Health Watch

This week I had had four back to back medical appointments at UCLA. Although it made for a long day, we were glad to avoid driving up too frequently.   Here's a summary of the appointments.

Pacemaker- The original concerns about my heart noted in a previous post titled "Pregnacy Update" are not worrysome. I'm having less palpitations than most pregnant congenital heart patients. The palpitations I'm having don't last long as was previously suspected. What's happening is the pacemaker is overly sensitive, and is sensing ventricular beats not just atrial, so it's interfering and making it seem like I'm having lots of arrhythmias that last long and that my heart rate is very fast, when that's not the case at all. Unless something changes, I won't need to go back to this specialist and can continue my routine pacemaker checks locally.

Cardiology- As noted above, all is well, no concerns. Will return in my third trimester. 

Echo - Results looked fine, normal pumping chamber function and otherwise unchanged from the last, so all is good! This means my heart is not only handling the pregnancy (and the volume changes associated w/ pregnancy), but I'm tolerating still being off the heart medicine I had to discontinue for family planning! Might have another echo in third trimester.

Fetal Echo- This was done by a pediatric cardiologist. He said Spud was very photogenic, as it was the quickest fetal echo he's done in a long while. The heart is now fully developed. The ventricles are fully developed and the pulmonary artery looks great. He said Spud's heart is perfect and no reason for me to return, unless something changes of course. He said at 25 weeks the heart is about the size of a quarter, so presently Spud's is a bit smaller. I think I'll look at a quarter differently from now on.

It was great to have Jay and my mom there for support and for them to hear all the great reports from each team. This is truly a miracle!

As of today, I'm 21 weeks!

Girls Night Out

In mid July during the fretful weekend of "Carmageddon" (405 freeway closure), mother daughter teams enjoyed a wonderful girls night out at the Hollywood Bowl.  We didn't have to worry about traffic, as the freeways were dead, and we took the hassle free Park & Ride shuttle bus.

Under the stars and bright full moon, we enjoyed listening to Sarah McLachlan and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. It was a spectacular concert, better then anticipated, and the acoustics were amazing! Sarah seemed just as excited to be playing at this venue as we were to see her. The music arrangements were tailored just right, and I was amazed at the chemistry between Sara, her band, and the orchestra. In watching them all play together, no one was looking at the other for cues, they were all completely in unison. Usually, when you have multiple units playing together, the conductor is watching the singer, etc., but not at this concert. I've always enjoyed Sarah's music and have wanted to see her in concert. This was well worth it and what fun to do it together for a summer adventure.

Click on images to enlarge.

 Hollywood Sign

 

Video

We're having an ... IT!

This past week Jay and I traveled to LA for another OB appointment. This appointment was especially memorable as I had my anatomy ultrasound. Usually you find out the sex at this ultrasound, but since I don't want to know, you're going to have to patiently wait.

Spud weighs 9oz. It's also measuring a week ahead, so it's growing big. However, this news doesn't change the due date. It's no wonder that this week I finally had to get maternity clothes! We got to see more details of Spud's body like it's profile, ears, hands, legs, arms, nose, eyes, mouth, spine, ribs, and heart. Spud got a good check up from the ultrasound tech and OB. We were sent home with these pictures and a video that we shared with the immediate family. In the second ultrasound picture, you can see Spud's profile of it's face on the right.

Now I'm at 19 weeks!

The following night, we enjoyed celebrating Jay's birthday and sharing the pictures and video of Spud. 

 Preparing the drinks for a birthday toast.

Cheers!

 Opening presents:

 Spud has good taste

 New Drum Sticks

Drum tuner

Intently watching the video of Spud

Jam session on the uke while enjoying dessert. 

Dad insisted on singing.

The following evening, we enjoyed dinner with Jay's family and sharing Spud.

Happy Birthday Jay!

Pa-pou

It is with great sadness to announce that my Pa-pou (grandpa in Greek) has passed. After losing his wife in 2008 and a fall which resulted in a broken hip, Pa-pou had slowly gone down hill. At the end he was living in a nursing home, not eating and losing weight. 

On Friday June 24th the family was notified that it would be within a matter of time as he continued to decline. I believe most of us thought he'd pass that day or by the end of the weekend. I took that day off to help with funeral preparations; completing a family scrapbook, and framing some pictures. It wasn't until 5am the following Tuesday (June 28th) that we learned he had passed. Ironically, his passing occurred almost the same date and time as Yi-yia's years before.

Due to the July 4th holiday, the viewing and funeral was arranged for the following week. My parents, and Bryan and Christina flew out early to help with the preparations, spend time with the family, and enjoy the holiday festivities. 

I found it especially difficult this time, not to be able to go to Colorado. I'm thankful for Jay,  my grandparents, Jay's family, and my friends for helping to distract me, care for me, and support us during a difficult time. The shopping trip, dinner, flowers, cards, phone calls, and emails were much appreciated.

Thanks to technology, we were able to feel more a part of the funeral. My cousin Stephanie frequently text pictures and play-by-play details of what was going on. The priest also arranged for the funeral service to be live audio broadcasted. Jay listened from work, while I listened at home. 

Here's some of the family at the viewing the evening before the funeral. In the Greek culture, the viewing is more for the family and a bigger deal then the funeral itself. They had over 100 in attendance.

