This the weekly check-in for May 2015 moms who have previously experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of a child at any age. If you are new, please feel free to jump right in.
To our ladies who experienced loss this week, know your LO will always be remembered. You each will be in our thoughts and prayers! Many hugs!
This is gonna be a post and run. And sorry for posting late. I could not get the bump app to post for me while mobile. I will check in with you each soon! Tagging everyone from the thread last week.
Please include the following in your reply.
Pregnancy Loss Background (if first time joining us) :
EDD:
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit:
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically?
Any updates from last weeks check-in :
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please).
Yup. DS is Tommy Pickles! Nothing like living with an escape artist.
Just another cloth diapering, baby wearing mama.
Re: PgAL weekly check in : December 10
I've been MIA from the check in for a while- hope everyone is doing well!
Pregnancy Loss Background (if first time joining us) : Missed MC 6/24/14, D&C 6/27
EDD: 5/9
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 18w4d, sweet potato
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically? Really good, both.
Any updates from last weeks check-in :
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones Anatomy scan is next week on Tuesday. Hoping baby girl looks good.
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please).Saltine Toffee
Ingredients:
2 sticks of butter
1 Cup of Sugar
1 Sleeve of Saltine Crackers
1 Bag of Chocolate Chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line rimmed cookie sheet with tin foil. Spray foil with non-stick spray. Spread saltines in a single layer, and crimp foil around saltines to fit.
Combine butter and sugar in a pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 3-5 minutes, WITHOUT STIRRING, or until sugar is amber in color.
Pour sugar mixture over the saltines and spread evenly with a heat-proof spatula. This stuff is HOT!
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until bubbly and crackers are lightly golden.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot crackers and allow to sit until melted. Spread chocolate evenly over crackers.
Refrigerate until firm then break into cookie-sized pieces and enjoy!
DS2 born 2/22/13
MMC 5/16/14@8w2d
DD due 5/9/15 Please be our RAINBOW
Hope everyone is having a great week! Thanks again for the check-in @momtosam!
EDD: May 9
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 18 weeks, 4 days
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically? Good! Nausea is definitely getting better. I'm not as tired. Love feeling baby kicks- that definitely helps ease my anxiety.
Any updates from last weeks check-in : Had an OB appointment last Friday. Everything went great- strong HB and my blood pressure was great (I had issues with this last time, so I'm nervous about it this time as well)
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones A/S is Dec. 22
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please). Not sure how they will be, but I'm making these this weekend for a family Christmas party. They look and sound amazing, so I think they might become a favorite recipe.Reese’s Nutter Butter Cookie Truffles Recipe
Ingredients:
16 ounces Nutter Butter Cookies
8 ounces cream cheese
8 ounces Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups, each one quartered
12 ounces milk chocolate chips
3/4 tablespoon shortening
1 tablespoon sprinkles (optional for top)
Directions:
Blend the Nutter Butter cookies in a food processor until they are fine crumbs. Then break up the cream cheese into chunks and blend that together with the crumbs in the food processor until well blended. Remove blade or transfer dough to another bowl. Gently fold in the quartered Reese’s peanut butter cups. I used the very small mini Reese’s that come unwrapped. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper or parchment paper. Stick in the freezer for about 30 to 40 minutes.
Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
Dip the frozen balls into the melted chocolate. Cover them completely with chocolate, then lift up and gently tap to remove the excess chocolate. I used a plastic fork with the two middle tines broken out. Set back onto the cookie sheet covered in waxed paper. Immediately add the sprinkles before the chocolate sets up. The chocolate will set up quickly because the balls are so cold from being in the freezer.
Makes about 35 to 40 truffles
BFP #2: 7/24/13, MC: 8/28/13 @8weeks, 3days
EDD: May 7
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit:
18 weeks 5 days
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically?
I'm doing pretty good, but super busy with lots of Christmas activities at the school where I work and with the two choirs I sing with getting ready for concerts and christmas. I thought I may have felt the baby move this week, but I'm not sure if it's the baby or gas or my stomach. I've had some vicious heartburn so that could be it. I'm also having some tingling pain on my thigh. It's not all the time, so I'm hesitating on calling the doctor since I see them next week. I may just need to get some compression socks for better circulation.
