I have not had a single zit for 18 months! My miracle acne drug was really a miracle. Well, it been 8 days since I stopped taking my miracle drug and guess what started popping up last night. Yep, my first zit!
I guess we can assume that most the medicine is out of my body. My dermatologist told me to stop taking the medication after my appointment so that we would be sure it was all out of my system when we starting trying to get pregnant. He rattled of the medications half-life and some other things about how long it takes to get out of your system but what it came down to is that we needed to be 100% sure and not mess around with it. That's when he said to stop taking it then.
So here I am...back to my 16 year old face that I should have left behind 11 years ago!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Ready to expand our family from 2 to 3?
I am a mom. I am not yet a mom to my own children, but I am a mom to the kids I service at school and nanny during the summer, Dom, my friends...everyone! I have always been very "maternal" and having children of my own is something I have always looked forward to.
When Dom and I were dating, I knew that I would have to put off having children until his school/residency calmed down. We created a tentative goal that we would start trying to have a baby during his internship year since this was going to be the most difficult year for us, as far as his hours and stress level go. Of course, his entire residency and fellowship will consist of long hours and high stress. In fact, this may not change once he is officially on his own. Being a physician is a hard job!
Once I started working in the schools, I realized it would be most ideal to have a baby in the spring. That way I could use my summer break as my maternity leave. In general, school districts don't give their employees many personal/sick days due to the number of breaks we already have scheduled into our school calendar. I understand the thinking behind this but it isn't convenient for a maternity leave.
So we altered our plan so that we would start trying to have a baby the summer after his internship year so that our baby would be born the spring of his 2nd year and I would have my summer with the baby. AND I have been saying a few prayers that life would go according to plan. I prayed we would be one of the lucky few that would get pregnant within a few months.
Our plan is something we talked about every once in awhile until a few months ago. Knowing it was getting closer, we talked about it more and more. It has consumed my thoughts the last few weeks. First, I had a few doctors appointments to anticipate. I happened to have my 6 month appointment with my dermatologist last week, and I have my annual OB/GYN appointment next week. I have been on a medication for the last 18 months that you are should not take during pregnancy. So during my appointment, I had to discuss with my dermatologist our plans. I stuttered out goal to start trying to have a baby in June. I was nervous to talk about it. My doctor is the first person I have told of our plan. I felt like I was reveling my deepest, darkest secret but it was almost surreal. I couldn't believe I was FINALLY saying those words. He said congratulations and told me about his 10 month old son. And of course, he told me that I had to stop taking my miracle drug (the only medication that has EVER cleared the acne from my face...and I have taken TONS of medications over the last 13 years). He said I needed to discuss the topicals with my OB as they are the experts in what you can and cannot do during pregnancy.
That night, Dom and I went out to dinner. I told him about my appointment and that the dermatologist told me to stop taking my medications. His response was priceless. He looked very confused, then very surprised, and then he said something to the effect of, "June is only 6 weeks away!" I think he got a little freaked out and I gave him tons of "outs" and asked if he wanted to change the plan but he said (and still says) he doesn't. I think is just hit him that June is so close! It seemed to hit me that day as well when I was talking with my dermatologist.
Last week was also our insurance enrollment at work. I reviewed the procedure of adding a child to my coverage and made sure my short-term disability was in place. I felt a little easier discussing it with these strangers than I did my dermatologist, but two of my fellow teachers were also in the computer lab enrolling for their plans. Both of them pulled me aside later in the day and asked if I was pregnant. I simply told them, "No, but I want to be." One of them is currently on maternity leave (just came back for a few minutes to complete her insurance enrollment) and was telling me her horror story of not having enough money! She is coming back to work after 4 weeks because she didn't have enough sick days to last until the end of the year.
Next Friday is my OB/GYN appointment. That will make everything very official, very real!
Then Dom shocked me yesterday morning by telling me that we needed to go car shopping. We've know that getting a new car went hand-in-hand with having a baby. I was driving a 2-door car that I had had for over 8 years. I needed to get a car that would fit a baby. But, I thought this was something that I would worry about AFTER I got pregnant. Well, we bought a car yesterday! We bought the first and only car we test drove, a 2008 Honda CR-V. It's fully-load and a really cool mossy-green color. I was so excited! It is an awesome car and I love it! Before we went shopping, I told Dom I really liked the CR-Vs and wanted to look at them but he wasn't sold. But as soon as we sat in the car, he loved it too. Going along with Dom's nature, he wouldn't let me get anything but the fully-loaded, top-of-the-line version so we went over a budget a bit but I think it is worth it! And I was so glad we agreed on it!!
