Stan & Lisa's Lives

Xanders 12 Weeks OLD

2009-01-16T16:11:00.005-06:00

These past few weeks have flown by! I am not one for mornings or getting less than 8 hours of sleep, but Alexander is totally worth every minute of lost sleep! We are finally settling into a routine that I can count on and I am starting to get out of the house more. I have a new found appreciation for my own parents for everything they went through for me and we have only just begun….

While Xander is a lot of work each day, I do enjoy every part of it! Each morning I wake up now to a smiling baby. I get ready and them bundle him up and bring him to daycare, except for Monday’s because then he goes to his Grandma Nina’s house and Stas has to take him. He gets a day of Russian with grandma each week and 4 days of child interaction at daycare. He really seems to do well with daycare and I am happy that he has such great care providers while I am at work.

After returning to work, I tried to pump my milk 3 times a day at work and breastfeed Xander at night. However, that did not last for too long. He got really used to how fast the milk comes out of the bottle and didn’t want to take my breast anymore. It was really hard for me to give up that connection with him, but he just didn’t want my breast and would scream and scream when I tried to feed him that way. So, my impatient baby is now completely bottle fed. I tried to keep pumping and feeding him the milk in his bottle, but I gave up a week after her stopped taking my breast. It just took up way too much time, time spent away from my baby and my work. I made it 11 weeks breastfeeding, which I guess is better than nothing.

Since he has moved from breast milk to formula he spits up a lot more, but seems to be more regular in his bowl movements. We have found that good bowl movements make for a happy baby. The formula has also attributed to Xander sleeping longer through the night. The very BEST part of formula is that Stas can get up during the night and I can sleep finally! I am so blessed to have a great husband that helps out as much as he does!

New accomplishments in Xander’s development include: turning over a couple times, great head control, talking (well cooing sounds), tracking movement and sound, and sucking on his hands and batting at things. The “talking” and smiling is my favorite! We can have conversations with him – we say something, and then he says something back. One time when Stas, Xander and I were having dinner we asked Xander “what do you have to say?” And he let out a gigantic belch. It was soooooooo funny. And when he sees us laugh and smile he does the same.

Grandpa Neuburger (Pa) showed us how to roughhouse with him. It is so cute to kiss his belly, tickle him, and make fun grumbling sounds on his tummy. He laughs and smiles so big it just warms your heart in this negative 22 degrees weather! That’s right you heard me -22 degrees.

My new focus besides Xander, my husband and the house is to focus on losing this huge butt I have grown over the last year. I want to get back into dancing and get my old body back! It is so funny that when I was pregnant I was excited for every pound I gained; almost proud of it because I knew it was healthy for Xander. I think this was because I lost 15 lbs. before I gained any. Now, I just see this body and want my old one back! I have never been overweight or disliked what I have seen in the mirror in the morning; I know I just had a baby, I get it – but man – this BUTT is coming off and I am going to be able to dance hard core again!

Once it warms up I plan to take Xander on walks with Stas after dinner. Doesn’t that sound nice? We have a jogging stroller, so if I get those new running shoes I want for my B-day (hint hint – Stas!), maybe we can all go for a run in the evenings! All these plans and reality is, all I want to do these days is go home eat and sit on the couch. Hopefully my energy will come back after Xander starts to sleep more and more through the nights.

Alexander Adam Ponkin

2008-12-08T22:47:00.002-06:00

At 40 weeks and three days my doctor decided to induce me because the tests showed that Alexander Adam was probably about 8 1/5 lbs. On my small frame she was worried that there may be complications if we waited any longer. So to the hospital we went on a Wednesday night October 22nd. They placed a pill inside me that started contractions and they told me to try and sleep. The contractions weren’t that bad, it compared to bad cramps. It was enough to keep me up the whole night – and I haven’t slept a night since.

In the morning they started me on Pictocin. The contractions got much worse, but were bearable. Stan was really great at helping me breathe and holding my hand. However, when my doctor came in to break my water, the real pain began. First she came in with something that looks like a knitting needle with a hook on the end and stuck it up me and broke my water bags. I felt a huge gush come out and then the pain started. The contractions were so terrible it felt like someone was stabbing me down there. I tried really hard to get through it with breathing, but the pain was just too much with one contraction after another with no break in-between. I think I would have passed out from the pain if I did not ask for an epidural. I was in tears and screaming for the guy to come put one in. After that I felt way better. I just felt cramping for a long time. I was able to talk with my family and eat a few popsicles. Until my nurse, who was absolutely wonderful, came in and told me that I needed oxygen. The baby’s heart rate was too low and they were worried that he wasn’t getting enough oxygen. So there I sat with oxygen dilated at a 4 and wondering how long it would be until I was even close to pushing.

However after lunch time, around one o’clock I started feeling a lot of pressure down there and the contractions even with the epidural started to get really painful again. The nurse came in and checked to see how far I was and sure enough I was at a ten. It was so natural to want to push; it made the pain go away at first. I don’t know if they turned off the medicine for the epidural or if the contractions were just that painful, but I can not explain how horrible it felt. I just wanted it to be done! I believe I shouted that over and over again, “Get it out, get it out!” and “I don’t want to do it any more!” I believe I was so loud that they could hear me down the hall.

