Playing catch up...and happy Christmas.

Saturday, December 28, 2013


I can't believe that I almost went the entire month of December without posting. I actually didn't even realize it until my sister said "I keep checking your blog and you haven't posted one time this month!!" It's kind of hard to summarize an entire month into one post but here are some of the reasons to explain my lack of posting..

1. Interview season continued...I got to visit Hopkins, which was every bit as amazing as I imagined it, and managed to squeeze in a day to explore Baltimore with one of my best friends.


Hopkins
"Christus Consulator" in the dome at Hopkins
Baltimore


2. I got stuck in the East Coast blizzard on the way back from my interviews which meant postponing my Step 2 boards to mid-December (I was so sick of studying by the end). I finally got them over with, and let's just say that a 9 hour computer exam and an almost-5-months-pregnant bladder are not very compatible. But yay it's over!

3. My belly finally started to grow. It's still not that big (my little sister keeps saying "ok I can finally see it but when's it really going to explode?") but Stephen and I can definitely tell a difference. And thank God it's finally rounder-enough to look a little less like I've been eating too many carbs. I've been wearing leggings every day since I'm not quite big enough for maternity pants but my old pants definitely don't fit, and this sweater has been my savior.

16 weeks
17 weeks
18 weeks
19 weeks
4. Christmas snuck up on me faster than any year before. Stephen was working...and I ended up in the hospital. It started with a little cold, and then progressed to a bad asthma flare, and then ended in an ER visit Christmas day after hours of struggling to breathe. After IVs and monitors and respiratory meds, a swab revealed influenza A. Influenza A is not kind to pregnant women or asthmatics, so with both against me I earned a hospital stay. I'm home now, and we've been staying with my parents a few days while I recover. Today was my first attempt to venture out of the house. I'm still feeling pretty bad if I'm honest...it's hard to walk up the stairs, and I have to sleep sitting up so I can breathe. But I'm happy that I'm home and that the baby seems to be holding up ok (which has been my greatest fear through all of this).

We did get our first real Christmas tree this year despite all the craziness

5. So we exchanged gifts on Christmas night in the hospital (Stephen stayed overnight with me...hospital policy normally wouldn't have let him, but it was Christmas...). I didn't ask for anything this year, and Stephen completely blew me away with an amazing black leather Coach bag. I was shocked when I opened it; it's the sort of thing that I would never buy myself (or ask for) and he came up with it all on his own (partly inspired by his observation of the $30 pleather bag I've been bringing to my residency interviews). He is just the most thoughtful, sweet husband.


6. And for our best Christmas present by far: the one bright thing that ensued from my hospital stay is that our ultrasound got moved up and we got to see the beautiful babe again...kicking and somersaulting and looking just fine despite it's sick momma and the myriad of medications making their way through my body for my unhappy lungs.


7. So we now know what we're having! And am I terrible to leave you with this? More details to come...


Lovely gender reveal cake courtesy of my sister
Linking up with Jen and hoping that everyone had a beautiful and blessed Christmas (and maybe less eventful than ours).

8 comments:

  1. SO happy you're back! So very happy you're feeling better and the baby is doing well. so NOT fair that you left us hanging on by a question mark??? LOL! I guess that's you're prerogative...but don't keep us hanging long. Inquiring readers want to know!! Merry Christmas my friend and a very Happy New Year!!

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  2. I'd been wondering where you were, and praying you were not silent because of a pregnancy tragedy or anything scary like that. Thank goodness that even though you did go through something fairly scary (hospital stay!!!), you and the baby are fine. Whew! Hope you feel better soon! You look great!

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  3. Ahh, the suspense! Glad you got one perk out of that illness/hospital stay... no fun for pregnant lady and Christmas time! Hope you're fully recovered soon. And how fun to see the bump grow - it will eventually explode, believe me. In retrospect, I'd say enjoy the middle period of weeks 22-30ish where people can tell you're pregnant and get all excited, but it's still cute & manageable :) Merry Christmas & happy New Year to you & bebe!

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  4. I'm so glad you're okay and the baby is doing well. What a scare! I'm sending you all my good luck vibes in healthy wavelengths. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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  5. So sorry you were sick over Christmas, Erika! Hope you fully recover soon! And that cake is such a cute idea- looking forward to the reveal. :)

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  6. What a scary thing to happen over Christmas. :-/ I'm glad you're doing better and I'm excited about your your reveal!

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  7. Another pregnant resident also tested positive for influenza a. :( the flu shot didn't cover this strain huh. Sorry ou were hospitalized on Christmas Day. Something to tell our firstborn!

    Merry Christmas! Can't wait to find out if baby is boy or girl! And where you'll end up for residency!

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  8. Something to tell ^^your firstborn.
    Oops.

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