A competitive peanut

It was a tough race, but this past weekend, baby completed a 30 km trail run over 12 hours of the Trailapalooza at Hidden Valley Resort in PA. Spencer did 50 km and over 10,000 ft elevation gain, thus pulling the weight for our three person team. Well, it was officially a two person team hehe.

I believe this is the first of many athletic pursuits that baby will undertake.

I was relieved that the morning sickness seems to have eased. I didn't hardly feel discomfort throughout the run. I ate lots - two egg salad sandwiches, two ham sandwiches, hard boiled egg, sweet potato, half loaf of cinnamon raisin bread, yoghurt. :)

Team Honeymooners at the start of the Trailapalooza, in costume as Leonidas and
Wife. About 2 1/2 months then.

Evening Sickness is Good for Pregnancy

I haven't posted the past week. I haven't been feeling up to doing much at all!

Week 8 of pregnancy has seen the intensification of nausea. The term 'morning sickness' is a misnomer. I have Evening Sickness at the moment.

I wake up feeling fantastic. Then after breakfast, things go steadily downhill :/


By evening, I'm not a happy camper. I can barely get down dinner.

Whatever dinner gets down, stays down though. Or rather, stays put. It doesn't go anywhere - gas is the natural result.

I take all this to mean that I have good, high levels of pregnancy hormones. LOVELY!

Now please excuse me while I burp.

No Worries: 24 Hr Protein Creatinine Normal Whoopee

Just a quick update - I spoke with the nurse about my test results for the 24 hour protein and creatinine. While they were flagged as 'high', I was told I have nothing to worry about as the results were within the normal range for pregnancy. I cannot overstate how relieved I felt hearing that!

Midwives at Magee VS The Midwife Center on the Strip?

The Midwife Center (TMC) was my first choice but was fully booked at when I called back in September. So I went with Midwives at Magee (MM), and so far so good (although I've only really seen the OB at Maternal and Fetal Medicine).

Then two days back I get a call from TMC that there was an opening. When I told them I was considered 'High Risk', I was asked to fax over my medical records so they could evaluate themselves if they would be comfortable taking me on. TMC normally only accepts low-risk pregnancies.

Choices, Choices
Here's what I've read about TMC and MM:

TMC seems more natural, less intervention and more flexible - you're allowed to eat and drink during labor, and you labor and deliver in the birthing room (stirrups not required). A good review on TMC here. However, TMC only accepts low-risk pregnancies. And if complications (e.g. breech) develop, you might be transferred to Mercy Hospital and lose control of your envisioned birth plan.

MM is right down the aisle from Maternal and Fetal Medicine, which is ideal if you have a high-risk pregnancy. This is in fact, their speciality. While this has been reassuring to me and the OB has assured me she will involve me in any decisions relating to 'managing' my pregnancy, I still feel concerned about the level of intervention the OB will assume. Ok, I'm downright uncomfortable. I can't help it. Doctors have bossed me around for half my life and I don't want to be 'managed' during my pregnancy. Yet I know I'll be in good hands if any complications arise.

Oh well. Let's see how this goes. :)

(Update: I was told by TMC that I was too high-risk for them to care for me. And I should come back for my second birth if the first went well.)

Full Test Results: Should I be Worried?

The results trickled in over several days on my UPMC Healthtrak. 

The first ones I got were:

• Random Urine Creatinine: 26 mg/dL (no normal ranges available for random urine specimens)
• Urine Protein: 4 mg/dL (no normal ranges available for random urine specimens)

I wasn't really able to interpret these without the reference ranges.

Next was the Urinalysis. Normal results. I also found out that the Urine Culture was a no-go because of contamination and might have to retake that one.

The next to come in were the results for the 24 hour Creatinine and Urine Protein. Those were 'High', and I'm not sure if I should start worrying yet. According to Google, these may still fall within ranges that are normal during pregnancy. Whatever it is, my OB should be contacting me soon to let me know what's up.

However, the Creatinine test came out well.

And so did the Obstetric Panel - the bloodwork.

 And finally (for now anyway):

• Type and Screen - Galileo ABO RH: O Positive
• Antibody Screen: Negative

First Ultrasound at 8 weeks 2 days

The big news of the day is (according to the transvaginal ultrasound): baby is in the uterus! And not implanted some other place that it shouldn't be.

And from the looks of it, So Far So Good. Heartbeat is 174 beats per minute, the size from head to rump is normal.

There's also a cyst on my right ovary, which I was told is normal in early pregnancy as this is likely the Corpus Luteal Cyst that produces pregnancy hormones and feeds baby in the first trimester. It should disappear by itself soon.

And I'm 8 weeks 2 days. Not 7 weeks 4 days like I thought hehe.

Kidneys?
Good! I think. The urinanalysis showed negative proteinuria. The protein levels were 4 mg/dl, and random creatinine was 26 mg/dl. I think that's good, but will wait to see if the doctor agrees.

Baby is in the gestational sac (black area). Head is left, rump is right. The dark area within the head is the forming neural cavity (brain).