I really didn’t feel like this guy was ever going to come out and it sure as heck didn’t feel like I was making any progress despite what everyone was telling me. Stan, my sister and my sister-in-law were all in the room cheering me on and holding my hands. Eventually they started saying, “we can see the head…we can see the head!” Stan took a break from me crushing his hand and even took a look. I knew when they finally called the doctor in that I was close. After an hour of pushing I was completely tired and I just wanted to be done!

The doctor barely got her gloves on before the head really started to come out. It was so painful pushing his big head out of my crotch because he got stuck. It only works to push when I am having a contraction, and I got him most of the way out with one big push and then the contraction stopped. He was stuck and it hurt to not push and it hurt to push. Finally the next contraction came and I decided he was coming out – no more waiting – no more pain. I pushed with everything I had in me and there was a cheer. His head finally came out, and what a relief that was! But then I had to get his shoulders out too. The doctor’s hands were inside me helping out the first shoulder than the next and PLOP – HE WAS OUT!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness! No more! My tummy fell instantly and I felt so much better. Then she put him on my chest and I could not contain myself. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, cone head and all. I never knew I could love someone so much or so quickly! I didn’t want to give him up to the nurses, I just lay their holding this perfect little baby in amazement that Stan and I could create something so beautiful.

Stan apparently cut the cord, which I didn’t see because I was too busy looking at our little man – Alexander Adam Ponkin. Born at 2:08 pm on October 23rd he ended up weighing 9 lbs. 2 oz. and was 21 inches long. That was a whole lot bigger than they predicted him to be. On top of that my sister-in-law told me that my doctor said the placenta was really large too. The doctor was down there stitching me up for a long time since I had a two degree tear. On a scale of four degrees being a complete tear all the way through to the rectum, my tear was pretty bad.

Finally, I had to let the nurses take him and look him over. But then I got him right back and we started nursing right away. Painful but awesome! It is so great to feel so connected with this little man right away. On top of everything I felt like I was high. The endorphins that your body produces after labor gave me the biggest high I have ever felt in my life. I was so giddy and laughing and all I wanted to do was hold my son and eat.

Besides having the most perfect baby in the whole entire world (I know I am a little bias) the best thing about not being pregnant is being able to eat and not throw up anymore. Of course as luck would have it, I have a very picky baby when it comes to what I am allowed to eat. If I eat dairy, tomatoes, onions, garlic, broccoli, or a few other items it makes my breast milk taste funny to him. He will not feed and if he does get some of that tainted milk it gives him a tummy ache. So, I can eat – but only certain things.

It has been six weeks since my little munchkin was born we are starting to finally settle in. It took the whole six weeks for my body to heal enough to be able to do normal tasks without pain. Last night Alexander slept for six straight hours for the first time. In comparison to what I used to think a lot of sleep was this wasn’t much – but it sure felt like a lot after not sleeping for a month straight. Alexander weighs over 12 lbs now and has started to interact with me more. He just started to smile really big and “talk” to me. It is so cute to have a “conversation” with him and see him laugh and coo. He seems very advanced for his age! He has great head control, can stand while supported and he looks like he is 4 months old. It is amazing how quickly he has changed just in the last 6 weeks. He used to squeak when he needed something – but that has gone away and he is no longer my little squeaker. But as quickly as some behaviors fade away new behaviors begin. Each and every day with him is excitingly wonderful.

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! The delivery all seems like a dream looking back now. All of the pain of the pregnancy, delivery and recovery was totally worth it for our perfect little man. This has been the best 6 weeks of my life and each day brings new surprises. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

+40 Weeks

2008-10-22T14:41:00.000-05:00

Tonight I go into the hospital around 9pm to get induced. The doctor thinks the baby is over 8 pounds and wants me to get him out. I am a little sad that it won’t happen naturally, but I am excited to be done. They will insert a pill down there around 9:30pm and hope that it starts labor. If not, they will insert another pill about 4 hours later to see if that works. If by 6am there is not enough progress my doctor will break my water and give me Pitocin.

I am not looking forward to all of the pain, so I might just wimp out and get an epidural. It all depends on just how horrible everything is, from what I’ve heard Pitocin is more painful than normal. I am looking forward to holding our baby in my arms! I need to keep telling myself this because I am really freaked out. Stan is super excited, but he doesn’t have to push Alexander out through his crotch!

We also have moved into our home. We are sort of unpacked – enough to where it is livable with a newborn. I can’t wait to see my little man! Photos soon….

38 weeks

2008-10-08T14:54:00.002-05:00

This photo is from last Friday. Can't you see how much I just love doing the dishes?

I have moved to my parent’s house this week for refuge of screaming kids. Chad’s family is in town this week for his wedding on Friday. I would normally be able to probably endure the screaming and noise, however, I just am way too crabby, fat, and sleep deprived to handle it. It is wonderful staying at my parent’s house! I miss Stan a lot but I love not having to cook or do dishes.

The doctor’s appointment yesterday yielded no progress from last week. I am still at 1 cm dilation and 70% effaced. My back is just killing me lately; all I like to do is lie down and watch TV or read.

The best news is we are 100% approved on our loan. We just barely qualified for a special loan called a CDMP Loan. It basically allows us to not have mortgage insurance and only put 3% down. We got a great rate as well at 5.875%. We close next Wednesday and move in very quickly that weekend.

