5 weeks!

Stats:

How far along: 5 weeks

How big is baby:

your baby's the size of an appleseed!

Your embryo is now measurable -- though it's a wee .13 inches -- and she's gearing up for much more growth. In fact, in the next week, she'll almost double in size. Grow baby grow!

Total weight gain: So far 0lbs. But I'm sure that won't last for long!

Sleep: Pregnancy isn't the problem. Katie is. She is still pooping in the middle of the night (between 2 and 4 am) and it's waking her up. So that's when I get up. And DH wonders why I fall asleep most nights on the couch before 9!

Best moment of the week: Getting my beta numbers. 68 on Aug. 24 and over 280 on Aug. 26.

Food cravings: Nothing unusual.

Food aversions: I had some issues this weekend making Sausage Stars. I had to have DH mix the mayo and ranch in because the smell was getting to me.

Symptoms: Passing nausea that can usually be handled with a snack, or hard candy (Jolly Ranchers).

Movement: Not even close!

Gender: Currently I have no idea. A girl would be better because we wouldn't have to buy much in terms of clothing but DH and I would love to have a boy.

What I'm looking forward to: Coffee with caffeine. I miss caffeine. I might have to get a small Starbucks later this week.

What I miss: See previous.

Next appointment: September 26th. I'll get an u/s just to make sure everything is ok in there. I'll be 9 weeks exactly so DH and I should get to see some good stuff in there!

Here we go again!

One week ago today I took a pregnancy test and it came up positive. But it was super light so I didn't believe it.

So I took another one the next morning and it was decidedly not light.

So. Like I said before, here we go again!

Key Lime Cake Pops!

Key Lime Cupcakes!

I am co-hostessing a bridal shower this weekend and because I am the baker of the group I was asked to make dessert.

I decided to go with mini cupcakes and some cake pops.

Specifically I am making Key Lime cupcakes and cake pops.

I'm not done yet but this is what I have so far:

Crumbled up Key Lime cake:

Cream Cheese frosting:

Frosting and cake mixed together:

I tried something new this time. In an effort to make the cake balls more uniform in size, I put them in my mini cupcake pan. That way I could easily see which ones needed to be bigger.

A close up of the balls:

Mini cupcakes after frosting:

If you are interested here's the recipe.

Key Lime Cupcakes

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup self-rising flour

1 stick room temp unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 large eggs

2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel

1/4 teaspoon neon-green food coloring

3/4 cup french vanilla yogurt

Preheat oven to 350*

Whisk both flours in a medium bowl. Beat butter in a large bowl until smooth. Add sugar; beat to blend. Beat in eggs one at a time, then next three ingredients (batter will look curdled). Beat in the flour mixture in three additions alternately with the yogurt in two additions.

Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from pan and cool.

Frosting

1 8oz package of cream cheese, room temperature

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon finely grated lime peel

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat all ingredients together in a bowl until smooth.

Boobies!

Once you have a baby there's not much about your body that doesn't change. And there's not much you won't talk about. At least there's not much I won't talk about.

So today I would like to talk about my boobies.

In December 2003 I had breast reduction surgery. I went from a 34 DDD to a 34D and it was wonderful. People who didn't know I had had the surgery thought I had lost about 10 pounds! I loved my new boobies. I could buy shirts in the correct size and not have to make alterations. I could wear a bikini and not look like a porn star. It was fabulous!

And then I got pregnant.

And the boobies didn't change much. But the lactation consultant at my OB's office said that I should be fine.

Fast forward to Aug 25. I had Katie and we worked on nursing. It was slow going at the start. Katie had some issues gaining weight. We had to supplement with formula.

But she started to gain, we dropped formula, and she continued to gain weight.

Great! However, since I've been back at work, I've been pumping and Leftie has always been an under producer. So this week I've been trying some things to get her up to speed with Righty.

I made sure to feed Katie from Leftie first every feeding. I also would go back to Leftie after we were done on the right. And I've really been watching my water intake.

And so far it looks like it might be working. I just finished my morning pumping session and got 2 ounces out of both sides!

Go Leftie!

Now we have to see if this was a fluke or if it's the new normal.

Lets talk about GERD

I've decided to start writing in the blog again (ok, again is the wrong word. I'm going to write a blog).

Let's talk about GERD.

If you have a baby and you are not familiar with this lovely acronym, consider yourself lucky.

If you have a baby and you are familiar with this lovely acronym, I am so sorry.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in Infants or Children

It is common for infants to spit up after a meal, but frequent vomitingmay be caused by GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), the upward movement of stomach content, including acid, into the esophagus and sometimes into or out of the mouth. Older children also can have GERD.

Most of the time, reflux in babies is due to a poorly coordinated gastrointestinal tract. Many infants with the condition are otherwise healthy; however, some infants can have problems affecting their nerves, brain, or muscles. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a child's immature digestive system is usually to blame. They add that most infants grow out of GERD by the time they are 1 year old.

Katie has GERD. But she doesn't have the kind that involves projectile vomiting or lots of spitting up. Katie, my little ninja baby, has ninja GERD (not the technical name, although it should be). Ninja Gerd is the kind that means excessive acid in the stomach making it really uncomfortable to digest her food.

So she squirms a lot. And arches her back a lot. And hates tummy time, a lot. And would rather be held in a standing up position than any other.

The worst part, I had no idea there was anything wrong with her.

I've spent a lot of time with kids, toddlers and babies but not really any time with infants. So I was unaware her behavior was off. Thankfully my mom came in town the week before Thanksgiving to watch Katie while I headed off to my first week back to work. She made me call the doctor. I thought they would laugh and tell me not to worry, they didn't.

So the GERD adventure began. We started with Zantac at the low dose, 1 ml. And it worked! Saturday she was like a new baby! It was wonderful! But after a few days she wasn't as wonderful. So we got permission to up the dose to 1.5 ml. Again, like a new baby! Wonderful! Happy!

Last week was her first week at daycare and I was noticed when we nursed Tuesday night she was squirming and pushing off again. So I mentioned it to daycare Wednesday morning. They had noticed it also on Tuesday. Off to the doctor, again.

Friday we got a new perscription. Picked it up on Sunday (long story but DH had the stomach flu this weekend so I didn't leave the house Saturday, at all). Now we're on Prevacid.

I'll keep you posted.

Oh.My.God!

Here it is.

The test from this morning at 8dpo.





I am excited.

I am scared.

I am nervous beyond belief.

I am thrilled at the idea of this life changing voyage I have just begun.

Family overload!

But in a good way.

I want to fill all of you in on the craziness that is the Greek side of my family but right now I am too distracted.

As most of you know (I think all of my followers come from BOTB, so you know) one of my friends from BOTB--Greenclown-- went into labor last night and delievered her baby at 24 weeks. At last update, mom and baby are doing well.

Currently Greenclown, her husband, and her baby are all I can think about.

All I want to do is get back on a plane to Boston (where I was all weekend) and hunt her hospital room down so I can do whatever they need me to do.

You want food from any where in the STATE? I'll rent a car and get it!

You need your house cleaned and pets taken care of? I'll do it, I'll even clean your toilets, a part of house cleaning I HATE.

You want your nails painted? I'll do it or I'll find the best manicurist in the city to do it!

I think you can tell how I feel.

And by the way BOTB, I would do the same for any of you. You are my online family and eventhough we haven't met, I love all of you.