Bad Timing for a 24 Hour Urine PCI Test

I've been testing negative for protein in my urine for months now.

And right when the doctor orders a 24 Hour test to get a baseline UPCI, my protein level increases to 'Trace'. Lack of sleep, dust and odors from a fresh spate of mortaring in the kitchen, and bad restaurant food are the likely contributors.

If the results of the test are bad, i.e., show protein, I might be put right back on the steroids. I can't begin to tell you how upsetting that thought is. :(((((

How to Collect 24 hr Pee

1. Upon waking, note the time (say 9 am).
2. Pee, and discard this first pee.
3. Collect all the rest of the pee for the next 24 hours, including your 9 am wake up first pee. As you collect it, keep it chilled. They recommend a cooler, on ice. I just put mine in the fridge :p

Damage Control
To try improve my dipstick results the two days before the 24 hour collection, I stuck to my normal diet, drank lots, drank fresh vegetable juice, and slept. This morning I woke up at 10.30 am. Pee stick was all-clear. 

Fingers crossed for a good UPCI.

First Visit to Doctor and Feeling Blue

The doctor who saw me today was nice, but left me a little depressed.

'Pregnancy is a Problem'
That's how I feel my pregnancy was viewed. With my pre-existing autoimmune condition, and history of kidney problems, I'm a high-risk pregnancy. I will need very careful monitoring (kidney function) and at the slightest sign of kidneys acting up, I might be forced to get back on the steroids that I have worked so hard to wean off.

In My Favor
I have been stable (relapse-free) for over a year, and medication-free for eight months. I am in pretty good physical shape, running a few times a week and eating reasonably healthy too.

My Plea
Dear Doctor, I have been sick for so many years and have been 'managed' for so long by doctors. Doctors who mean well, but at times make me feel small and voiceless. I wish, especially during my pregnancy, to have a say in what happens to my body. I desperately wish to feel empowered, not helpless.

The Plan
I'm to do the 24 hour urine collection to measure my protein levels, then get bloodwork done for creatinine and other things. And an ultrasound is scheduled for Thursday.

Morning Sickness is Awesome!

At Week 7, I am happy to announce that I have graduated from mild nausea to moderate nausea plus currently possess a heightened sensitivity to odors. I never thought I would be happy about this, but I really am.

I am also grateful for the indigestion, bloating, flatulence and fatigue.

Not 'feeling pregnant' worried me. I worried that my pregnancy hormone levels weren't high enough to cause the typical symptoms, thus maybe not high enough to sustain the pregnancy.

So I embrace all this with a degree of relief.

Bring on Week 8!

No Morning Sickness: Should I be Worried?

Morning sickness should start around the first month of pregnancy, or as late as the 6th week. It is supposed to peak in the 8th to 9th week and end around week 16.

I'm about 7 weeks pregnant and wondering when the Morning Sickness is going to hit me and turn me into a pukie-monster.

Aside from very mild nausea when I let my tummy go empty and when I go on long car rides, I have seen no signs of the puke fest I was mentally preparing myself for.

Celebrate or Worry?
At first I was happy at the prospect that I wouldn't be vomiting my guts out. Then, being the worry wart that I am, I started to wonder if something was wrong.

Apparently, morning sickness is Good. If you are 'blessed' with morning sickness:

• You are less likely to miscarry. Especially if you are over 35 (which I am). 
• Baby will be smarter.
• bla bla bla

Pregnancy Hormones bring on the Puke
According to the Mayo Clinic, the climb in pregnancy hormones (human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG) is related to the onset of nausea. This is normal and apparently needed for a healthy pregnancy.

Levels of HCG are highest in the morning. Combined with the empty stomach in the morning, this usually results in morning sickness.

I definitely feel it more in the morning, but again, it is mild. I am able to swallow and hold down my supplements as usual, with a full glass of water. Then when I take my breakfast 15 minutes later, I feel totally normal.

I never thought I'd say this but... I really wish for Full On Morning Sickness. 

Let's see what Week 8 and 9 will bring.  :p

Stay at Home Mommy?

There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of respect for homemakers / housewives / stay-at-home moms... The thought that I will be joining those ranks has me mix-feeling-ed.

Are You Experienced?
I've been working from home for many years and did well with that. My former employer FRIM graciously accommodated my hypersensitivity syndrome by allowing me to carry out my work responsibilities from my home office. From this I know I'm disciplined enough to set my own hours and get projects done on time.

Working from home saved time (no commute) and money (no need to dress up), and increased my productivity. Being able to set my own hours allowed me to rest whenever I needed to, exercise on my own time, and thus keep in good health. Good health is a big deal to me. 

A Decision I can Live With
I wanted to make a baby. I also wanted to make money. I decided I will try to make a living working from home, as a stay-at-home mom.

I can already hear naysayers' "What a waste of all that education" and other remarks along that line. But you know what - I can live with that. If you haven't lived in my shoes, you may not understand my priorities. :p

To give myself the best chance of a successful pregnancy and mommyhood (without relapsing), I need to keep my stress levels low. I got well and have stayed well by understanding what my body needs, what it can take, and by taking care of myself. I intend to stay well, now even more than ever.

