Diva already

Baby Kiersten is not ready to make her appearance into the world. I had an amniocentesis done on Friday, and it revealed that Kiersten's lungs are not developed enough for early delivery. Towards the end of pregnancy they develop exponentially, so they will be ready soon, just not yet. They've asked that I come in for another amniocentesis on 10/28, which I am not excited about, it's not the most pleasant experience. In case you are wondering, an amnio is when they stick a fairly large needle into a pocket of amniotic fluid as located with an ultrasound, and extract a few ounces of fluid to test. The actual procedure wasn't as bad as I'd trumped it up to be in my head, but the recovery was quite uncomfortable. At least I get to go work from home the remainder of the day...

So I've got 2 more weeks (at least) of pregnancy.

Today I am 36 weeks, 3 days.

37 weeks is considered full term.

I....am....so....ready.

Ready to meet her.

Ready to not be pregnant anymore.

Looks like she is not going to be a Libra! She will be Scorpio, like her daddy.

Meeting Kiersten

Rich and I had our ultrasound today hoping to get an answer to the big question... where is that pesky placenta?!?!~
The answer: Still in the same place. It's not moved away from my cervix, which means that a c-section is pretty much inevitable.
I have a follow up appointment with my ob/gyn on 9/29 to actually discuss my options, but as things stand right now, here is the situation:

I have a follow up ultrasound on 10/15 where they will take another gander at the location of my placenta.
If it's moved, then we will (probably) try for labor and I will likely carry to term with a natural birth.
If it still hasn't moved, they will do an amniocentesis to determine if the baby's lungs are fully developed.
~If the lungs are developed, then they will perform a c-section within the next few days following that appointment.
~If the lungs are not developed, they will wait a week or so and deliver via c-section then.

A little more information on the likelihood of each option... the actual location of my placenta is on the back side of my uterus. There would be a better chance of it moving if it were on the front side of my uterus, because then as my belly grows, it could move upwards. With it being on the backside, the chances are slim that it is going anywhere.
So at this point, Rich and I are wrapping our heads around an October c-section. It's crazy thinking we may have a baby here in less then a month!
As soon as we know more, I will write again. Other then that, I am still feeling pretty good. Sleeping is incomfortable, but if that is my biggest problem then I am in good shape. Rich and I are just excited to see how things are going to unfold. Can't wait to meet baby Kiersten, and it looks like it may be sooner then we thought.
Love Linds, Rich, and baby K.

28 week ultrasound

Say hello to the 3rd trimester!

Here are the latest pics of little K :) We got to see her itch her nose.

We had our 28 week ultrasound today, got to see the nugget for the first time in 10 weeks! Everything is looking normal, little Kiersten Helen Holmes is doing great. Yes, we did decide on a name :) Such a responsibility to pick someones name! Rich and I were laughing thinking.... what if we go to the appt today and they made a mistake, it's actually a BOY! It would be weird to call baby something different then Kiersten at this point.

She is still in breech position, her head is up by my right rib, which I sort of knew because she has been kicking my lower left side for awhile now. Another piece of news is that I still have a low-lying placenta, so they've asked me to come back one more time for another ultrasound in 5 weeks. If, at that time, the placenta hasn't rotated up, then chances are good I will have to schedule a C-section. I will keep you posted on that. As much as I would prefer to have a natural birth, a good thing about the C-section would be that we would be able to schedule the date when Kiersten will be born. Both Rich and his father John were born on Oct 25, so he is pulling for a 3rd generation Oct 25 due date :)

But keep me and my placenta in your thoughts, think ROTATE! haha :)

Love and aloha,

Linds, Rich, and Kiersten

Baby Holmes update- 25 weeks

Aloha!
Sorry it's been so long since I've written, there hasn't been a lot to report, which I guess is a good thing!
I have really popped out these last few weeks, there are some belly shots on facebook, I will post some here when we take the next round.
Rich and I are getting so excited. We've received a very generous gift from my Mom, Grandma and Aunt, it's a stroller travel system. Our roommate is still with us (moving out in Sept), so the stroller is currently housed in the living room, which is a constant reminder of what is to come. We've been practicing folding and unfolding, putting the infant carrier in and taking it out, etc... I guess the next step is to put a stuffed animal in there ;) The hospital where we deliver offers a training session on how to put in the carseat, so we will do that in the next few months.

