June 23rd to see if my egg was going to release and if it worked we would conceive that week.That very next week...I could not think straight...the waiting game was the worse! We had a scheduled blood test for that Monday, July 7th in Dr. Bello's office. On Saturday, July 5th, I told Mike..I cannot wait any longer. I had to know the results...if it was to turn out negative (like all the others had) I would rather be emotional at home..rather than up in front of Dr. Bello and her staff. So we trodded our way through Wal-Mart to retrieve a pregnancy test. I got home..took the test..and to my dismay ..it was a faulty test. Out of all of the tests I had taken over those past 4 1/2 years..I had never once gotten a faulty test. What?? I couldn't believe it. I was infuriated! Mike had been outside messing around in the garage..I stomped outside..told him that the test was faulty..griping and griping the whole way there and back to the house. I asked Mike if he would run up the street to Wal-Greens and grab us another one. And he did. So I had to muster up enough urine to add to this test that was just bought. We waited the 3 minutes...and 2 lines were present and then faintly..the plus sign. And when I say faint..I mean it was the faintest line you'd ever seen. I told Mike.."No, no way..we're just wanting to see that extra line". He said, "No.. I know you're pregnant"! I said, "Whatever"! And was now even more disturbed! Mind you, this was around 9 something at night by this time. Mike gets on the phone and calls my best friend and super mom, Mindy. Mike wanted to seek her advice on reading this stupid lil' pregnancy test that I was mortified about. HA HA! She said she'd be over in about 30 minutes..she had to get her four lil' ones settled in. After waiting what seemed like an eternity...she walks in the door and tosses 2 more pregnancy tests -this time the digital ones- onto the coffee table and said, "Go take them..now!" So I went and took the first one... brought it back into the living room... laid it on the coffee table..and waited the other 3 minutes for the digital ones to take effect. We were just gabbing about how different life would be if I was pregnant. Both her and Mike kept saying..I know you're pregnant. Low and behold..I glance over..and that lil' digital pregnancy test said, "PREGNANT". WHOO HOO!! I could not believe my eyes. I couldn't even cry I was so in shock. Kind of felt like I had been run over by a mac truck! Mindy was in tears..Mike couldn't stop hugging me. We were ecstatic!! By this time it was around 11 something at night...Mike wanted to call everybody he knew. But I was so fearful that it was wrong... or that something would go wrong..didn't want to tell the whole world right away. On Sunday, Mike was just beaming. I can't even explain his face to you. It was soo cute! He looked like he had just opened up the biggest and best X-Mas present you'd ever seen. All day long he was beaming! On Monday, July 7th...we went into Dr. Bello's office..trying not to seem too anxious..but we were. They drew some blood and then the nurse told me we'd have to wait an hour for the results. Oh my goodness. Are you kidding me??Another hour?? Like I said, the waiting game was horrible! She told us if they don't call us in an hour..then we need to call them because they might have gotten too busy to call. I was like: too busy to call..this is important lady..this determines my destiny..are you kidding me..you're really going to be too busy to call?? But I sucked it up..went back home...and I remember Mike and I crawling into bed together to rest. We just kept holding each other..wondering what the results would be. Wondering how different our lives will be. An hour went by..no phone call. I told Mike to call...we argued about who would make that call..I told him I couldn't bear hearing the news from a stranger..I'd rather hear it from him. So he called..and the nurse came on and said..I'm sorry ..we don't have the results in yet.. UGGHH!!! More waiting! But not even 5 minutes went by and Dr. Bello called us..I made Mike answer. I heard her over the phone say, "Congratulations, y'all are pregnant!" WOW!!! It's really true..we're going to be parents... I truly do have life growing inside of me. I can't even explain the feelings I felt and how many prayers of praise I gave to God that day. Can you believe I'm going to be a mom??