Wednesday, October 3, 2012
What a day...
Yesterday was a whirlwind...actually since last Thursday has been a whirlwind...
I'll start at the beginning. 4 years ago I found a husky pup for my husband [then boyfriend] for Christmas. My justification? I needed to see how he would be with kids one day...needed to see that he would get up in the middle of the night and had the compassion and love for something as much as me and his family...responsibility for another living thing.
Obviously he passed with flying colors and we have an amazing, well mannered, sweet and loving pup to show for it.
Last Christmas we noticed something with our pooch, Diogi, was off...he was favoring his leg and had slowed down a lot. We originally thought it was hip dysplaysia so we took him to the vet in Virginia [a vet J's family has been using for a very long time] and had tests and x-rays done. He is fine, they told us...hips and lower back could not look better, he's a husky....a breed known for being "wimps". So, their advice? Let him rest and take it easy, there is nothing you can do. And we trusted them.
More recently he has been in a lot of pain, we knew he wasn't faking it but the vet said he was okay....so last week after Diogi stopped being able to climb the stairs for bed at night we went for a second opinion, to a vet I have used here in NC with our fosters and rescue pups.
After a lot of wiggling, poking and prodding they said they thought it was probably early onset arthritis but they wanted to take new films of his hips and this time check his knees too, since they were making weird popping and grinding noises.
When I went to pick him up later Thursday afternoon I was shocked to learn that just like the other Dr., this vet was saying his hips looked amazing...but his knees? Not arthritis like they thought. Like a human, a dog's knee is held together in place by ligaments. In the dogs case, the slope of the bottom bone [his tibia] is at a 30 degree angle [a human's at 5 degrees]. There are 2 ligaments which cross inside the joint...this is called the cruciate ligament, [cruciate, like cross, because they cross over each other].
What they thought was arthritis was not. The pain, atrophy and swelling was from the tearing of the cruciate ligament in not just one, but both of his knees.
The popping and grinding? Well that was apparently his bones rubbing together against where new bone was growing, an attempt his body was making to repair his injuries. How could he have blown both knees, you ask? Well, they said his left [the worse of the two] probably happened first when he was playing with his sister and cousins. Dogs often injure the cruciate ligament when running and have a misstep of some kind-uneven ground and all of that. Then, they said, it is only a matter of time before the second knee gives way. See, when they are over compensating for the lack of function in one knee, it puts added stress on the other knee. It is inevitable.
So, after all of that, J & I spent an evening going through our options and really taking the time to discuss what needed to be done....but knowing it needed to be a quick decision. The next morning, I made an appointment in Hickory, NC with an AMAZING ortho specialist. We went Monday morning and were there all day going through the X-rays, surgery options and pricing. Dr. Born was awesome, she sat on the floor with him and talked to him when she could tell he was scared and nervous. She made sure she answered all of our questions and printed off plenty of information so we could go back to our families and be prepared to answer questions. We decided, after speaking with J's parents, we would leave Diogi that day for surgery.
Monday was our 1 year wedding anniversary....what a way to spend it. We woke up and laid in bed sharing stories from a year ago at that moment. What he and his brothers and best friend were doing...how they were supporting him and embracing him...and the same with my family and friends.
Looking back though, I'm not sure I would change anything. This instance like so many others that arise in your life brings out stress...stress is the truest of tellers of a person's worst characteristics.
In our case? It strengthens what J and I already have....the truest of love, respect, and support for each other. I know I say it all the time, but J is my best friend...if I can't talk to him...I can't talk to anyone.
So as we were leaving the Vet's we decided {since I forgot to get our top tier of cake from my parent's in Va} we would pop by Dairy Queen because...let's be honest...who doesn't like an ice cream cake??
Well fate was not on our side. They didn't have any cakes, so we settled for a dipped cone for me and a pumpkin blizzard for him. We went home and sat on pins and needles waiting for the call that he was out of surgery and in recovery. 2 Lifetime moves and a trip to pizza hut later...{what can I say...we're romantics}we finally got THE call.