It's customary to serve shots of Metaxa

Funeral Pictures:

Flower arrangement from all the grandkids

The table set with the pictures and scrapbook 

I helped put together

along with the flower arrangement from 

us and  Jay's parents

The Greek Mafia aka the pallbearers

The priests reading from the Greek funeral book

Cousin Alexis helping with the readings and chants

 

 

 

 Heading to the burial grounds

  

The reception:

Cousin Michele and her daughters Jamie and Jea

My cousin Stephanie's sons: Josh and Johnny 

Family member Jimmy reading memories of Pa-pou written by Pa-pou's cousin

The funeral was very well done. We both especially enjoyed the Priest sharing his own memories of Pa-pou. Late that evening, everyone gathered at my aunt and uncle's house and we got to Skype with all the extended family. It was so much fun to video chat with family from afar (Albuquerque, Alabama, and even Virginia). We got to catch up with all the cousins and laugh a bunch. It was good for the soul. While we Skyped, my dad shared Spud's announcement video with the rest of the family. 

Obituary:

 Pa-pou on a cruise to Greece

Memories of Pa-pou: 

I remember watching Pa-pou eat grapefruit and oatmeal for breakfast. Perhaps this daily breakfast regime contributed to his ripe old age of nearly 99. I have fond memories of us feeding peanuts to the squirrels. Every time I see a squirrel, I think of our special time outdoors together. When I see Mr. Squirrel outside our window, I can't help but smile.

 

I also remember performing at Yia-Yia and Pa-Pou’s anniversary party before we moved to California. As well as cheering on the Broncos during the games we watched on TV and our family being soo loud. I also can't forget swimming together with my brother at our friends pool, or getting a kick out of watching Pa-pou smile and slip dollar bills to the belly dancers at parties or Greek restaurants.

Once we moved to California, Pa-pou kindly send us wonderful care packages of Greek food and bread.  We especially looked forward to the Greek Sweet Bread each New Year and Greek Easter and hoping to get the piece with the lucky quarter. Pa-pou sent the bread to all family, making well over 12 loaves. He did this until he didn't have the strength to do it anymore. Due to Pa-pou's experienced bread making skills, his were always much fancier then mine.

Amateur attempt

I also remember making Greek food together for my High School Graduation party. But I have to say the best and most memorable thing was our wedding. It meant the world to me, for them to make the trek out to meet Jay and participate in the festivities. We both can't forget Pa-pou at 90 years old Greek dancing at our wedding. I can't help but smile, when I picture him out on the dance floor in the conga line.

 

Here's the last day we spend withYia-yai and Pa-pou. It was the day after our wedding at my parents.

Pa-pou's passing has been especially hard on the family. It's the loss of an entire generation and set of grandparents. Together they have left a lasting legacy. However, with the anticipation of Spud's arrival, we can't help but to reflect on the circle of life. As one generation of Pa-pou passes another is born.

Pregnacy Update

Mid June I had an OB appointment. Spud and I are doing well. Mom drove up with me to UCLA. She got to meet my doctor, ask a few questions, and hear Spud's heart beat. Our next OB appointment is scheduled for mid July with an ultrasound, just in time for Jay's birthday!

I had a thyroid follow up that went well too. I'm still a bit low, but not as low as last time. I've already started alternating on a higher dose and don't have to go back for 6 weeks; the longest stretch between appointments.

I also had a pacemaker phone check. They found some suspicious intermittent fast heart beats. This could be related to the pregnancy, but regardless, they don't seem overly concerned, just want to continue to monitor. I will be going in soon to have some of my pacemaker settings adjusted. One will be to increase my resting heart rate. This is because I'm well into my second trimester, which means that my heart rate and blood pressure will likely increase and they need to account for that. This setting will be changed back after delivery. This change was to be expected. They also want to re-adjust some settings that track irregular heart beats. Presently, my settings don't track entire episodes, only snip-its, so they want to set it to track entire episodes. This will allow for better monitoring and proper diagnosis. At the end of July I have a cardiology appointment, echo, fetal echo, and tentatively a pacemaker follow up. These were already scheduled way before they found the suspicious beats, so we're thankful those are coming up soon.

Many of you have asked the origin of the name Spud. Jay came up with that one. Based on our first ultrasound picture and how small the baby was, Jay started to think of little nick names. He didn't seem to like mine (little JET-our initials, little bird), so he started to think of his own. Squirt came to mind, and eventually landed and settled on Spud. I don't believe he initially thought of the baby as a potato. Anyhow, my cousin JoAnn came up with her own reasoning for the name, hence the acronym below.

Special

Person

Under

Development

Father's Day

This year we celebrated Father's Day 

at my parents house with Jay's family. 

We had delicious bbq pork sandwiches and coleslaw,

then opened presents.

Here's Dad Ron opening his tickets to a local Bull Riding event.

Dad Steve opening his ipad case

 It was especially fun, as now Jay got to join in the holiday. 

He sure made out with a lot of presents!

Handmade booties for Spud from Aunt Julie & Uncle Matt

New toy from Jay's parents for all dads!

Shirt for Spud from me; couldn't resist

 And then came the manly diaper bag from my parents. 

A tool bag full of must haves like:

Ear plugs

Goggles for eye protection

Pacifiers

Then the boys played with their helicopters while the girls found shelter in the kitchen chatting. 

Here's Bryan playing games with Nolan; practicing for being an Uncle.

Happy Father's Day!