This weekend is a large dance weekend called Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown (ULHS). I will be sadly watching from the sidelines as Stan and all my other friends dance to their heart’s content. It will be fun to watch the competitions this year; hopefully I will be able to find a couch to lie on that is comfortable! ;)

Just a few more days now and I will be Mama Ponkin! :)

37.5 weeks

2008-10-03T15:37:00.000-05:00

It could be any day now. This week’s doctor appointment left me knowing that I am dilated to 1 cm and effaced 70%. In normal peoples terms this means that Alexander’s head is getting further and further down along with my body starting to open for the birth. Man do those exams hurt and I don’t look forward to them at all!

Everyday seems the same now. Get through work, possibly pack a box, and lie in bed. Not much more exciting going on than that.

I have a regular schedule for sleep now. It involves light sleeping, peeing 3-7 times a night, turning over almost 20 times a night, and trying to resist the urge to nest.

I do find I want to clean all the time, but I just don’t have the energy to do so. If I can do the dishes and make dinner after work I am proud of myself. I am really looking forward to dinner at my parent’s house tonight – just to sit and eat - the two things I do best these days.

I find that the question of when you are due to be sort of annoying by now. I am due on the 20th of October. This means I am full term already and the baby can come any day. So, due date or not – it really doesn’t matter. This baby will come when he is ready. And I am crossing my legs and fingers in hopes that he will come after we move.

36.5 Weeks

2008-09-25T15:44:00.002-05:00

I am almost full term and still ready to be done. Being a little bit of a control freak, it drives me nuts that I don’t know when little Alexander will choose to come out. It could be tomorrow or 5 weeks from now. I have dream after dream of having him, last night’s dreams involved me having a cesarean over and over again. Probably because our baby class, last night, talked about cesareans.

My nights are pretty much sleepless, still getting up to pee at least 3 times a night – up to 6 times some nights. Alexander really loves to stretch out lately and there just isn’t enough room for him to do so. He will kick out his feet on one side and his arm or elbows on the other and just hold them out. I have to rub them for him to pull them back in.

My doctor’s appointment went well this week. I am no longer anemic, I had to cut way back on the Tums, but feel maybe a little more energy because of it. I am tired, anxious, swollen, and itchy. The doc says that all this is normal. I told her I felt like the worst pregnant lady ever – because I complain so much. She cracked me up when she told me anyone who says they love pregnancy is lying. She said that in all her years she has never had a patient who really loved being pregnant and didn’t complain. Those who say they love being pregnant are the ones who secretly complain just to their doctor. So maybe I am just more honest.

She also checked me to see how far along I am. I am still 50% effaced and dilated just a bit more than a finger tip. Man does it hurt when she checks me, I am not looking forward to that each week, or when I am in actual labor! Not a comfortable thing at all because of all the pressure Alexander’s head is applying down there.

Let’s see, what has happened that is good lately? I think I will have to say that my husband is the best I could ask for! He will wake up in the middle of the night just to massage me when I am freaking out with anxiety. He delivers pretty much anything I scream across the house for when lying in bed. He works so hard every day from work to school and to helping to make me feel comfortable. I am so proud of him, and I am lucky to have him as my husband! He will be the perfect coach for the delivery room!

Other than that, we have been trying to pack for the new house and just relax. I am looking forward to going home tonight to a nice long bath! I feel like a giant!

Big News for the Ponkin Family

2008-09-16T16:46:00.008-05:00

We found out today that our offer for this home…

http://picasaweb.google.com/swing.da.jazzy/House02#

was excepted. That means that Alexander will have his own special room and we will have our own home to raise him in! It is a beautiful home and we are very lucky to get it so cheap right now!

So, if all goes well we will close the 15th of October, move in that following weekend, and then have the baby on Monday the 20th (my due date). I know, I know…there is no way you can schedule when Alexander will be ready to come out. But, this is if it works out just right.

I also went to the doctor today and found out a couple new things. I am anemic, which means I am low in iron. We think it is because of all the Tums I have to eat for my heartburn. When you take in so much calcium it apparently hinders the intake of iron. This means I need to eat more iron rich foods and go back to chewing gum instead of eating a bottle of Tums each day.

I am now 50% effaced and a fingertip dilated. So, the process has started. We will see when this little guy is ready to pop. I added a photo from last night…

34 Weeks

2008-09-09T15:47:00.000-05:00

Quite a bit has happened since my last post. With two baby showers now done we are almost set for baby Alexander’s arrival into this world. Unfortunately my grandma was not able to hold on long enough for his arrival. Along with the physical pains of maternity and every thing else I am just so excited to be done.

Our first baby shower was at my sister-in-law’s (Carrie) house. Carrie and my sister Kara had a fabulous shower that was totally fatiguing but fun! Stan and I had gone to the State Fair the day before and I was still too tired to do much after that day in the sun. I had fun seeing everyone though and even my Grandma was able to come.

Unfortunately the shower was the last time I saw my Grandma. She passed away just 3 days later. This was hard to take for me, even more intensified because of the pregnancy. She was really trying to hold on to see Alexander. Even now, typing this I get teary eyed. The easiest way to deal with it is to not think about it. I miss her!

The second shower was the day my Grandma passed away. It was a lunch work shower, which was really fun – except it was a little tainted by the really emotional phone call I got right after we got back. The girls chipped in for a really cool highchair for Alexander. We have so many things I can’t wait to try and get them all organized in the nursery. We still need to buy a mattress and a changing pad. The dresser was delivered today. Hopefully Stan can put it together and we will see if even half of the clothes will fit in it. I doubt they will though, since we have sooo many!