Dr. Born said he did phenomenally and that she would call on Tuesday to let us know if he could come home or if he needed to stay until today.
After being in meetings all morning, I got the call. You can come get him and take him home...
I won't even get into getting there...{borrowed a friends Minivan, forgot my house key, wasn't prepared}I get there and Dr. Born goes over everything, guys it was so much information...
Then I sat in an exam room to wait for him. I could hear them out in the hall talking to him and telling him what a good boy he was and he was quiet as a mouse...until they opened the door and he saw me.
Then it was game.over. He cried at caterwalled so loudly {it's my fault for coddling him when he was a puppy} I ended up having to ignore him...even with his head shoved in my lap crying like a big 'ol baby.
Once we got to the lobby and they were finishing all our paperwork up, the nurses had him and were helping me get him in the car {can't really lift a 75lb dog while pregnant} he decided he really had to pee....and not just a little bit. It was like niagra falls and the nile all at once. And all I could do was just watch him pee all over their lobby as the girls laughed and said "welp, guess he really did have to go". Apparently it was raining that morning and he just refused to go out.
But the just of it is...he got home and is now lounging comfortably in our mudroom with 2 extra large dog beds, food, water and his toy pheasant...which he loves.
After doing the outside routine 4 times or so we aren't even using the sheet under his hips, only the leash and walk/hopping very slowly on the 5 rubber shower slip mats lining our kitchen from the mudroom to the back door.
I'll keep everyone up to date on his progress but needless to say I have been a little preoccupied with that and prepping for the craft festival in like...2 days! Ahk!
26 Week post coming soon...I PROMISE!!!
Then I sat in an exam room to wait for him. I could hear them out in the hall talking to him and telling him what a good boy he was and he was quiet as a mouse...until they opened the door and he saw me.
Then it was game.over. He cried at caterwalled so loudly {it's my fault for coddling him when he was a puppy} I ended up having to ignore him...even with his head shoved in my lap crying like a big 'ol baby.
Once we got to the lobby and they were finishing all our paperwork up, the nurses had him and were helping me get him in the car {can't really lift a 75lb dog while pregnant} he decided he really had to pee....and not just a little bit. It was like niagra falls and the nile all at once. And all I could do was just watch him pee all over their lobby as the girls laughed and said "welp, guess he really did have to go". Apparently it was raining that morning and he just refused to go out.
But the just of it is...he got home and is now lounging comfortably in our mudroom with 2 extra large dog beds, food, water and his toy pheasant...which he loves.
After doing the outside routine 4 times or so we aren't even using the sheet under his hips, only the leash and walk/hopping very slowly on the 5 rubber shower slip mats lining our kitchen from the mudroom to the back door.
I'll keep everyone up to date on his progress but needless to say I have been a little preoccupied with that and prepping for the craft festival in like...2 days! Ahk!
26 Week post coming soon...I PROMISE!!!
25 weeks...better late than never
How far along? 25 weeks
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| 25 weeks 2 days |
Total weight gain: +9 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Yep
Stretch marks? Same--using way more coco butter and assorted body butters.
Sleep: Sleeping really well with the windows open {hello fall} but definitely always have to have a pillow between my knees
Best moment this week: Experiencing more movement
Miss Anything? Having the energy to decorate my home for the season! I'm getting there...slowly but surely
Movement: Yes! Feeling it and watching it...the best
Food cravings: No real cravings
Anything making you queasy or sick: If I don't eat
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: None.
Symptoms: Colostrum and what I am guessing is Dyshidrotic Eczema on the tops of my feet.
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy :) Loving being pregnant
Looking forward to: Dayton Days, the craft fair I am doing with my wreaths on October 6th! And our next check up on Oct. 4
Next Appointment: October 4th, then we will schedule one for 2 weeks after to have another u/s and do the diabetes test...which I hear is disgusting...