Any updates from last weeks check-in :
No doctor updates, but I had a current student parent and a former student's parent both ask if I was pregnant this week so I guess the fat it starting to look more like a bump.
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones
Anatomy scan on Dec 18
GTKY:
My hands down favorite is chocolate chip, but since that is boring I'm linking a new cookie I'm baking for this year. Hazelnut Nutella sandwich cookies. https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/hazelnut-nutella-sandwich-cookies
BFP #2: 7/24/13, MC: 8/28/13 @8weeks, 3days
@vballgirl78: I agree that feeling the baby kick eases anxiety!
I'm sure it will get uncomfortable soon but I have to remember how awesome it is and keep that feeling.
*sorry for the edit, the recipe was a glob of words....
EDD: May 1st
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: almost 20ish weeks I think....BANANA!
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically?
Emotionally: Doing great this week. Feeling baby kick every day is such a special moment for us. It is amazing that a tiny human is inside growing and DH and I created it! We enjoy our early morning wake up's even more because we can sit and feel baby move around.
Physically: Getting a little more uncomfortable with my back. I'm gonna talk to the doctor on Wednesday to see if there are some exercises I can do to help the scoliosis. Besides that I've been walking a lot (even got lost with DH one night on our nightly walk, it was exciting!) and trying to stay off my feet so much at work. It's hard sometimes standing throughout all of class to teach.
Any updates from last weeks check-in :Nope
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones: On Wednesday we finally have our morphological exam! Yay! We are so excited to see baby and how big it has gotten. It's "supposed" to grow 4 inches this week alone, crazy!
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please)
My absolute favorite-especially this year when I am loving the fresh citrus at the market! Don't let the recipe for lemon curd scare you, it is super easy and fool proof. If you can't make the curd just buy the awesome jar at Trader Joe's!
Snowy Lemon Thumbprintsmakes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen cookies
You’ll Need:
For the Lemon Curd:
3 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
zest of 3 lemons
4 tablespoons butter, cut into chunks
For the Cookies:1 cup sugar
zest of 2 lemons
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 recipe lemon curd, above
1 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
For the Lemon Curd:
To make the lemon curd, whisk together whole eggs, egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and zest in a small, non-reactive saucepan until smooth. Heat over medium-low, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency.
Remove from heat, and immediately pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into bowl.
Stir in butter until melted.
Place plastic wrap on the surface of the lemon curd to prevent a skin from forming, and set aside.
For the Cookies:Preheat the oven to 350°F.
To make the cookies, combine sugar and lemon zest in the bowl of a stand mixer, and mix with your hand, working the zest into the sugar, until the mixture is fragrant and resembles wet sand. Add butter and vanilla, and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
In a small bowl, combine flour and salt. Add dry ingredients to the mixer and mix just until the dough comes together.
Roll dough into walnut-sized balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Using your thumb or the end of a wooden spoon, make an indentation in each cookie. Fill with lemon curd. The bigger the indentation, the more lemon curd.
Bake for 10-11 minutes, until cookies have spread slightly and lemon curd looks set.
Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes before putting them on a cooling rack.
When cookies are cool enough to handle, but still slightly warm, use a sifter and sift powdered sugar on the cookies.
Repeat with remaining cookies.
Eat them all and enjoy them!
Me: 26 DH: 29
3/13: Miscarriage
11/13: Ectopic Pregnancy-removal of 1 fallopian tube
BFP: 8/21/14
Moses born by emergency C-section 4/23/2015
It's a Boy!
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 18 weeks/ sweet potato
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically?
Pretty good with the exception of the last 2 days. Started having contractions In the middle of the night on Tuesday. Of course DH was away on business. This is how my last loss started, so of course I freaked out. Got into see my Dr. He thinks it was just Braxton hicks as my cervix didn't shorten. Anyway scariest 12 hrs of this pregnancy.
Doing better today. And no more contractions.
Any updates from last weeks check-in :
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones. Last loss milestone coming up at New Years, have our anatomy scan on the 29th and DH is going to open the results to find out the sex Xmas morning. He has no idea as I told him I wanted to wait.
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please).
Moms shortbread
1pound of butter (salted),
1/2 cup of rice flour
3 1/2c. flour
1 cup of fruit sugar.
mix well - make sure the butter is softened unless you have a mixer... roll into little balls press with a fork dipped in a bit of flour or the fork will stick.... bake 325 for about 10 - 12 min. or when the bottoms are a little brown.
