I love taking pictures but do not feel as though I am all that great at it. As I have written recently, I’m not so good at not being great at things. My lack of skills has as much to do with my lack of knowledge about my camera as anything else. I came across a project/challenge yesterday on NikkiShell’s website.
I am going to try this challenge. Unfortunately most of the pictures will have to be taken with my camera phone as our real camera is a bit too bulky to carry with me everyday. My hope is that somewhere along the way I will either gain the skills or the confidence and our baby will have a well documented future. (For the record, Rob is a great photographer. Most of the pictures you see here are his.)
I have created a Flickr Album for this venture and will, hopefully, be posting photos here on this site too.
The first was taken on 17 October 2006
Rob is a sucker for the machines that line the exits at grocery stores. A quarter, fifty cents, what ever it takes to get the prize. His most recent acquisition was matching sweat bands, one for each of us. When putting them on we realized we had never ever worn wrist sweatbands before. It was definitely a wonder twins activate kind of feeling.
The second was taken 18 October 2006
I had to stay home from work today, this picture was taken this afternoon. The sweater is one that I am knitting for the baby that we are expecting in approximately 18 weeks. The wrist bands are from the two trips to the hospital that I have taken since becoming pregnant. Two of three times that I have EVER been in a hospital since birth.
The first visit, the yellow wrist band, was a Sunday emergency room trip for severe cramping at 8 weeks. The worry was ectopic pregnancy, an ultrasound confirmed it was not and we were happily sent on our way having actually seen the blob growing.
Yesterday’s trip, the white arm band, was much scarier. I fainted at work. Thankfully I was standing next to someone and therefore, did not fall. I have never fainted. It was scary in and of itself but when you add the fact that you’re carrying a human inside of you that could be hurting. Well, there are no words. I hadn’t felt the baby move in about 23 hours. My blood pressure remained low and the RNs at work (I work in a hospital) decided that I should be send to the OB Triage and/or Emergency Room of the hospital next door (my work hospital is a specialized outpatient hospital) via ambulance. I laughed. An ambulance to go across the street. Dude, I could walk there faster. I could take a wheel chair over there faster. My coworkers and OBs office supported the RN’s recommendation. If I fainted again I would be with people who could take care of me and, more importantly, the baby. So, I was loaded up onto a stretcher, pushed past people in our lobby who are sicker than I would wish on my worst enemy and loaded into the ambulance.
Baby’s first ambulance ride, Wendy’s first ambulance ride. What a bonding experience.
We drove, oh 3 feet, into the ambulance bay of the adjacent hospital and I was wheeled up to the OB Triage…a place where babies go to be born. A premier woman’s hosptial. My nurse, although at first gruff, was great. Rob arrived in a panic shortly after. I was stuck with an IV, given fluids and put on a fetal monitor. The heartbeat was there. Phew. It was dipping a bit but an ultrasound confirmed that she was okay.
Rob and I spent about four hours there yesterday. Mostly waiting, me resting, we were forgotten a few times (not unusual in a hospital of this size), and ultimately assured that everything looked okay. We heard babies cry, ate really good cookies, and dozed.
The ultrasound tech gave us some more pictures of the babe, seen in the picture above. She is the most photographed baby ever. Her features are more pronounced and we have determined that she has Rob’s lips and chin.
My OB was on call at the hospital so I got to see her. Judging from my bodies reaction to the fluids and the results of a blood test I was dehydrated and a bit anemic. That could have caused the episode. I have been instructed to attach a water bottle to my body, take iron supplements (in addition to the prenatal vitamin I am already taking), and eat regularly. I was told to stay home today and go in for a check up tomorrow. We already had our monthly visit scheduled for that exact time.
I haven’t done much today which is unusual for me. I spent the day seaming the sweater above and wishing I could know that my body won’t fail again. I had no warning. It just happened. The people around me, my coworkers, thought I tripped. I thought I was going to puke. Thank goodness it was just a normal everyday faint, I didn’t even totally black out. However, I was out of control and that is a sucky feeling. Truly. I suppose it’s the beginning of a long line of lessons that teach me to let go…
Entries (RSS)
I think this whole childbirth and childrearing stuff has that theme…zero control. I’m glad you are okay, that munchkin is okay, and that the solution was as simple as IV fluids. *phew*
Yikes, how scary. I’m glad things are oky. Let me know if you need anything.
I think the 365 project is cool. What a great way to document the Year of the Wee One. Glad to hear you’re ok!
That’s a scary story! But I’m so glad it all worked out okay. My sister, when she was about 7 months along with my (now 17-year old) niece, tripped and fell, hard, on her stomach, and suddenly, the baby wasn’t moving. They went to the doctor and had another ultrasound and everything turned out fine, but for a little while . . . scary. My sister’s always been a bit of a clutz (well, she has!), but suddenly, Patty tripping and falling had a whole slew of new, intimidating implications. That’s motherhood for you. (Says the woman with a dog, but no human children.)
Glad you’re resting!
Oh, Wendy. You must have been so scared! I’m glad all is well and hope that rest and fluids will take care of this and it never happens again. Hugs.
Thinking of you…. rest easy!
oh, how scary for you guys! I’m glad to hear you’re okay. Thinking of you guys: be good!
[and that sweater looks like it is going to be great!
]
Very scary - but I’m glad that you and the babe are OK! Love the daily photo thing. Such a great chance to glimpse at each other’s lives!