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Slacking...but not really
Hi everyone!!! I swear I'm not slacking! I even took a 24 week picture last Wednesday {when I was 24 weeks exactly} but being an event planner means that sometimes you just don't have time to pee let alone blog.
Which brings me to complaint numero uno from 24 weeks. I work for a company that produces consumer shows {we have vendors and stages...the whole nine} I work on 2 shows a year {usually} and we work all year round to produce the best shows we can. Being at the show is my most favorite part of my job. Getting everyone moved into 140,000 square feet, solving problems...and sometimes getting your ass chewed out, you never really know what to expect. I love interacting with all the people and finally putting faces with people I have been talking to over the phone essentially for the entire year. Once everyone is moved in and everything is running smoothly I get to go around and talk to everyone...the downside? When your pregnant and on your feet for 13+ hours a day...apparently you swell. EVERYWHERE.
Part of the swelling is partially my fault. I love being pregnant but absolutely despise people telling me I can't do things because I am pregnant, so what did I do? I sprained my ankle on day 3 of moving exhibitors in....apparently I am not as agile when I am pregnant.
But that only accounted for one of the ankles to swell...the other things that swelled? Well apparently those were just a bonus :)
How far along? 24 weeks 6 days {as of today}Size: About the size of a cantaloupe Total weight gain: +9 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Yep
Stretch marks? Same--using way more coco butter and assorted body butters.
Sleep: Being at the show it was lots of long days and early mornings so I slept hard every night. Only waking up once to pee :)
Best moment this week: J and I have really enjoyed watching my belly twitch and move-J being able to feel it and see it is the most awesome thing we have experienced thus far in the pregnancy for sure! He is getting to experience a stronger connection that I have been feeling for a while!
Miss Anything? My agility? And my ankles NOT looking like my Great Aunt Frances'
Movement: Yes! Feeling it and watching it...the best
Food cravings: No real cravings
Anything making you queasy or sick: If I don't eat
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: None.
Symptoms: Woke up to a gem of a symptom this morning and it may be an over share BUT I slept without a shirt on last night...something about being in your own bed...with your own sheets...that you know are without a doubt clean. I woke up this morning and couldn't understand why my boob was wet? Oh...it's just cuz it was leaking....WTF???
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On most of the time...but I am starting to just wear my bands instead of the full set...
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy...
Looking forward to: The amazing fall weather and Dayton Days! The craft fair I am doing with my wreaths on October 6th!
Next Appointment: October 4th, then we will schedule one for 2 weeks after to have another u/s and do the diabetes test...which I hear is disgusting...
Thursday, September 13, 2012
23 Weeks & a Light Bulb
Hello blogger friends! The lightbulb has finally come on...I think. I have the perfect plan for the nursery {besides what I already had planned of course}. I will be re-arranging the furniture in our other rooms to free up some super cute accessories....I'll have to do a post soon to give you an update on what has been done!
Another light bulb, I decided after following a ton of new blogs and finding that everyone has much cuter blogs than I do...I reached out to an old friend who I cheered with when we both went to Florida Southern College. You might remember her fabulousness from this gem of a post...or you can visit her at her place, The Artsee Fartsee. Not only is she crafty and a newlywed BUT y'all...her graphic skills...AMAZING! If you're friends with me on facebook, or not, she created this cover photo back when we first announced we were expecting!
Annnnnddd now 23 weeks..
How far along? 23 weeks
Size: Hudson is over 11 inches and weighs over 1 lb.
Total weight gain: +8 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Yep
Stretch marks? Same--using way more coco butter and assorted body butters.
Sleep: Trying to sleep as much as possible. Taking naps when I get home from work, then attempting to go to bed while bebe Hud practices acrobatics
Best moment this week: Hm...I'll have to keep you posted but Saturday was my shower which was AMAZING
Miss Anything? Having energy. It's fall so the hubbs has his yearly crud as I like to call it so is he doesn't lay completely still, I can't sleep.
Movement: Yes!