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: mango!!!
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically? Both great! Kicking away which makes me feel like it's even more real!!!
Any updates from last weeks check-in : not really, told our families via Christmas card and they all freaked out which was fun
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones: a/s next week which I'm kind of nervous about....
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please).: chocolate chip cookies with pudding (these are the best ladies, TRUST - I may or may not have craving them and baking them for work people to hide my inability to control myself
INSTANT JELLO PUDDING CHOCOLATE CHIP
COOKIES
2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. softened butter
1/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (4 oz. serving) instant vanilla pudding
2 eggs
1 pkg. (12 oz.) chocolate chips
1 c. nuts (opt.)
Combine butter, the sugars, vanilla and pudding mix in large bowl. Beat until creamy. Then beat in eggs. Gradually add flour, soda, chips and nuts. Batter will be stiff. Drop by teaspoonful, about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Makes 7 dozen.
For chocolate chip cookies, use chocolate flavor instant pudding.
EDD: May 13
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 18 weeks 1 day / Sweet potato
How are you feeling emotionally? Pretty good. Baby is kicking a lot now so that feels wonderful for peace of mind.
Physically? Great. My lower back is starting to hurt and I am noticing that I am sitting different to get comfortable. Also, pregnancy brain is real yall.
Any updates from last weeks check-in : Baby is now kicking not just at night anymore... a lot during the day too. And I can feel it!!
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones: We have the anatomy ultrasound next Thursday! We find out the sex!
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please).
Clean Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
BFP #2: 7/24/13, MC: 8/28/13 @8weeks, 3days
EDD: May 6
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 19 wks, mango
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically?: Emotionally, things have been kind of crazy lately. Had our ultrasound yesterday which was fantastic. The day before that was really bad though...I think it was a combination of being nervous for the ultrasound, hitting a milestone with this baby that my last baby never got to reach (i hate that i don't even have an ultrasound pic of our baby), and feeling once again like people expect this pregnancy to be "closure" for me. I cried a lot that day and just missed our baby a lot, and then felt guilty for being so sad when I should be joyous over this new little one. After the ultrasound things have been so much better!
Any updates from last weeks check-in : Had our ultrasound, baby is healthy! and a BOY!!
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please).
That's a tough one. I'll get back to this later when I have my recipes with me!
Edited: format
My heart is as open as the sky.
Read about it on the blog
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
BFP #2: 7/24/13, MC: 8/28/13 @8weeks, 3days
Sorry I haven't checked in in a while!
EDD: May 15
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 17w5d / onion (not a fruit but whatevs)
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically? Physically I'm feeling good lately, just a little more tired but that's about it. Emotionally i'm feeling very positive and really starting to believe that this will happen for me. Every day I get more and more excited and i'm really enjoying this pregnancy.
Any updates from last weeks check-in : We had our a/s yesterday and i'm so happy to say that baby looks very healthy! The tech counted 10 fingers and 10 toes, nuchal fold looks good (although we'll find out the official results from the blood test in a week or so), no cleft palate, brain looks normal, and all anatomy looks great. I feel so, so blessed and grateful for all of this good news. And also, we're having a BOY
Very excited!
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones My next OB appointment is on the 22nd. It'll probably be the last u/s for a while but I appreciate my OB for letting me see the baby as much as she has. She has really tried to calm my fears and I love her for that.
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please). This is a tough (but fun) question! I love Funfetti cake so one of my favorite recipes is Cake Batter Brownies (not exactly cookies but still yummy!)
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray 11x7 baking pan with nonstick spray.
Combine first four ingredients in a large bowl. Add the milk slowly. You want to cake batter to be as dense & thick as possible. Mix in the sprinkles and white chocolate chips. Pour into prepared baking pan, sprinkle a few more sprinkles on top, and bake for 25-30 minutes until edges are just turning brown.
Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes so the center sets, before cutting into squares.
EDD: 5/12/15
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 18 weeks/ sweet potato
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically? Emotionally I'm doing pretty well because I feel baby more and I'm starting to show more. Physically doing pretty well, tension headaches have been plaguing me and I'm still having some nausea as well as some heartburn
Any updates from last weeks check-in : nada, just excited for our a/s in a few weeks
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones: A/S (first time we will find out sex with any kiddo as long as baby cooperates)
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please). -Oatmeal Scotchies https://www.averiecooks.com/2013/04/soft-and-chewy-oatmeal-scotchies-cookies.html
EDD: May 18
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 17 weeks/Onion-gave me a vegetable this week not a fruit. Not sure why?