Some Plans
Fortunately, hubs makes enough to support us so that we can get by without me working. With hubs' blessing, I've been pursuing several stay-at-home ventures: blogging, cooking, cooking classes, sports massages and so forth. These are all things that I can do from home, at my own schedule, and that I really enjoy doing.

It's too early to say, but I think the return on investment for my time/effort spent on these ventures will be positive.

Fingers crossed!

Keeping Pregnancy News Secret: EPIC FAIL?

The other evening, Koo Koo inadvertently, most publicly, and quite prematurely announced my 'bun in the oven' to the entire Lim clan and all my Malaysian side of the family.

For this we can thank Steve Jobs and the Power of the iPhone.

Koo Koo had started a family iMessage chat talking about pumpkins. At the same time, I was messaging her directly too.

Before you know it, a message popped out on the family iMessage that I knew was meant only for me...

'Go eat! I won't talk about the bun in your oven'. 

Uh. Oh.

I quickly figured out that editing and deleting that particular message from my phone did not delete it from others' phones.

Damage Control Strategy
In full damage control mode, I strategized with Koo Koo to flood the family iMessage with a bunch of chatty messages so the baby announcement would get lost in the deluge.

Koo Koo recovered magnificently. She outdid herself posting photos of her baked creations. I posted about baking pastries, pies, pizzas and... buns... in my oven. She talked about bulk baking and bulk food making and utilizing freezer space.

We wrapped up the deluge discussing the merits of our freezers and how many deer I could fit in mine.

Success?
So far so good. Only Jessica noticed the snafu, but after reading our strategically placed deluge, even she believed that Koo Koo literally meant a bun in an oven. Besides, Jessica already knows hehe. So it's all good!

I Don't 'Feel' Pregnant?!

I can tell I am going to be a Huge Worry Wart.

I worry that my boobs don't feel as tender as they did in Week 5. And they haven't increased much in size at all.

And this morning, after a sleepless night, I noticed a teeny pink spot on my panties when I went potty.

Then what about the few sharp pains in my lower tummy yesterday during my evening walk?

Please tell me I don't need to worry....

Keeping Pregnancy News Secret: Fail Again!

Last time I broke the secret, I could blame the Universe.

This time I blame the pregnancy hormones.

Why I blame the pregnancy hormones? Well, because I have no other reason. 

Unless I were to blame myself and my inability to keep a secret. And why would I do that? :p

Chatting with Family is Dangerous

I was whatsapping with my sis Jessica, planning the family trip that would take place around the time of Eirene (my sis) and Ben's wedding. I'd been proposing a post-wedding mid-March family trip for a while. 

Problem is, with the latest development multiplying rapidly in my uterus, a mid-March trip would no longer be feasible. I figured I'd need to be on the plane back to the US by mid-March - before the seventh month of pregnancy. 

So I started suggesting a pre-wedding family trip...

Grace: Erm by the way. Can we plan for the family holiday to be before Eirene's wedding ah.

Jess:    I think we must go after wedding.

Grace: If after the wedding then maybe I cannot wor.

Jess:    Really ah why. I thought we said after the wedding is more better. 

Grace: Have to fly back to USA before mid-March possibly. Not 100% sure yet.

Jess:    Then we do directly after wedding la. 

Grace: Okay like that maybe can. (Wedding is March 2)

Jess:    You still keen on NZ with Spencer right?

Grace: No more NZ. Spencer say plan need to change.

Jess:    Why? Expensive izzit?

Grace: He feel not worth if I can't really do any whitewater kayaking or climbing.

Jess:    Why can't you?

Grace: I kenot tell yet.

Jess:    Omg... Wat wat. Wat.  Whatttttttttt.

So much for keeping it a secret from Jess. :)

Who will be the next to know? :p

Worry Wart: How I Coped with my Baby Fears

I was (and still am) worried that baby would be 'broken'.

Not just piffling fears of missing digits, or even more serious worries about Downs Syndrome. I worried that baby would inherit my autoimmune illness. I also worried that pregnancy would bring on a relapse of my autoimmune illness and hurt baby.

To help alleviate some of my fears, I had already implemented some major stuff:

Before Project Make Baby: Project Make Abs
In preparation for Project Make Baby, I had worked hard to get my body in the best possible condition I knew how.

• I weaned off the steroids I'd been put on to suppress my immune system (to control the HSP). I'd been off the steroids for nearly a year.
• I began exercising to make my body strong. I swam, biked and ran. A LOT. I even did P90X. I did get stronger. I got into the best physical shape of my life. All that exercise banished my steroid-induced osteoporosis too.

I feel less worry about being pregnant because it happened when I was in great shape and solidly in remission.

Crossing Bridges
I'll cross any bridges if and when I get to them. Say if I relapsed and had to get back on the meds. This would be one of the worst case scenarios, I think. And even then, I've been repeatedly assured that the steroids are okay to be taken throughout pregnancy.

If baby comes out broken, I'll deal with it then. No point worrying about stuff I have no control over.

Right?