Every morning around 7:30 on my drive into work, around mid morning
(10:30 or so) then again around lunch time (around 1ish) then he's SUPER
active around 9pm when I'm exhausted and just want to sleep. The other day when I was watching TV I swear I saw him move under my shirt...Food cravings: Still wanting fruit and veggies more than other things...but no real cravings.Aversions definitely to sweets.
Anything making you queasy or sick: If I don't eat
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: None.
Symptoms: Some round ligament pain and my stomach has started itching if I don't douse it in lotion. And the girls are getting bigger....
Belly Button in or out? In although both of my piercing holes are now on the outside of my belly button which is super strange...J thinks my belly button will pop in the next few weeks...
Wedding rings on or off? On but I am taking them off to sleep because I get hot at night and my fingers swell like sausages
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy...but definitely get grumpy if I don't eat...being over tired is making me grumpy some...
Looking forward to: My show being over!! I can't wait to get a stress free night's sleep.
Next Appointment: October 4th, then we will schedule one for 2 weeks after to have another u/s and do the diabetes test...which I hear is disgusting...
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Everything's a changin...
Since I started DIY Davis Style I haven't made ANY changes to my look.....those changes have already started happening as of yesterday. SO bear with me as I figure out exactly the look I want and how to change it :)
Blogging is easy. Making your blog reflect you....not so easy!
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| This is me...except much paler, with much less hair...and not wearing any pants... |
23 Week update coming soon!
HD
Monday, September 10, 2012
It's driving me insane...already
Okay so if you saw my last post you know that I was really looking forward to my baby shower this past Saturday. "But you're only 22 weeks" you say...I realize it was super early for a shower...BUT when your family is spread out over multiple states and all have different schedules you just have to make it work! My awesome sister B {that is actually what we call her} is kicking butt and taking names while interning at Riley Children's Hospital in Indiana {she is back in school becoming a music therapist} so needless to say her weekends were slim pickins and the pickins got even slimmer when you consider that I'm in event planning and can't do certain weekends. So with only a few things...you can see why we did it super early.
It was SO much fun and her and my mom did such an amazing job creating yet another beautiful shower for me! {They did my bridal shower last July}. It is so hard to pick a favorite thing about the shower...but one of my favorite things had to be that my mom made like 6 different diaper cakes.
Each cake sat on a different table as a centerpiece and was themed a different way! A bath time cake, a nursing cake, a bed time cake, a safety cake...they were SO cool! Each cake had different items for whatever it was. My favorite part? Each cake had a bottle of champagne inside so we can crack open a bottle of bubbly for each year OR each month...for the first few months at least-toasting that...yay we haven't died from exhaustion or killed each other yet!!! All in all it was a beautiful shower. It was about 1/2 the size of my bridal shower which was so great because I actually got to talk to everyone...and by talk to, I mean got to say more than Hi thanks for coming.
The whole it's driving me insane already? We got SO much stuff at the shower...
J and I decided when registering that we would not register for any clothes, only items we absolutely needed because knowing our friends and family...the clothes would come. And man it's a good thing we didn't! I think every single person got us at least one outfit...in addition to the registry items.
That isn't so much driving me insane because everyone was so generous and so excited for J and I...the insanity comes with the fact that I have done NOTHING to the nursery closet yet....all that is inside of it is the shelf/rack that came standard with our home when we built it. It is impractical and ugly and I have been dreaming on pintrest about all of these really cool storage solutions. All the gifts and clothes have only been sitting in the room for a few weeks and it is already driving me nuts that nothing has a place yet...
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| Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.com |
I dream of a cloest that looks like this. Everything has a place and all the hangers match and the baskets hide anything that doesn't match everything else....this is my goal
I know, I know...I have PLENTY of time. But what if I don't? What if something happens and I get so insanely busy with the rest of life that I can't do it the way that I want?....The way I think is right.
I guess I am over reacting but if you have been around on DIY Davis Style for long you know that I am a little AR and definitely OCD about organization, Hudson is just our first and I am putting a lot of pressure on myself to do it right.