I tried dancing the other night at The Times, however, I didn’t slept at all when we got home. Apparently my pelvis bone can not handle the weight of this baby. Stan had to help me wash my feet when we got home because I can barely walk, turn over in bed or anything else that puts tork on my pelvis. I went to the chiro, but he couldn’t fix me because my belly is too big. So, as much as I think I can dance, I need to stop trying.

Other “wonderful” things with my body at 34 weeks are: hemorrhoids, clumsiness, uncomfortableness, and overall annoyance. After our State Fair trip, which I will never do again, the pressure of walking around so much made my painful rhoids come back. This time the medicine I was using prior did not work. I have some new stuff now that is better, but I can not wait to have my regular butt back! I am very clumsy these days. My belly keeps growing and I knock it into things so easily. I also am uncomfortable no matter if I am sitting, lying down or standing. Everything hurts. This leads finally into my overall annoyance. Since I cannot get comfortable sleeping I can not actually sleep. Which is annoying in itself, but when you don’t sleep everything seems annoying. The fact that I have to pee all the time is annoying. Work is annoying! My swollen fingers are annoying! My itchy legs and belly are annoying! I can go on for a long time– but I will spare you.

The first baby class last Wednesday was fun, but it was uncomfortable to sit in the chairs for so long! Stas is excited to be my labor coach, but I am so scared to go through that much pain! If you can’t tell already I am sort of a wimp! I am going to try and do it naturally, but we will see how that goes.

So, needless to say I am ready to be done. The only fun part of pregnancy is felling this little life inside of me and knowing that Stas and I created this beautiful little bugger. He likes to stretch out a lot these days in every direction! He also gets the hiccups quite often, sometimes as much as 3 times a day. I can’t wait to be done even though I will miss feeling him inside me. I want to be holding him in my arms and knowing I will not have to do this again any time soon!

09-08-08 @ The Times

2008-09-08T12:56:00.002-05:00

Last night was the first time in a long-long time that we went to The Times to listen and dance to The Twin Cities Hot Club. The reason for such a long break was obvious Lisa’s pregnancy. But the night before yesterday Lisa tried to dance a little, got hyper, and decided that she can still swing. So we went. Lisa sent text-messages to all the dance-friends saying that we are coming out to dance, and see if anyone wanted to join us. Of course, no one responded to her with positive answer, but some, really loyal dancers, still showed up. Among them were Jason, Stacia, Kate, Krista, and a few others. Sorry, I can’t mention everyone because I am lazy.

At the beginning of the first set Robert Bell asked me if I want to sit in and play a song with them. I said: “Thank you, but no, thank you. I am not ready yet.” I thought he was joking when he asked me about it. But at the end of the first set he announced something like: “Tonight we will have someone feel in and play with us. And he will play Daphne.” I couldn’t hear the exact wording, since I was talking to someone at that moment. I turned around and saw Robert handing out his guitar to
me! All I heard was “he will play Daphne.” I said: “there is no way I can play it up-to-speed yet. Can I play Summertime instead?” He answered: “O.K.” and I went on stage.

Man, I didn’t sweat like that for a long time. But it was one of the best feelings. I think anyone who likes music and performing can agree with me.

30 Weeks Photos

2008-08-22T17:04:00.001-05:00

Here I am at 30 Weeks.

31 1/2 Weeks

2008-08-22T17:03:00.001-05:00

Adapting to change has never been something I am good at. However, now that I have to adapt so much I am trying to get use to it. Giving up control of your own body is really difficult to do! With only 2 months to go, hopefully sooner, I finally realized that I just cannot control what my body and Alexander are doing and I have to go with the flow.

Alexander really likes to kick. I swear that I am carrying the next David Beckham! It is more than a kick these days – he kicks and then holds his foot out there. The easiest way to get him to retract it is to massage his foot back in. The strangest feeling is when he kicks and elbows at the same time. It is almost as if he is stretching out inside me, and now that he is getting so big, my belly stretches out along with him. You can actually see my sides push out.

Hiccups are a regular occurrence these days. I always thought that he was just tapping me lightly inside; cause Stas could never feel it. Until my mom suggested that if it is regular it is probably the hiccups. It sort of tickles my stomach and gets annoying if it goes on for too long, but again, I am trying to adapt. The good side of all this movement, I know my son is healthy.

Not sleeping has to be the worst part now. On top of getting up to pee about 3 times a night, I also just lie in bed and toss and turn all night. Last night I listened to the crickets outside for about a half an hour until I decided to get up to pee again and turn down the air. This Hot Mama likes it cool! I walk around all day at work like a Zombie, but hey – everyone says it gets worse after you have the baby. We will see. I just would like to sleep 8 hours again like a normal person! Who knows when that will happen?

As far at vomiting goes, I have been pretty good lately. Well, except for the incident at work yesterday. I had been feeling especially shitty that morning, but I was trying to push through and was at work anyways. My coworker, Melissa takes a break for lunch and I normally watch the front desk for her while she is away. I thought that I was just going to sneeze or cough so I grabbed a Kleenex. Turns out I projectile puked into the Kleenex, which then went up my noise and all over my face. By the time I could turn around and get to the garbage can, I had blown chunks all down my pant leg and across the floor. I was about done by the time I got to the can. I had it everywhere! I didn’t know what to clean first, me or the floor. Thank goodness no one came by during those wonderful few minutes, but talk about adapting. I just went on working like nothing had happened, well I had to go ahead and eat lunch again, but I am used to that by now.