This past weekend we were really proud of ourselves because we hit a local garage sale, and got 7 baby outfits for $3.75! Grandma with the marbles is going to be so proud to hear that :)

I am definitely in my 'nesting' phase, and am looking forward to being able to put together the nursery. We got a glider chair off craigslist that is perfect for nursing, really comfortable. Rich had to give up his 'man chair' to allow space for the glider, which I know was hard but really appreciated. We've decided not to paint the nursery, but this past weekend I got these poppy decals that adhear to the wall, that will give it a feminine look, and will be easy to remove when we are ready to move.

So this being week 25 of my pregnancy, we just had our first appointment with a potential pediatrician, Dr. Derick Ching, and we really liked him. He is a younger guy, and his practice is located really close to our house. He took the time to answer ALL of my questions, and both Rich and I really felt comfortable. So I think we are going to go with him, takes a load off to have that decided.

Other than that, things are pretty status quo at the Holmes household. We are really looking forward to our upcoming trip to the east coast and to California. I've been super busy at work, training the girl who is going to cover for me while on maternity, and take my place once we've made the move. She is doing great btw, I think she's going to take the torch and run with it just fine.
I will write an update on my job situation once there is more finality, but it looks like I am going to be able to stay with ICAT once we've moved to California. I just had an awesome midyear review, and they really emphasized once again that they are going to find out a way to keep me employed with the company. So more of that to come... in regards to Rich, we are thinking about him going back to school for his Masters, probably in business. More information coming on that too :)

That is about all I have for now, sorry it's been so long between posts! I have my next ultrasound on 8/19, so hopefully I will get some more pictures to posts of baby Holmes. She has been kicking up a storm, Rich has felt it on numerous occasions now, it's so cute watching his face light up when he feels her.

Hope this finds everyone happy and healthy.
Love and Aloha,
Linds + 1

June 10, 2010 we found out its a girl!!

Congratulations! Daughter, granddaughter, neice, cousin, or future flower girl ;)

We are so excited.

Yesterday we had our 18 week ultrasound and we found out it's a girl. So amazing. I had a mothers intuition all along and thought it was a girl, so I am glad to know my instincts are on track. We got a little video of her moving around, its pretty incredible what they can do these days.

Per the Dr., everything looks normal, so Rich and I are so incredibly relieved and excited. Time to decorate! :) We've just started figuring out a registry at Babys'R Us, so we'll keep you posted on that.

Today is King Kamehameha Day here in Hawaii, so I am taking a 1/2 day at work to go to the beach :)

Love love!

Nugget progress

Haven't written in awhile, so I will start with last week:
Last week on Thursday Rich and I signed up for a tour of the maternity ward at Kapiolani hospital, where we will deliver. They provided a lot of great information, and we got to see the maternity floors, the delivery and recovery rooms, and some of the newborn babies :) It was so surreal, but it felt very natural and comfortable. I feel lucky that my obgyn that I've been seeing for years is located at this hospital, I know my way around. We got to talk to the counselor about a variety of topics, like cord blood banking and how to check in when in labor. It definitely made us feel more prepared.
Fast Forward to my appt today:
Today I had my 15 week appointment. My Dr. (Dr. Angel Willey) and I went over the results of my blood work, the ultrasound I had a month ago, and some other questions I had. My blood work came back 100% normal, as did the measurements of the nugget. Rich didn't join me on this appt as we thought it was just going to be discussion of the results, but little did we know! I got to hear the heartbeat today!! I was so sad Rich missed it... he will definitely be at the next appt. The heartbeat was 153. She found mine first, and said, ok, now lets find the baby, it's about twice as fast. And it was, that little heart was workin!

So we are right on track for everything! I am feeling great, except for my constant appetite of a horse and indecision about what I want to eat :) Poor Rich, everyday it's like... mexican sounds good, but so does greek, and chinese... what do you want to eat Rich? He's like... really Linds, it's your decision. Lately though he's been great about making executive decisions. I can find anything on a menu that sounds good :) we are also trying to cook at home most often, saving money and being healthy.
Speaking of my appetite, my weight is right on track, I've only gained 5 lbs since the beginning of the pregnancy.