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically? Feeling okay. Nerve pain is much better this week.
Any updates from last weeks check-in : I can feels some flutters every now and then and I have felt one or two strong thumps!
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones: Anatomy scan on the 22nd!
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please).
I am at work and don't have the recipe with me but it would have to be my grandma's sugar cookie recipe. If I remember I will post it later.
#1 DS Tanner Ray 10/13/1998
#2 Natural M/C 03/2014
#3 DS Beckett Jameson 05/14/2015
#4 EDD 05/12/2017
@HalePop glad you were able to take a mental health day.
@1220winterbride welcome and congrats!
EDD: 5/16/15
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 17 weeks + a few days (try to not think about it)
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically? Doing good actually. The flu hit our house and I evaded it somehow. I think I'm starting to feel kicks, so I'm very very happy about that.
Any updates from last weeks check-in: Nope, just getting ready to switch health insurance.
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones: Next appointment is next week (Monday). I've been feeling kicks more and more lately. I'm so thankful.
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please): Oye, my favorite one is a family recipe (and not for sharing), but nothing like a good chocolate chip. I constantly like trying new things.Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 15w5d Naval orange
How are you feeling emotionally? Physically? Emotionally good, physically not so much. I've been having Ménière's spells every day this week and they are kicking my ass. Thankfully they only last an hour but for that whole hour I'm either laying on the bathroom floor trying to keep from vomiting or vomiting. I really hope these spells don't continue into my 3rd trimester or I'm going to end up living on the bathroom floor because I'm not going to be able to get up.
Any updates from last weeks check-in :nothing new going on
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones no new appointment
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please). My favorite cookie that I share with everyone that my mom always made and now I make them. Ritz crackers with peanut butter dipped in chocolate. Doesn't get easier than that.
@MichieU79 ill be thinking about you this weekend. The lead up to an EDD is always the worst. (((Hugs)))
It's so nice to be able to be honest with how I've been feeling, without someone telling me how I "should" feel or trying to dismiss it. These weekly check-ins are great
Again apologies for the late check in and being absent the past few days. Have had a very busy and slightly stressful week. We had DS's developemental preschool evaluation on Wednesday, but will not hear back for a couple weeks about that. I can also use some good thoughts and prayer for peace as we head into an autism evaluation for DS on Monday morning. It is all very overwhelming, as we have no idea what really to expect with any of it. Just hoping for some answers and a plan.
EDD: April 29th
Gestation in Weeks/Fruit: 20w2d /Banana
How are you feeling emotionally? I have been feeling pretty good. Got to see baby Tuesday at our anatomy scan. No concerns, so that has helped calm the fears that were sneaking up on me the past couple weeks.
Physically? Tired. Very tired. I feel like I could sleep most days forever. I am also short tempered recently and have little patience, which makes for longs days having a nearly 3 year old son.
Any updates from last weeks check-in : Had anatomy scan. Everything looked great. No concerns. And we are having another BOY!!
Upcoming Appointments/Milestones: Next appointment is December 29th.
GTKY: Favorite cookie recipe (include recipe please).
Not a cookie recipe, but a favorite for me to use in cookie exchanges.
CHOCOLATE FUDGE
7oz jar marshmallow creme
1.5 c sugar
2/3 c evaporated milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c butter
2 c milk chocolate chips
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract
Line a bread loaf pan or 8x8 pan with aluminum foil and set aside. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine marshmallow creme, sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt. Bring to a boil, stir continually and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips. Stir until melted and well blended. Stir in vanilla. Pour into pan. Chill for 2 hours before slicing.
BFP 4/5/09, EDD 12/4/09, m/c 7/31/09
BFP 5/27/11, EDD 1/17/12, DS born 1/16/12
BFP 8/16/14, EED 4/29/15, We are having another BOY!
Yup. DS is Tommy Pickles! Nothing like living with an escape artist.
Just another cloth diapering, baby wearing mama.