But in reality.... I haven't done it because it overwhelms the shit out of me and makes me want to throw up just looking at all the stuff accumulating in our nice clean home....AHK
Yep...back to denial....it's a lonely river but I'll make my way up it eventually....
Now, since those clothes and things don't exist....we will just go about our normally scheduled day...
Hope you're having a good one!!
HD
Friday, September 7, 2012
22 Weeks & a gold nugget...
This week so far has been completely insane because as many of you know {unless you're living under a rock} J and I live in Charlotte....the DNC is happening in Charlotte. Most business located in and around Uptown {what we call our "downtown"} have closed or have their employees working from home. With a show just 2 weeks away, that is not an option for us. SO mornings have been a lot earlier and nights have been packed with doing as much as I can so I can sleep as long as I can.
I do need to give serious props to our Police Departments {who have been coming in to use our restrooms all week} they are doing an awesome job and I really think that they were over prepared in all their efforts...better to be over prepared right? The popo have all been staging in our cul-de-sac which is creating an exciting distraction, especially when they strap on their riot gear and speed off down the street....it's all very exciting for our not so small town :)
Now....here's 22 weeks! (5 months, 2nd trimester!)
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| My boobs are getting WAY bigger....I didn't think that was possible.... |
Size: Hudson is about 11 inches and a little over 1lb (the U/S tech told us so!), the length of a spaghetti squash.
Total weight gain: +8 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Still loving them...excited it is officially fall because I have some cute tunic sweaters! {if it would ever cool off!}
Stretch marks? Same--using way more coco butter and assorted body butters.
Sleep: Trying to sleep as much as possible. Taking naps when I get home from work, then attempting to go to bed while bebe Hud practices acrobatics in my lower belly
Best moment this week: Finding out there is no more Previa! And I will have to say that we got our first official baby present, our AWESOME family friend L got us our stroller. It came in yesterday and was waiting on our porch when I got home from work. With the Previa I'm not allowed to lift anything over 15/20 lbs it sat on our porch taunting me until he got home an HOUR AND A HALF later...it was torture. Then he got home and I didn't even let him change before he got in...we set it up and it is currently a fixture in our living room. We took turns pushing it around the house and admiring all the really cool things about it! Needless to day I'm obsessed
Miss Anything? Exercise...I'm stuck walking or swimming and now that our pool has closed for the season that is no longer an option...and it's just too muggy out to walk when I get home from work...
Movement: Yes! Every morning around 7:30 on my drive into work, around mid morning (10:30 or so) then again around lunch time (around 1ish) then he's SUPER active around 9pm when I'm exhausted and just want to sleep. And during the U/S yesterday she had to wake him up and as soon as he started kicking me J and I could see it on the screen which was really neat!Food cravings: Still wanting fruit and veggies more than other things...but no real cravings.Aversions definitely to sweets.
Anything making you queasy or sick: If I don't eat
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: None.
Symptoms: Some round ligament pain and my stomach has started itching if I don't douse it in lotion. And the girls are getting bigger....
Belly Button in or out? In although both of my piercing holes are now on the outside of my belly button which is super strange...J thinks my belly button will pop in the next few weeks...
Wedding rings on or off? On but I am taking them off to sleep because I get hot at night and my fingers swell like sausages
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy...but definitely get grumpy if I don't eat. J mentioned the other night he thought when I got preggo I would turn into this huge beyotch who bossed him around and made outlandish demands. I'm not sure why he thought that but you will be glad to know he has retracted those feelings and has since said what a nice pregnant lady I am :)
Looking forward to: My mom and sister are throwing a shower for me on Saturday! My sister's weekends are limited because she is interning at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis {and kicking butt!} plus with the previa they didn't want to take a chance that I might have to deliver early or be stuck on bed rest like my mom was when she was pregnant with me.
Next Appointment: October 4th, then we will schedule one for 2 weeks after to have another u/s and do the diabetes test...which I hear is disgusting...
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