What a wonderful 40th birthday!!!

Yesterday was my 40th birthday! ...yes, the BIG 4-0! And I had a lovely weekend planned... I took the day off (I usually work Saturday mornings). I was picked up at noon by two of my best friends, Nancy and Melissa, to go to the spa for some pampering time. I knew I had to be home in time to dress up to go to dinner with Scott at a surprise location and pack a bag for an overnight somewhere. He was so excited about the surprise that he had in store for me on Sunday. Now on a little side note: we'd been talking about having a big party, b/c I wanted to celebrate this milestone birthday. We looked into a few places, themes, our schedules and our budget, and decided that new carpets were more important than the party...mostly b/c I just couldn't come up with a theme or place that I liked. So Scott had planned a special, surprise getaway for the two of us...or so I thought!

The spa experience was just lovely... a relaxing massage and pedicure. While I was getting my massage I told the guy not to do my head b/c I had already done my hair for the evening. Well, he replied that with every massage they give a free hair wash and blow dry (because it's hard to do a massage and not ruin someone's hair!) Hmmm? Really?? Well, he talked me into it and the girls encouraged it, so I did it. Cool. A free styling. Yes, I fell for it and was totally oblivious to what should have been clue number one. The girls had to buy some time so Scott and the others could finish getting things ready at our house!

Now, as we arrived home I fell into another trap (and didn't give it a second thought) ...both girls were going to come in the house with me so I could show them an album that I'd received as a wedding gift...not sure how we started talking about that?! I didn't bring my keys with me b/c my friends were driving so as they walked toward the front door I punched in the code to open the garage door...we almost never use the front door! They start yelling at me to come to the front door. That Scott is already there. Well, I already had the door up so I said that I'd meet them inside. I keep my coat by this door! Nancy yells "NO! He has something for you!" So I turned around and went to the front door (still oblivious btw!) I saw colors behind our frosted side-of-the-door windows so I thought that he'd gotten me balloons. Awweee, how cute is he?...(more like how slow was I!!) Somehow the girls get me to go to the door first. Scott opens it and everyone yells "SURPRISE!!" I could not have been more shocked!! It was a perfect surprise!! On a funny side note and another thing that should have given it away: When I was starting to go in through the garage Scott tried to get everyone over by that door and then all of a sudden I turn back so they all had to go back to the front door. My father could not believe that I didn't hear the noise of everyone running back and forth..."it was like a herd of moose!"


In addition to having my hubby and everyone go above and beyond for this party there were a couple other highlights. Scott had everyone write a favorite memory of me on a 3x5 card and had them hanging from balloons in the family room. It was very touching to see what some people wrote about me. Then there was Nancy's powerpoint movie with bullets and pictures from my life...it was amazing!!

I am overwhelmed at how much work Scott, my friends and my family did to pull this off!! It was a wonderful 40th birthday!!! I am so grateful for the amazing people I have in my life!

Baby Update-20 weeks

Everything looked wonderful at our 20 week ultrasound today!! It was wonderful to spend some time watching him or her today!! It's so amazing.

The first kick and other pregnancy fun

YAY! I felt the baby kick today!! The past two days I've had more of those "hmmm, is that it" kinda moments...the little fluttery kinda feelings, but today was definitely something! We'll actually get to see this little one move around again very soon. My 20 week anatomic ultrasound is this wednesday morning. Half of the clan will be there for the viewing... Scott, my parents and my brother. My in-laws live out of town so we will get the DVD for their viewing pleasure when we next see them on Christmas eve.

My belly has definitely popped out some. Since I was on the heavy side to start with I look more pregnant than I am, but I love it! For the first time in my life I love my belly!! I love looking pregnant. I had a few patients tell me this week that I am one of those stereotypically glowing pregnant women. "They say some women glow, but OMG, YOU really glow!" That made me feel good! I'm so thankful that I've really felt good through this pregnany. I had some tiredness for more than the first trimester so I just took a nap now and then. I only had two mornings where I was green and both times were after days that I'd done way too much. I quickly learned that connection and took more naps on long days. I had queasiness during most of the first trimester, but it was only if I didn't eat as soon as my body said to eat. I learned that connection quickly too and made sure to keep healthy snacks with me at all times. There were no weird cravings, BUT I did have a weird food aversion. It was to something that I loved before getting pregnant... humus! I tried to eat it shortly after finding out I was pregnant and totally gagged! I even gagged one day when I saw a humus commercial on TV!!...so weird!!

I've been fighting what I thought was a cold for over two weeks now (part b/c I refuse to take any medication whether "they" say it's safe for the baby or not...how do you really know?). Alot of congestion and postnasal drip, both worse at night. Weeeellll, I just read something that talked about excess mucus during pregnancy!! OH NO! Like I didn't have enough normally just from allergy stuff, now there's more during pregnancy. AND they said it would probably get worse before it gets better and not go away until after delivery... OH boy!...I'm going to be sleeping on the couch alot if that happens! Scott has just LOVED (sarcasm, sarcasm) my getting up several times at night to gag and blow my nose! Actually, it was my idea to sleep on the couch a couple nights, b/c I used the recliner part to sleep at a 45 degree incline, which helped my breathing. It wasn't very comfortable and I missed sleeping with Scott. SO, I really do hope this is just a cold that I'm getting over. We'll see....

Baby Update-16 weeks

Gee darn...OB had to do another ultrasound to check the babies heartbeat this month so we got to see him or her again. Even cooler was that Grandma and Grandpa Santini were there to see it too!!! He/She even waved! AWESOME!!!

Baby Update-12 weeks

I saw the OB today and all looks wonderful! Here's a new pic of our little bun. I even saw him/her move today!!! It was amazing!! As my doc was measuring what he needed to measure during the ultrasound the baby rolled over, rolled back and stretched it's legs out and back! Whoa!!! So completely amazing!!!

Answered Prayers-Part II: Family

From the beginning Scott and I had decided to not prevent pregnancy. We were both hopeful that things would work, but we were also realistic to know that it might not be in the cards for us. I am 39 after all. So we said to each other that we were both ok with what ever happened...that if it's meant to be we'll have a baby (and if it didn't happen that we'd be ok...or we'd consider adopting) That it was in God's hands.

When our "not preventing" went from December 2007 to June 2008 I decided...with Scott's approval :-)... that I wanted to get a little more aggressive and start "trying." I started by doing a month long (one menstrual cycle) hormone test from a natural health company in California, Biohealth Diagnostics. I took my basal body temperature each morning and spit into a little vial every other morning during that cycle and sent it off to the lab. I was sent back a report with my progesterone and estradiol values and a graph showing the trend. From this and my daily temperature readings I could tell when (and if) I'd ovulated that month (since I'm a chiropractor I'm able to interpret my own results, others would consult with one of the company's doctors on staff).

When I figured out the next day that I would most likely be ovulating I realized that it was very close to my Grandpa's birthday. He used to tell people that his birthday was 8-9-10 (Aug 9, 1910). He was one of the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful men that I've ever know. This also made me think of my other grandparents, to whom I was very close throughout my childhood, and even into adulthood with three of them. So I said a prayer to the four of them to help guide the right sperm and egg together so that our child would have each of their best qualities.

After we "did the deed" on the evening after my morning temperature had gone up, I put two pillows under my butt and laid on my back... for FOUR HOURS! I had not intended to fall asleep that way! But I'm not complaining now!! Was it that? Was it the prayer to my grandparents? Was it just finally good timing? or was is Divine intervention? ....I think it was a little of everything, but mostly the last one! :-)

Our Little bun in the oven!! Due May 1st

8 week ultrasound today...we heard the heartbeat and everything looks great!!