I went to the doctor today, everything checked out great. She said that Skin tags are normal during pregnancy, good to know since I have gotten a couple. I am about 155 lbs. now and my belly is 31 cm. Stas says that I have stretch marks, however, I can not see them and neither can my mom. So, I will keep using the lotion in hopes that I won’t be too wrinkled up by the end of all of this.

We have been really blessed with many gifts already and we have not even had a shower yet. Stas came home with a stroller, a cool baby seat, a bouncer, a huge box of diapers, and a play mat last night. His mother went a little overboard, I really think between my mother and his, this kid is going to be spoiled rotten! :) A surprise from an intern I have worked with for the last few summers was a whole set of hand knitted items: a blanket, 2 hats, 2 booties and a sweater. They are soooooooo cute! I am really touched when people are kind enough to help us out!

Looking at day care, yikes it is expensive! This will be a huge adaptation for us! We might have found a place finally that is close to my work. My coworker, Wanda, suggested an old neighbor that did daycare. We have an appointment on Monday for an interview. Cross your fingers, because I really would love to have this taken care of! It will be $175 a week. No more new clothes for this mama!

It is finally Friday and I can not wait to go home and rest! TV, here I come! Tomorrow is the State Fair and Sunday is my family baby shower. Looks like an exciting weekend, I need to rest up for it tonight, oh wait that is right – I don’t sleep any more. :)

29 Weeks Doc. Visit

2008-08-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

I went to the doctor for my last monthly check-up today. I will now go every two weeks until closer to the end. It felt weird sitting in that office without my wedding ring on. We had to get them cleaned and dipped so I am without for a week. However, Stas did buy me new earrings for our One Year Wedding Anniversary coming up on the 25th of August. They are so pretty and they don’t hurt my ears because they are real gold.

Sitting there, sort of hiding my hand so people don't think I am an unwed mother, I realized that at this point most women don't wear their rings anyways because of swelling. With not too much swelling, overall everything looks good! The baby has not turned yet. The doctor said his head is shoved up under my right rib cage - hence the rib cage pain and the back pain. I already knew something was suck up there, either a butt or a head, now I know at least there will hopefully be some release when the baby turns. I don't know what sounds better pain in my crotch or pain in my back. The doctor did mention that Stas should keep rubbing my back every night if that is the only thing that helps! I am lucky to have such a good hubby!

Doc. Stats
Weight: 149.6 lbs.
Baby's Heart Rate: 132 pbm

I have been gaining about 10 lbs. per month. Not too shabby, but if it keeps up that means I will weigh around 170 lbs by the time I pop this out. Yikes! Cross your fingers that I don’t have a ten pound baby and that Alexander will turn soon!

Week 29 and Growing!

2008-08-04T15:24:00.001-05:00

Overall things are still going about the same. Back pain, pelvis pain and nausea still are a part of every day life. If I could I would spend every day laying in bed naked with the air conditioning turned down really low! It seems my back doesn’t hurt as much when I am lying down. Energy is something I just don’t have much of either, but Stas and I managed to get out a lot this past weekend.

Stas has been great! I require about one backrub a day to get by, and he provides just about every time I ask. This weekend was so fun with him as well! We went to Minnehaha Falls, Lake Harriet Rose Garden, “The Dark Night” and The Times on Sunday. “The Dark Night” was okay, but it was so long and it hurt my back to sit there the whole time, not to mention I really needed to pee after just an hour or so. I think movie theaters are out until I pop out Alexander!

Minnehaha Falls was so beautiful! It was the first time either Stas or I had been there. We rented a Surry Bike and road around the park for awhile. Of course I mean that I road around while Stas peddled my large (almost 150 lbs) butt around. We then decided to go down and look at the falls and while the stairs were pretty easy on the decline the climb back up was not so fun. By the time we got to the car I was so tired that I couldn’t push in the clutch. Stas had to drive to our next stop – Lake Harriet.

We were planning on going swimming; however, we instead drove around the lake and stopped at the rose garden. Stas had fun taking big mama pictures with all the plant life and water fountains. He is so cute I can’t stand it! Although after all this wonderful outdoor adventure I started to really swell up. I couldn’t get my ring off I was so big and uncomfortable. It was time to go home to air conditioning for sure!

While I took a naked air-conditioned nap with 10 pillows to support my weight Stas surprised me by doing the dishes! And there is nothing I hate more than doing the dishes or cleaning for that matter. Trying to do any of that being pregers is just 10 times as hard. Oh, I forgot to mention he even made dinner for me the other night – it was so cute! He is helping out a lot more lately which if he didn’t I think our house would be even more of a mess! We rent from our friend Chad, and I always feel like I need to keep it cleaner than it is – for example, I still have not finished unpacking!

We went to The Times last night for dinner with our friends Allen and Rudy. They always put a smile on my face and we had a great time dancing and eating! I have found that the next day after dancing I can barely move because my pelvis really hurts. I think I have really reached my peak for dancing. I am still trying to get out there and move my big butt around; however, I think it may be time for me to give it up to just walking. I can’t wait to have my body back. I will be determined to loose the weight after I have Alexander just so I simply can dance again!