The first thing we did after buying the car was drive to Dom's parents house to show them. Dom made the mistake by telling them that we needed a new car so we would have more room of a baby. His mom was practically hyperventilating. Dom and I were only dating a few months before she started asking for grandchildren. Seven years later, she's now begging for them. We gave her some hope. And now we are not going to hear the end of it!
When Dom and I were dating, I knew that I would have to put off having children until his school/residency calmed down. We created a tentative goal that we would start trying to have a baby during his internship year since this was going to be the most difficult year for us, as far as his hours and stress level go. Of course, his entire residency and fellowship will consist of long hours and high stress. In fact, this may not change once he is officially on his own. Being a physician is a hard job!
Once I started working in the schools, I realized it would be most ideal to have a baby in the spring. That way I could use my summer break as my maternity leave. In general, school districts don't give their employees many personal/sick days due to the number of breaks we already have scheduled into our school calendar. I understand the thinking behind this but it isn't convenient for a maternity leave.
So we altered our plan so that we would start trying to have a baby the summer after his internship year so that our baby would be born the spring of his 2nd year and I would have my summer with the baby. AND I have been saying a few prayers that life would go according to plan. I prayed we would be one of the lucky few that would get pregnant within a few months.
Our plan is something we talked about every once in awhile until a few months ago. Knowing it was getting closer, we talked about it more and more. It has consumed my thoughts the last few weeks. First, I had a few doctors appointments to anticipate. I happened to have my 6 month appointment with my dermatologist last week, and I have my annual OB/GYN appointment next week. I have been on a medication for the last 18 months that you are should not take during pregnancy. So during my appointment, I had to discuss with my dermatologist our plans. I stuttered out goal to start trying to have a baby in June. I was nervous to talk about it. My doctor is the first person I have told of our plan. I felt like I was reveling my deepest, darkest secret but it was almost surreal. I couldn't believe I was FINALLY saying those words. He said congratulations and told me about his 10 month old son. And of course, he told me that I had to stop taking my miracle drug (the only medication that has EVER cleared the acne from my face...and I have taken TONS of medications over the last 13 years). He said I needed to discuss the topicals with my OB as they are the experts in what you can and cannot do during pregnancy.
That night, Dom and I went out to dinner. I told him about my appointment and that the dermatologist told me to stop taking my medications. His response was priceless. He looked very confused, then very surprised, and then he said something to the effect of, "June is only 6 weeks away!" I think he got a little freaked out and I gave him tons of "outs" and asked if he wanted to change the plan but he said (and still says) he doesn't. I think is just hit him that June is so close! It seemed to hit me that day as well when I was talking with my dermatologist.
Last week was also our insurance enrollment at work. I reviewed the procedure of adding a child to my coverage and made sure my short-term disability was in place. I felt a little easier discussing it with these strangers than I did my dermatologist, but two of my fellow teachers were also in the computer lab enrolling for their plans. Both of them pulled me aside later in the day and asked if I was pregnant. I simply told them, "No, but I want to be." One of them is currently on maternity leave (just came back for a few minutes to complete her insurance enrollment) and was telling me her horror story of not having enough money! She is coming back to work after 4 weeks because she didn't have enough sick days to last until the end of the year.
Next Friday is my OB/GYN appointment. That will make everything very official, very real!
Then Dom shocked me yesterday morning by telling me that we needed to go car shopping. We've know that getting a new car went hand-in-hand with having a baby. I was driving a 2-door car that I had had for over 8 years. I needed to get a car that would fit a baby. But, I thought this was something that I would worry about AFTER I got pregnant. Well, we bought a car yesterday! We bought the first and only car we test drove, a 2008 Honda CR-V. It's fully-load and a really cool mossy-green color. I was so excited! It is an awesome car and I love it! Before we went shopping, I told Dom I really liked the CR-Vs and wanted to look at them but he wasn't sold. But as soon as we sat in the car, he loved it too. Going along with Dom's nature, he wouldn't let me get anything but the fully-loaded, top-of-the-line version so we went over a budget a bit but I think it is worth it! And I was so glad we agreed on it!!
The first thing we did after buying the car was drive to Dom's parents house to show them. Dom made the mistake by telling them that we needed a new car so we would have more room of a baby. His mom was practically hyperventilating. Dom and I were only dating a few months before she started asking for grandchildren. Seven years later, she's now begging for them. We gave her some hope. And now we are not going to hear the end of it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
