January 4, 2011

Today was a big day.

At our 20 week anatomy scan, the sonographer found a cyst in our baby girl's brain.
A very scary thing to hear. It is a Choroid Plexus Cyst, which is common and not harmful in any way.
Unless, and of course there is an unless...
If the cyst presents with any other signs of genetic deformities (or soft markers as they are called in the medical articles) then the possibility of something called Trisomy 18. Trisomy 18 is similar to Downs Syndrome in the fact that is it an extra chromosome (#18 in fact) however it is particularly scary because this extra chromosome when present is not compatible with life.
Word to the wise, when your doctor tells you not to worry... Try your damnedest to listen. When you do run home and google whatever it is they found make sure to find a reputable medical reference and read all the way through.
The article I read started with an explanation of a CPC and it's loose association with Trisomy 18... Then in the very last paragraph it says... By itself a CPC is harmless.
Sheesh!
Anyways-- So we went in to the UCSD Fetal Care and Genetics department for the fancy scan to make absolutely certain there were no other soft markers. None found by the way. We are all very happy. Well except for my poor stomach. The Reuther genetics in our little girl are strong. She had found herself a comfortable position in utero and was not willing to move for anything. No amount of pushing and bouncing or repositioning was going to move her. So I feel slightly beat up after all that, but good to know she is comfortable.
So with a sigh of relief we went home and I promptly decided that I must have Thai food.
A nice Thai food dinner then we ended up falling asleep early.

January 3, 2011

Oh back to work today. How sad. Actually, I enjoy work, but the holidays were nice.
The weather today was NOT nice. The rain had, I thought stopped by the time I was driving in to work, but when you drive 30 miles you can never be sure. Th record time so far has been 1 hour 45 minutes driving in due to weather and related accidents on the freeway. Today wasn't that bad.

I ended up working late not by choice, I just looked up from my work and realized it was past 7pm. Dear husband called to check on me at 7:45pm which is when I actually got up from my desk and left.

Of course working that late and being pregnant meant I couldn't wait the 35 minute drive home to eat, so it was a Carls Jr night for both of us.

It bothers me that I have to pay almost double a burger/fries combo to get a burger and salad, but I know I felt better eating the salad.

Getting home that late screws with everything. No time for any housework, just one show on netflix while cuddling on the couch before bed. (hence why this is posted 2 days late)

January 2, 2011

A dear friend of mine is in possession of diaries belonging to her Great Grandmother. Aside from being insanely cool to see what daily life was like in 1910, it was an inspiration to her and then to a few others (myself included) to keep an account of daily life. We'll start with 30 days, see how far it goes.

Here is her transcription.

Just the basics, no need to put in huge insights on the world, just a humble account of my life and what is going on around me.

Here Goes:
January 2nd, 2011
I slept in today, it was very nice, but I think that having 2 long weekends in a row has done a number on my circadian rhythms. When I got up, hubs had been awake for a few hours but kindly (upon my request) made me breakfast. It was sunny out and I kept thinking, we should go for a walk this afternoon. Hubby and I played a little Star Trek Online. I know, nerdy to the max, but hey, I like it. :)

While we were playing, the little one started moving. She always moves mid-day, and of course as soon as Mathew tries to feel she stops. Though still an odd sensation, I do love to feel her move, it is a little reminder of "here I am mom". We took a break and I went through the box of so far accumulated baby stuff, we're getting a nice stash going of cloth diapers, hopefully we'll be all set by May when she arrives, lets hear it for saving money and the environment all in one.

When I finally decided it was time to go walk, of course it started raining. The dog was quite unhappy with the situation so the walk was only around the block. I can't believe the rain the last few weeks, it is very un-San Diego. Serves me right for waiting. Maybe that will be my resolution for 2011, when I feel like doing something I will do it, not wait until later. Of course, come May, we will have a baby who will likely have a say in our schedule, but we will see when she gets here.

We ended up taking a nap in the early evening, which left me up late reading once it was time to really go to bed... I have been reading pretty voraciously, I think I have made better use of Mathew's kindle than he has. I am in the middle of Laurel K Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Executioner series, so no, I am to reading aloud to baby... Once I finish this series I am moving back to the George R.R. Martin Song of Ice and Fire series, that one may be worthy of reading aloud.

Ignis Designs is expanding!

No our shop isn't getting bigger - well actually that too, we will be posting more and more items the next few weeks to clear out some space.

To make room for baby!

We're due early May but we are getting a start on some baby planning and I just can't stop looking at all the fabulous options there are out there in the handmade world.

Check these bad boys out:

Diaper Wipes!!!
and these:
Jolly Roger Cloth Diaper on Art Fire
and these:
Bling Bling Diaper Wipes Case on Art Fire

I wish I knew what we were having!!!

ig 249_3

ig 249_3, originally uploaded by ignisdesigns.

A new obsession is born! Working with glass has always been a passion. Check out my new work!

January's birthstone: Garnet

Garnet is a lovely choice for any month, but those born in January get to call it their own...

Garnet is a powerfully energizing and regenerating stone. It revitalizes, purifies, and balances energy, bringing serenity or passion as appropriate.

That said, Here's my most recent necklace:

Garnet and Opalite (Opalite is a man made stone) 2 strand necklace.

Traveling!

It has been a long time since I have written anything here... I've been traveling this year. Lets start from the beginning of the year, I came back from Peru on January 1st 2008.

I brought back some wonderful beads from Peru. Primarily Serpentine, some Cryscolla (Peruvian Turquoise) as well as stones I just picked up off the ground.

Here is a picture of the beads I bought at the base of Machu Picchu:



I'll be turning them into necklaces soon.

Peace!
Bridgette