The best part of carrying Alexander is feeling him inside me. The kicks and hits are starting to get harder and harder every day. Not to the point of painful yet, so it is still fun that I get to experience something with him that no one else ever will. I like carrying him so close to my heart and I feel more and more attached to him every day. I can’t wait to see his wonderful face, and not just because I hate being pregnant.

Getting closer to the end!

Week 27

2008-07-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

Every morning still sucks but I am now without my PICC line! I weigh around 145 lbs. and I am ready to be done with this pregnancy. I know I have said it time and time again but I just want to see our baby boy and not have to carry him inside me anymore!

Let’s see…I will start with the negatives. My upper back hurts so much that I started seeing a Chiropractor. He is really helping me to feel better. If I didn’t have to sit in a chair at work all day I believe I wouldn’t feel so bad. If I lie down or stand it doesn’t hurt as much. I started the stretches he asked me to do and I am doing hot/cold therapy at night. I know the pain won’t go away until I give birth, but it has subsided a bit – along with the pelvis pain.

I have noticed that my heartburn gets worse when I take the chewy vitamins every day. I feel bad not taking them for Alexander; however I really don’t enjoy the burn or the throwing up. Guilt or pain….after what I have already been through I have opted for the side of guilt, with a small helping of heartburn when I feel up to taking the vitamins.

Getting larger makes things a bit more difficult. Dancing, teaching, sitting, walking…basically anything sucks to do. I also have to pee 2-3 times a night, which makes a good night sleep out of the question. It is preparing me for when Xander comes, for the nightly feedings – but I am excited to get my body back and get to real dancing again!

My favorite thing to do is to lay in bed naked! I get so darn hot at night that I can’t wear clothes. Not to mention anything on my body makes me feel very confined because I am so big already! I have never been a fan of air conditioning; however, I turn it down every night to about 70 degrees. It is the only way I can fall back asleep without sweating buckets.

I had to take the gestational diabetes test a couple of weeks ago. You get to drink this gross tasting orange liquid that is very similar to orange pop. However, since I don’t like pop (except I have recently developed a taste for Sprite) it was gross! I sat there for an hour and then they pricked my finger. Turns out I rock and I don’t have gestational diabetes. Nice to know I finally don’t have a complication for once!

Stan got the crib put together last weekend, it is so pretty! Stan’s mom bought us a changer/dresser combo which I am excited to also get put together!!! Overall the baby room is coming together slowly but surely! Thanks to everyone’s donations, my mom, my sister, my mother in law and even Wanda my coworker.

I am looking forward to just laying down tonight and watching TV! Maybe make a strawberry salad…we will see. I really love fruit right now; at least I am craving something healthy. Trying to stay away from the chocolate cake donuts…mmmm…now those are good!

Kick, kick, kick – Alexander loves to kick!

Week 23

2008-06-26T16:42:00.000-05:00

I am feeling much better overall! Today I feel a bit queasy, but that is just because they are weaning me off of my Zolfran pump. The scary but cool part is that the next step down is turning off the pump. It would be great if I could get by with no meds, but even pills would be better than having a PICC line. Maybe next week you will see me with out my PICC line, in a tank top, wihtout a sock on my arm. Wouldn’t that be nice?

My body feels good too, besides my back hurting on the left side up by my shoulder blade. The pelvis pain has eased and it is a lot easier to deal with every day. I don’t walk funny any more and I can lie down without extreme pain. I sleep with a body pillow that helps my body relax.

My belly is growing every day too. I am 136 pounds and climbing. Though I notice a bit has gone back to my ass; I love this because now I can sit on hard chairs without wincing in pain. I had lost so much weight previously that I was pretty much just bones. At my worst I was down to 116 pounds. I was 120 pounds when I came back to work, that is a 16 pound gain. Hopefully I continue to keep growing and stay healthy for our baby boy.

Oh, that is right….we found out it is a boy! Alexander Adam Ponkin. He loves to kick my stomach like crazy now and Stan has felt him a bunch of times. He kicks the most when I lie down or eat something, or when Stas talks to him.

We got a crib this week that was on sale at Target, thanks to my sister-in-law Carrie and my Mom. They helped out with transport and a target discount. We saved about ~$100 with the sale and discount; it wouldn’t fit in out car. Thank goodness that my mom was able to pick us up with the van.

I am enjoying every day more and more! The best part of being pregnant is feeling Alexander inside of me. I also love how Stas treats me like a princess! :)

Baby Alexander Adam

2008-06-11T13:09:00.000-05:00

YAY!!!!!!!!! It's a boy!!!

Can I Poop PLEASE!!!????

2008-06-06T12:42:00.002-05:00

Okay here is what everyone doesn't tell you about pregnancy...

For one, my BMs are so hard that it is almost impossible to poop. This is caused by pregnancy and enhanced by my lovely drugs that keep me from not puking. While I enjoy not vomiting lately I would love a place for all this fiber to go! I am starting to feel really big and mostly because I cannot poop. :(

So, you say why don't you try some stool softener...tried that...it made me puke. And everything that would normally make me go (ie. prunes, cereal, fiber, ect.) does not even loosen it up a bit. The next step would be to use an enema...well I tried that too and it seriously felt like I was having this kid through my asshole. I asked my mom if that was what it was like to have a kid - cramps, more vomiting, pressure and pain - she said just wait...you will know soon enough.

