Camping

Last night was the ward campout. It was out at Usery Pass so only about a half hour away. Vincent loves camping, nothing gets that child more excited than talk of campfires and tents. It was pretty fun, we got to see Grandma sing Girls Just Want To Have Fun and eat our tin foil dinners. I think we were the only ones who were actually cooking food on the file, the vast majority were all eating their $5 footlongs from subway. It was a super cold night! I mean very very cold! After a while we got to thinking why in the world someone who was 31 wks pregnant and her husband with the bad back thought camping was a good idea?!? It was impossible to get comfortable and Vincent woke up about 1 a.m. flipping out! I'm not sure he was ever entirely awake, he was impossible to console and eventually got thrown into the blazer where Grandma was sleeping. Later during the night I got a cramp in my calf. I've gotten these a couple times this pregnancy and they are terrible. At home I just hop out of bed and stretch it out until it calms down but in the tent it was a little more difficult. I was under heaps of blankets and its not the easiest to move around on a blow up mattress when you are pregnant either! But I managed it. Jeremy thought I was in labor the way I was freaking out. So once I finally got the leg to stop cramping and I mean just the second it stopped, the other calf started!!!! What in the world is that about? It was horrible! I finally had to stand up and see what I could do. Just not a fun time, my legs are still sore from it today! So anyways that was our fun filled night : ) I think I'll put off my next camping trip for a few months at least!!!!

Birthday

Sunday was my 24th birthday! I feel like I'm getting old, everything thinks I'm ridiculous. It was a fun weekend. On Saturday we went and got a 4d ultrasound, for more about that check our baby blog www.contreraspregnancyjournal.blogspot.com It was amazing to say the least!

We went to dinner at Carrabas with the family and it was so good. I got this new thing chicken brian and it did not disappoint! Then, Vincent, Jeremy, and I made the trek out to Glendale Arena and had a fun time at the hockey game. Vincent loves dancing to the songs and also likes seeing the 'bachines with the men' aka the zamboni.

On Sunday we opened presents. My Grandma Ellsworth got me these super cute pajamas that will be great for the rest of the pregnancy and even those lovely post baby days. She also gave us some really cute outfits for the baby. Also, Vincent got a noisy toy from his Great Grandma. He discovered that one a little earlier in the week. It isn't everyday you get a box that makes noise! Jean sure blessed Vincent with some gifts as well! He is one lucky boy, and I'm one lucky girl! My mom took me shopping on Saturday and now I have some clothes I can actually wear! My dad bought me an ipod nano, which I was really excited about as I've never had an ipod ever. Sunday night, Jeremy & I along with my sisters and brother all went to see this band Cursive that Jeremy loves and has spread that love on throughout the family.

It really was a great night. Just for kicks, here is a picture of the baby and my belly : )

Epidural Day

Today, I went with Jeremy to get his first epidural steroid injection for his back. The doctor, Anthony Pellegrino, was wonderful! He explained it so well to me. Jeremy was so anxious and his heart rate was way up but after talking with the doctor was very calm for the procedure. He had a model of the back and really made it so clear. So basically in between the vertebrae are discs, and he compared them to a stale jelly donut, which is hard on the outside and soft jelly like on the inside to cushion everything. Basically your whole upper body and stress you put yourself through is put onto the bottom two vertabrae, L5 & S1 and if you lean over or do something else all of the pressure if put onto the front depending on which way you are looking at it of the vertabrae and if it is severe enough it will essentially squeeze the jelly out (slipped/herniated/protruding/bulging disc) and that will irritate the nerve endings. And if the nerve endings are damaged enough then it'll cause numbness into the leg, which Jeremy has. So basically, the idea of the steroid injection is to shrink the disc and bring down the swelling. But he also said after the injection people need to learn how to live with the condition because it isn't a fix. So to never ever bend over and to always squat if you need to pick something up and never to twist. He has had back problems himself and says he always rolls sideways out of bed, wears shoes without laces, and has a shelf in his shower so he doesn't have to bend to pick up shampoo or soap. So there are things we will just have to adjust to.

They used x-ray technology to see the spine and make sure they are putting the injection into the right place. I couldn't be in the room because of the radiation. Jeremy said it went really well and so did the doctor. The dr. also says we should name the baby Anthony, Which would give us a couple of mobster babies with Vincent and Anthony (Vinny and Tony). Right after his legs were just real heavy and everything but he should be doing better soon hopefully. They usually have to do more than one injection, especially if it as severe as a case as Jeremy's is. So in two weeks we'll need to get another one. You can have 3 every 6 months and it may be that we just repeat this every six months.

It is just amazing! We have wasted so much time with different doctors then last Monday we meet with Dr. Levine and he automatically gets us in with the pain doctor and today we got the first epidural, meanwhile according to the other doctor we were seeing....insurance still hadn't approved pain management...obviously they had!

It's March Already!

Can you even believe it? My birthday is in less than two weeks and don't think I'm ridiculous but I don't like my birthdays anymore, I feel kinda old. Last year was the first year I felt like that and now looking at 24 freaks me out!!!

We are finishing everything up with the move (the longest in history in case anyone has kept track)

School is busy (I think I write that everytime but it's the truth). I can't believe it's already Spring Break time, next week for me.

Jeremy met with a really good doctor that my dad also goes to. He referred us to a pain management doctor who does epidural steroid injections for those with lower back pain. I've researched it a lot and apparently it usually offers some short term relief which any sort of relief would be welcome at this point. This new doctor really explained what exactly is wrong with Jeremy's back and it isn't that pretty of a picture but at least there is an answer to it now! So he is getting his first epidural injection on Friday.