That is about all for now, our next appt is on 6/11 where we should be able to find out pink or blue. Can't wait :) xoxoxo

Coolest thing I've ever seen

I am still in shock of what I saw today. It is the most incredible feeling being able to see your growing baby. Today is the official 12 week milestone, first trimester is OVA~

Rich and I went to the doctor today to get the measurements taken of the nugget. Everything looks normal, the heartbeat was 158, average for this stage of growth. We got to see the arms and legs, and I think we are close to being able to tell the sex. I know this is controversial, and people have their opinions, but Rich and I have decided to find out the sex. We both have our inkling of what we think it is, but I will keep that to myself until we find out.

I chose the 2 best pictures to put up here, Rich would laugh if I put all of them up... It's hard to not play the proud mama roll :)

10 weeks today!

Apparently my nugget is the size of a kumquat. I've officially reached the stage where its more comfortable to have my top button on my pantalones...unbuttoned.

SHOUT OUT!

Can i just say thank you so much for all the love and support I've received regarding my previous blog. I am so stoked everyone wants to be there for Rich and I throughout this special time in our lives. We are so lucky.

It's all about the J-O-B

As most of you know, I have been in limbo because I have been trying to take my current position with me to California and work from home.
icat recently decided that this position needs to stay in Hawaii. so my inital plan/request is null and void.

When they made this decision, I proposed something new, because the ultimate goal here is to have a job, but be working from California. We can't make poor choices based off our desire to be back in Cali. Now would be the wrong time to give up health care!

My proposition was this: Maintain this current position in HI until something opens up that I can do from home. ICAT has other positions that are remote compatible. Then, once something opens up, I will train someone new out here for my position, while simultaniously training for my new position with ICAT. Once everything out here is on the up and up and the Hawaii team is set, then Rich and I will re-start that ball that was in motion for our impending move.

I had the follow up meeting with my supervisor today, and they not only agreed with this plan, but they are really excited about the suggestion, and appreciative that I am willing to stay longer. It's good for me, and its good for the company. So I am SUPER STOKED about their reaction. Though it's not guarenteed, chances are a position that fits me is going to open up before the end of the year.

The consensus on timing is that we aren't going to move until after the baby is born in November. This is for many reasons, but primarily to take the move off our plate while we have so much other things going on.

Our roomate has agreed to stay through the summer, then he will move out so we can create a baby haven in our spare bedroom.

Another good thing about this situation is that by this time next year, the housing market may be better, so we've talked about possibly selling our condo and buying something right away in California when we move.

Rich's boss is being super accomodating, and even though he's already hired someone to fill Rich's position, he has agreed to keep Rich on. They are trying to qualify to buy another book of business this year, so the situation is mutually benefitting.

So, even though this is not the answer I was hoping for, it feels really good to have gotten a decision so Rich and I can move forward. We are planning a vacation to California in August, so I will keep you posted regarding those plans. I think thats about all for now!!!

I don't know about everyone else reading this, but I am listening to some awesome French music on my computer, ate a delicious lunch, and am having a really great day! I am optomistic about 2010, I think it's going to be a great year for the Holmes'.
Love and Aloha

First ultrasound

Rich and I went to the doctor today for my first appointment! Our little nugget already has a beating heart. The area that looks like the head is actually the yolk sac. The long body looking thing is the whole mini-me.
Check out our little nugget!! This made it so much more real today :) So much love.

Great weekend

Rich and I had a great weekend. Went on a date on Saturday night :) We saw the movie Hot Tub Time Machine (I'd wait for netflix to see it) and had dinner at PF Changs for dinner. It was a nice mellow evening, we enjoyed getting out of the house as I have become quite a home body these days.

Sunday we went to the polo game up on the North Shore. We had a great group of friends, about 10 of us tailgating. The polo fields are really open and the spectators tailgate right on the sidelines, so you watch the game from your car! We tried to dress appropriately for the sport, but weren't sure what the proper attire is, so we went preppy :)

BIO

BIO is my new favorite acronym that I made up. It stands for Bun in Oven.

This weekend Rich and I are going to our first polo game on the north shore. We are going with a big group of friends, should be a lot of fun.

Today I am 7 weeks! Apparently my little one is the size of a blueberry. I'm really looking forward to my appointment on Tuesday, I should be able to hear the heartbeat and maybe get a picture.