But can it be soon enough? It is funny what you take for granite, the things you have so easily, like soft BMs, eating normally, fitting into your jeans. With hard BMs comes the horrible and dreaded rhoids. Hemorrhoids are some of the most painful things I have ever dealt with. I can't even sit normally on anything that isn't padded. Thank goodness that I found a new cream that works, but I doubt they will go away until after the pregnancy. Yuck!

My goal isn't to deter you from ever having sex again, just to give an incite as to what really happens during pregnancy. The worst pain I feel every day and that keeps me awake at nights is in my pelvis. Normally women's pelvic bones start to separate a bit to get ready for birth. But the amount they separate is tiny and normally one does not notice. For some special people (the kind like me who already have gone through months of vomiting) their pubic bone separates more than the rest. The pain from this is excruciating! Turning over in bed, putting on clothes, walking, "trying" to poop, sitting, standing and even sneezing is so painful I can barely get through the day.

I've learned to do things differently to compensate for the pain, but sleeping during the nighttime is the worst. Sometimes it is so painful I get stuck in one position and I can't move out of it. Stan has to come over and pick me up and move me. Imagine someone stabbing you from the inside of your pubic bone with a knife...that is close to the amount of pain it is. People suggest walking or exercising and all I want to do is scream at them to shut up! And then of course I would go cry because I do that just watching commercials on TV.

Yup, all these wonderful things at 20 weeks seem like they will never end. We find out the sex next Wednesday, however I don't really care one way or another. I just want a healthy child.

Oh, and did I mention - I want to poop! :(

Back to Work

2008-05-19T14:33:00.002-05:00

Week 18 and I am back to work finally! I still have a rough time in the morning but I am able to get through the day with out vomiting. It is so nice not to puke all of the time any more. I am 123 pounds and I am starting to show. Though, not as big as I should be by the 18th week, my pants don't fit any more.

I am still tired and putting up with the pressure that baby Ponkin likes to put on my tail bone makes the days long. But everything seems to be getting better! Just being out of the house is nice!

My biggest concern right now is to read as much as possible about the baby and to get our home ready for the baby! Yesterday I cleaned up the breeze way in our home and it made me feel a whole lot more organized. We move upstairs at the end of this month. After that I think I will feel even more comfortable at our new place!

I love living with Chad! We had a BBQ yesterday and it was so much fun to get all the food prepared and spend time outside! It is fun to have a back yard too!

Overall we are doing great - hopefully everything stays this way for awhile! :)

At Home

2008-04-04T15:04:00.002-05:00

I have been at home for week and a half now. We are doing home care for my condition. Today is the first day I feel good. Hopefully that doesn't mean that tomorrow will be bad again. I am trying to take it one day at a time. Staying to bland foods. I just stopped the IV today, hopefully I don't have to go back on it tomorrow. I have a pump that gives me meds. directly into my leg now, instead of taking pills. Hopefully i can keep in enough fluids on my own now and the stupid pukers will go away!

My day has consisted of waking up, watching ER for a couple hours and then vegging on the couch until an early bed time. What a time I have had using up my vacation. :(

Looking forward to that wonderful 2nd trimester!!! 11 and a half weeks and still I look the same. Hopefully I can start gaining some weight back soon! I was down to 117 lbs., I am now back up to 123 lbs.

Trying to stay positive...

Tired!

2008-03-18T10:56:00.003-05:00

We went and looked at one day care spot last night; it was not what we were hoping for. They had 3 cats and 2 dogs, not to mention the place was tiny! The search continues, though Stas doesn't want to do daycare before the age of 1 year. So, we will have to work something out.

Oh, did I mention I am tired? Well I am....I just want to lay down on the floor of my office and sleep for the whole day. I have been taking naps at my parent’s house for lunch. Thank goodness they live so close to my work!

I believe today is the first day I have not puked in a long time. I had to even go to the ER last week on my birthday for fluids. It makes me worry about the baby, but mostly I am worried I am not pregnant and that I have some terminal illness. The ultrasound ruled that option out, however, I still feel like getting through every day is a huge chore! Week 9 starts tomorrow. They say that is the worst week and it gets better from there. I hope it does soon because I am sick of puking and being tired all the time!

Polling

2008-03-14T12:46:00.004-05:00

We were thinking whether this is a girl or a boy. So, we decided to make a poll to see other people opinions:

Results:

Is it a boy or a girl?
Yes, it is a boy. 60% (48)
Yes, it is a girl. 40% (32)

Total number of votes is 80.

We got the first Ultrasound pictures

2008-03-14T07:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday (3-13-08) we went to OB/GYN to an unscheduled appointment because Lisa did not feel well. I hope she can post the rest of the story, because I don't have time as usually and have to run to work.
The only thing I can mention is that after first ultrasound I got the real sence of fatherhood! I like it!

ER Visit

2008-03-11T10:25:00.002-05:00

This past weekend I was sick all day long, instead of just the mornings. Yesterday I woke up at 4 am sick and could not keep anything down. After calling my doctor I decided to take her advice and go to the ER at North. My Dad was nice enough to drive me down there and stay with me! They gave me an IV with two bags of fluids and anti-puke medicine. I was so happy to not feel ill and not puke up food! It was so great!

The medicine they sent me home with is not as good as what they gave me at the hospital, but it is working so far. It just dissolves on my tongue. I had one this morning at 5 am and it was the first morning in a long time that I did not puke. :) I am at work and not sick, which feels sooooooo good!

