Easter Party at School

Busy girl

Mia has been very busy lately keeping us entertained. She loves to dress up, whether that be in princess attire or Mommy's clothes. She also loves to paint, sing, color, dance and read. A regular Renaissance girl, that Mia. Other things that have amused us lately:

• Mia doesn't use Cara's name so much anymore. Cara is now "my cousin".
• She refers to colors by their Spanish names as often as she does by their English names.
• Anytime the three of us are snuggling she gets so excited she squeals, "We're a family!!"
• She loves to play teacher and often sits us down to review our letters or numbers.
• Mia's teacher reported that they were playing freeze tag at school the other day. The teacher asked what songs the kids wanted to hear. Did Mia say, "ABCs" or "Little Bo Peep"? No, she said, "Ms. Karen, I want to dance to Katy Perry!"
• The other day she came over, gave me a kiss, then while still holding onto the sides of my face started shaking her booty, singing, "If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it."
• She asked to take the "alligator" to the second floor.
• She loves to take her "bitalins" (vitamins).
• I asked if she wanted oatmeal for breakfast. The reply: "I sure do Mommy." I asked if she was ready to read her nighttime books. The reply: "I sure am Mommy."
• Mia must have decided to take the Easter Bunny's generosity and "pay it forward". She told Mike he was her best buddy and she told me I was her special girl.
• All the crazy weather we've had lately prompted Mia to play Wizard of Oz. At one point she asked, "Where your shoes Mommy?" I asked her what she meant and she replied, "When that house fell on you and your shoes went away."

Fertility update

In early March I got the okay that my reproductive system had calmed down. I wasn't sure that I was ready to do another round of shots just yet, so I requested Clomid for the month. I was met with resistance by the nurse practitioner. She was not so nice, telling me that Clomid isn't effective for women my age. It got to the point where my voice was a bit raised and the nurse's voice was dripping with sarcasm, but I prevailed. I went in for a baseline ultrasound and began taking Clomid. I ovulated for the first time since my surgery in September so I felt hopeful.

On Wednesday, March 23, I was rewarded with a positive pregnancy test! I did not contact the doctor right away, but I immediately began taking pregnancy precautions and started my estrogen and progesterone. On Friday I took another home test, one that required a higher hcg level to show up. That one also indicated positive so I made a lab appointment at the doctor. My hcg levels were 55 and the nurse practitioner said I was "definitely pregnant". I did not comment how I must be a medical miracle, seeing as Clomid isn't effective for women my age.

Last Friday I was brought in for another round of labs. The goal is for the hcg level to double every 48 hours. I knew I needed a 708 in order for the pregnancy to be going well. When the nurse called and told me my level was 946 I was ecstatic!!! We scheduled an ultrasound for next Thursday. We are praying with everything we have that all goes well.

As with every pregnancy since Mia, my stomach has immediately exploded. I'm sure the drugs are contributing, and the estrogen and progesterone both cause bloating. It typically takes a couple months to get the effects of Clomid out of my system so I'm hoping later in the pregnancy everything will even out.

Some positive news is that, of my six pregnancies, my hcg level only increased at all with three of them: Mia, the one I lost later, and this one. With the baby I lost later, even though I didn't have the D&C until 11 weeks, the baby actually stopped growing at 6 and a half weeks. So if we make it to 7 weeks it will be another milestone. Please keep us in your prayers.

We haven't told Mia yet. I don't want to get her excited and have to explain if something goes wrong. Even though my stomach is huge, she doesn't seem to notice. She just loves her mommy no matter how I look!

Sweet sweet girl

3 Year Check-up

Mia had her three year check-up today. It was very different from previous check-ups because she's such a big girl now!

The visit started with height and weight. Mia is now 39 1/4 inches tall, putting her above the 95th percentile for height. She is 32 lbs, at the 50th percentile for weight.

Next we got a urine sample. I made it a joke with her, that we had to do something so silly - she needed to go pee-pee in a cup! Who goes pee-pee in a cup? She giggled through the process, so it worked. Next she got her finger pricked and they took some blood. She hated that and cried, but got over it very quickly. When the doctor came in she looked in her ears. Her left ear still has fluid in it. She hasn't had a fever, so we'll come back in six weeks to recheck. She also got a booster shot, and did not like that one bit. I promised her McDonald's since she was such a good girl.

One new part of the experience was that Mia wore a paper gown. It allowed the doctor to check her from head to toe. She did a scoliosis check, something I was happy they do, since Mike has a touch of it himself. They also checked her hearing. Not surprisingly she only has partial hearing in her left ear due to the fluid. When we recheck we will consider getting tubes inserted again. Finally she got an eye exam, which she passed with flying colors.

Overall our girl is doing great!

Elmo arrives

Unfortunately my camera had something on the lens, but this was when Elmo first arrived at the party. As you can see, Mia was extremely excited!

Mia and Cara 3rd Birthday Party