@mpiemont – Glad you are back joining us! And everything is going well for you! Cannot wait to hear your update on your upcoming anatomy scan.
@vballgirl78 – So exciting for the baby kicks and glad that is helping to ease the anxiety. Glad your last appointment went really well, with no issues.
@maggiet19 – So glad you had a great scan and appointment. That baby BOY is healthy with no issues!!
@robotpcr – So glad you are doing awesome physically and that the nausea has passed. Fingers crossed for an awesome anatomy scan next week!
@MichieU79 – Hugs as you approach the EDD for your angel this weekend. Glad you were able to just ugly cry, I think we all need those day every once in a while. So exciting that you have been able to feel movement on the outside!
@kate6214 – I think we are all busy this time of year, so completely there with you. You probably are feeling baby. Feels like bubbles or flutters at first till the movement is stronger. Also looking forward to you anatomy scan update.
@sunshinedaisies000 – YAY for an awesome week emotionally!! So excited you have also spilled the beans with family and a few friends. There excitement will most certainly help.
@littlecookie – glad you checked in, hope you have another uneventful week, hope this week is another uneventful or one with something exciting.
@AlexandriaPR – So exciting for feeling the baby kick and wiggle! I also deal with back issue. You may also want to see if they can get you a good back brace. I have one from my last pregnancy that was heat molded to my back. I like it better than my everyday back brace I have. Excited to hear your updates for your upcoming appointment.
@lladymack – Hugs and prayer, plus fingers crossed that things continue to stay perfect with you and baby!! Glad you have had no more since. Hope this week is an uneventful one!
@stephaniesee – Happy to hear you are doing great and feeling baby kick away. Excited to hear updates about your upcoming anatomy scan. And exciting about telling your family! How did you do it in your cards?
@mlbrooks619 – Yay for lots of little kicks from baby! Yuck for back pain starting. Talk to your OB they can show you some stretches and exercises that may help. Also if gets worse you can look into a back brace as well. Hopefully, it stays minimal. Excited to hear your updates after your scan next week!!
@HalePop – So many hugs as you had your angels EDD yesterday. Glad you took some time for you. That is exciting your DH has gotten to feel kicks! And yes I am expecting lots of updates on the 22nd, seems like a big day for lots of you mamas!
@shmeell25 – Glad to have you back. Missed you the last few weeks. Excited to hear you are getting some daily movement from baby. Glad you are feeling overall pretty good, as well.
@LimaD – Congrats on a healthy baby boy and that your scan went great. Sorry to hear you had a couple rough days prior.
@mermomof6 – Hope things calm for you after your scan on Monday. Excited to hear updates from you on that. Glad your last appointment went well. Took my OB to find our little guys heartbeat last time too. But glad you found it and was nice and strong. FX no issues are found, but definitely get prepared. Boston has lots of great doctors.
@1220winterbride – Welcome to our check in. Glad you can join us. Look forward to hearing about your anatomy scan next week!
@kj808 – Glad you are back to join us! Glad you are at a really good spot in your pregnancy and able to enjoy it! That is awesome. YAY for an awesome anatomy scan and for a baby BOY!
@CTri17 – Glad you are doing pretty well. Hopefully the nausea will continue to subside some more and that the tension headaches give you a break. YAY for finding out this time, what is making you want to find out this time verses the others?
@branders74 – Glad to hear your nerve pain is better this week. Have you been doing something to help, or just improving on own? Yay for feeling thumps and flutter, so exciting. Can not wait to hear all the updates from the December 22nd crew.
@ramy3 – Sorry you are just feeling worn out and tired. I feel bad for my DH as well, because I too have been short tempered. Hope this week you get some energy and start feeling a bit better. So glad to hear you had a great appointment and all things are looking great with baby!
@DreamChaser246 – That is awesome the flu skipped you! And yay for baby kicks and flutters. Looking forward to you update on your upcoming appointment.
@Pintobean39 – Glad you have been doing well emotionally, sorry you have had a rough go physically. Hopefully it passes and you will have a better week this week.
BFP 4/5/09, EDD 12/4/09, m/c 7/31/09
BFP 5/27/11, EDD 1/17/12, DS born 1/16/12
BFP 8/16/14, EED 4/29/15, We are having another BOY!
Yup. DS is Tommy Pickles! Nothing like living with an escape artist.
Just another cloth diapering, baby wearing mama.