The fun part about going to the hospital is that they gave me an ultrasound, just to check up on the baby. It was so cool to see the baby and get a more accurate account of how far along I am. I am 8 weeks and one day. :) So, my due date is the 19th of October. It was so amazing to see this little baby inside of me that is causing me so much trouble. I saw the heart beat and if I squinted I could sort of tell where the head, butt and feet were. :) The only crappy part is that Stas didn't get to see the baby. He had to work yesterday. :(

Hopefully I will get another one soon, so Stas can see our little Roo. I don't know if they will do one on Friday or not, but it would be nice to get a picture!

With no more puking, hopefully I can start to enjoy this pregnancy! :)

7 1/2 Maybe Weeks

2008-03-06T14:59:00.003-06:00

One week later and I am going down hill if anything. Every morning like clock work I wake up to puking. I thought I had actually escaped it a couple of days ago, unfortunatly I did not even make it out of the shower to vomit that time. Yuck!

I feel guilty laying on the couch all night, but that is all my body seems able to handle these days. Roo, I love ya, but could ya please stop making me puke? She is about one cm now. :) Oh, so I secrectly think it is a girl, shhhh, don't tell Stan! :) I don't know why, I just have a strange feeling that it is a girl, although everyone else wants a boy it seems. It really doesn't matter as long as it is healthy!

I can't wait to see a pic next week at the doc's office! Other than puking and being tired not much else is different. :) Maybe I will have a pic next week to post.

Roo you make me Puke!

2008-02-28T13:00:00.003-06:00

I am 6 1/2 weeks along, we are still guessing at that. We don't have the 1st appointment until the 14th of March. The Day after my birthday!!! :) However, everything is going according to plan. Even the puking! I really am getting tired of being sick every morning! I have to wake up to pee around 5-6am and from there until about noon I am sick.

Good news, we do have names picked out, however, we don't know if it is a boy or a girl. I am getting sick of calling it, IT, so we decided to name it. The other day on Stan's Gmail tag it said conga-roo. I thought he was talking about me as Kangaroo, carrying a baby in me. Well he wasn't it was about Frankie Manning's book, that he finally finished reading. It is now my turn to read it after 6 months of waiting for him to be done (I love you my Russian! :)) Anyways, i liked the thought of being a Kanga and having a baby kanga, which we were gona call it. Then our friend Anton informed us of Winni the Poo and how they call the baby Kangaroo, Roo. So, there it is....We have a name for the baby - Roo! :)

Roo really likes to upset me in the mornings! Everyone said it will be over with soon, however, I don't feel like there will be an end. My pants are all tight and I am now wearing a baby belt, which is the perfect way to walk around all day with your pants unzipped and unbuttoned and have them not fall off. It is so comfortable!

I have found that dancing is pretty much out of the question. We are going to go tonight and we teach at St. Olaf this weekend, but I need to keep it low key. I can push through the dizziness, but it feels like I have my concussion all over again.

A new development is that I smell everything. I had to put a sign up at work that says "No Coffee In This Room!!!!! Of course everyone now knows at work. But they would have guessed sooner or later, even if I didn't put the sign up, since I gag until noon. Not to mention, I will admit I am a bit bitchy! :) Why do people cook things that stink so badly? I almost puked again this afternoon when i went in to the teriyaki smelling lunch room. Gross!

I love you Roo! :)

The First 6 Weeks!

2008-02-26T08:28:00.000-06:00

Pregnancy symptoms are the worst part of every day now! Waking up sick and going to bed sick for the last week has taken the fun out of knowing we are bringing a life into this world! I have everything: headaches, morning sickness (that also is strangely in the evening too), yeast infections (that won't go away), tender breasts, and I am so frick'n tired all the time! Eventually things are supposed to get better, but i don't see an end yet to puking. It just sucks!

We are moving in a few weeks into Chad's house and we are very excited! Excited to save money so we can just blow it on a new baby. Another big decision I made in the last few days...not to apply to the U of M in the fall. If I even feel a bit of this sickness then, there is no way I will be able to do it. I am having enough trouble as it is keeping up with the two classes I have.

Literally all I want to do is sleep or lay on the couch. Seriously, we have not done laundry in about 3 weeks and our house is such a mess! They say the 2nd trimester is better (being that I will have more energy and not be sick?), well i hope these 1st few months will hurry up and be over then! Our first appointment with the OBGYN nurse is on the 14th of March. I believe i am 6 weeks along right now, but we will see if that is correct when they do the 1st ultrasound.

Oh, and to top everything off I am dizzy too. This makes teaching a dance lesson horrible! I feel like I am going to fall over after one out-side-turn. It really stinks that I can't dance right now. I miss it so much already! :(

Overall, we are very excited to have this baby. We have even picked out names. I just wish I could be in the 2nd trimester so I will feel better. Although I am starting to wonder if everyone lies about the second trimester just to make it seem easier. I bet it will not be much different than I feel now.

Pukers
-Lisa

The first day, the first post.

2008-02-25T23:59:00.000-06:00

Today is the first day I created this blog space for Lisa and I. We are expecting a baby sometime next fall, so we decided to keep a journal and write down all the funny things that will be happening. Right now 12:02 am February 26, 2008. I am surfing the web, shopping for the books (a la "How to be the best father in the world"), and Lisa is sleeping.
I hope we will keep this thing running, and up to date, so we can show all this to our future kid to show him/her how much trouble he/she caused.

~Stan