OMG, Wendy. SO SO glad that you and the babe and okay. I had my kids at that place — it’s wonderful. Many, many hugs to you — will miss you this weekend. Please relax and take good care.
First I’m glad that you and the baby are okay. Hang in there, sweetie.
The sweater is beautiful and aren’t those 3-d ultrasounds the bomb???
Despite the cute wrist bands, you are not a super twin power. I’m glad you and baby are healthy, and just hungry.
Should we all come to your work and stash your desk full of snacks?
glad to hear you are okay. i’m going to have to check out the 365 photo project. need to hone my photography skills, too.
the sweater looks fab!
oh girlie. i’m so sorry. i’m glad you’re ok. and i’m glad you’re only 3 feet from the nearest hospital
i’m planning on doing the 365 day project but probably wont’t start until november 1.
Dude. So scary. Seriously. I saw your IM later - were you home then? I was still at the office.
And OMG I would have totally come and kept you guys company. Or at least I would have brought you more cookies.
Sending eleventymillion virtual hugs to the three of you.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Ack, how very scary. Glad all is ok now. Keep drinkin’ that h2o - its amazing how much one really needs, esp. when preggo.
Yikes, glad that things turned out okay.
For some great photography tips check out Tips from the Top Floor
http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/
Even if you don’t listen to podcasts the forums are great. He also runs little assignments from time to time that really push your creativity with the camera.
Oh Wendy, I’m so glad you’re okay. It *IS* a really great thing that you work where you do - I mean, can you imagine if you were still out in Canton? Please, please, please let me know if you need anything - I know Rob’s around, but I’m just saying.
Take care girl! My friend who just had a baby had some serious fainting spells and everything ended up a-o-kay! The ambulance ride across the street was relatively humorous however. I’m so happy things turned out okay. Rest up, we are all thinking of you!
Take care of yourself and rest up!! Sending good pregnancy vibes your way!
I have a friend who’s expecting (any day now!) who fainted early on in her pregnancy. I know this doesn’t take the scariness away, but her doctor told her that fainting was more common than not if you’re pregnant and have low iron/blood pressure. So scary (I know - I once fainted at work), but I’m so glad someone was there for you.
Be good to yourself. If you need someone to supply chocolate (rich in iron, flavanoids, and good, good fat), it can be me.
How scary! It’s good to know you’re fine. Take care of yourself. Drink, relax, drink some more. Let yourself be pampered.
Wendy, I’m so glad you’re okay but so sorry you had such a scare! Feet up, lots of water and have a very RESTFUL weekend, you hear?
Oh, my - so many scares. I am so glad to hear all is well. I know about the worries - I have just under 2 weeks until d-day. However, today is not a day to fret. Take a picture! Knit! Nap! Enjoy the day.
Oh how scary! Definitely drink more water! I’m glad that you both are doing better today. HUGS!
Wheew, that was close! I’m so happy you’re okay!
Holy crap! I’m go glad to hear you are ok. I’d certainly be a bit freaked out about that too (having never fainted either). It must be nice to be surrounded by people that actually know what to do to help you though. I couldn’t imagine passing out a work, surrounded by a bunch of geeky men that know a ton about computers and network equipment but would probably freak out if I hit the floor.
Take care of yourself and the little tyke. I’m sure this gets easier as you go along.
Dude. A totally good thing that you work in a hospital! Instead of, say, with clueless and useless lawyers.
I remember that feeling about 10-12 weeks along that suddenly my body wasn’t really MINE any more, that it was no longer under my control. It was scary.
So glad all is well with you and baby bumpkin. Take care, lady!
W - I had an almost identical hospital visit with baby #1 when I was 35 weeks pregnant. One IV and almost 6 years later, we’re all fine.
Hang in there.
Oh, how scary. I’ve got goosebumps. Not the good kind. Time to strap pillows around you?
You know…in soap operas? When a woman starts fainting they are pregnant. I thought they made that up. Perhaps not!
xoxo
Glad to hear that all three of you are doing well now, my mom was in and out of the hospital with me, too. How fortunate you work right next to a good hospital! Sending you happy thoughts!
Oh, how scary!
I’m glad you’re okay! Hope the rest of your pregnancy is uneventful.
Good thing you’re so close to MD care! Work you fingers, let the rest, rest! The sweater looks really nice!
Wendy– I am so glad you are all okay! I can’t even imagine how scary the entire episode was.. I have never been in an ambulance either and would probably have the same reaction– I could walk faster!
Congrats on the girl as well! Everyone is having girls right now it seems. She is a beauty right from the start! Look at that little face!
Oh, Wendy, I had a little sumpin’-sumpin’ for you as I thought sure I’d see you in Rhinebeck, but Sandy told me about your scare. It is SO fortunate that you were so close to medical care. Make sure to take the iron supplement together with a good dose of vitamin C, as it takes vitamin C for absorption of iron to occur. I’m sure they already told you that, but sometimes they assume people know already.
Scary stuff, I’m glad everything is fine!
Gack! Glad you’re okay!
Just de-lurking to let you know that I’ll be thinking of you and the baby. Glad to hear everything is okay.
I spent my entire pregnancy with all of my girls lying down all over Toronto. Beds on sale in department stores, the floor of grocery shops, friends couches….I was a fainter.
It’s pretty scary the first time.
(After that it’s just embarrassing.)
Cheap phentermine.
Cheap phentermine.