Puking and Hospitals

The tiny room we called home for 2 days. Matt was quite popular... thanks guys for visiting! (Mark & Violet. Kendra, Nathan & Baby James. Amber & Sean.)

All smiles, as usual! Isn't he cute with the oxygen on and IV going? He didn't trust anything I said all night and would ask the nurse or doctor as soon as they came in. Silly boy! He was OBSESSED with eating and asked the nurse 10 or so times within the first 20 minutes after surgery when he could eat and have a Jamba Juice!

Sweet baby James Manwaring! Went to his blessing on Sunday. He helps me remember why I am crazy enough to endure all the puking. Thanks Kendra for sharing him with me... and thanks again for the delicious meal in the hospital!

Here is a quick update...

The Zofran stopped working for me. In fact, I am probably sicker than I have been before... I didn't keep anything down for 48 hours, and puke like clockwork, every hour. It very well may have something to do with serious sleep deprivation from last week's event and my barf-tolerance beginning to fade. I am finally in my 14th week and into the "safe zone", so as soon as the "all-day" sickness wants to leave, I am ready! Dr. Anderson kindly gave me a new prescription, Phenergan, which seems to be working. No barf in 18 hours makes me a happy woman! But, the darn medicine makes me so tired I literally fell asleep in between every single bite of oatmeal this morning. :)

Matt is one organ short now, thanks to the lovely event that took place last week! I think part of him was afraid to complain of how badly he felt when his wife had permanently staked claim next to the toilet for the last 2 months. But, when I walked into the living room and saw him literally rolling on the floor in pain, I figured we had no choice but to get him to the ER, quickly. So, off we went... me in my barf-encrusted PJs at 1:00pm and Matt, stark white, in some serious pain. They scooped him straight back into surgery after the CT came back with the obvious... Appendicitis. We spent the next 2 days in the hospital where I uncomfortably slept with my growning belly hanging off the side of his bed, Matt sprawled out and zonked from the narcotics. I can assure you it takes some serious love and devotion to "snuggle" up next to an unshowered, drugged up hubby when all you want to do is barf! I had to literally FORCE him to stay home from work the next day. Two days later, after a painful morning for him, I found him sneaking off to work... the guy won't sit still! Thank goodness for doctors... I had to specifically ask the doctor to ban Matt from our softball games for 2 weeks to avoid engaging in the battle and a Matt developing a hernia through his inscisions! Haha... he is doing great now and counting down the days until he can finally flex his stomach again!

Oh Baby!

Breaking news... Team Parks has drafted a brand new player. The contracts are in the works, but here are the stats.

Expected date of "contraction": March 10th

Gender: Unknown for another 8 or 9 weeks

Weeks in contract: 11 1/2

Weakness: Makes mom VERY morning sick

Strength: Doctor claims baby is an expert wiggler

Biggest fans: Ashlyn and Amber Tucker (Aub's sisters)

I thought I would update you all on the pregnancy... I had my first doctor's appointment on Monday with Dr. Anderson. I did some serious research before picking a doctor. Many of the doctors here in Provo have a bad reputation for treating women like products in a birth factory. Matt and I are both VERY impressed with the doctor. He is very well recognized both for his clincal skills and his bedside manner.

Dr. Anderson did an ultrasound in the office and determined the baby is very healthy and very wiggly! The baby is moving like crazy... legs kicking, arms flailing (although I can't say I feel it yet). Matt has already determined the baby has my "can't-sit-still" personality. The baby is measuring a week bigger than what the conception chart says. While I am 11 weeks, the baby is measuring 12. My due date is still set for March 10th, although it might get changed after my 20-week ultrasound. Seeing that cute little baby and hearing the heartbeat was one of the coolest experiences I think I have ever had. For the first time it really hit me that it really is a baby growing inside me, not a parasite. I instantly felt the "mother-bear," "baby-protector," "I'm-a-mommy" feelings surge through me. Matt was so excited to see the baby on the screen, he couldn't help but smile all day. What a neat experience!

The morning sickness -- it is getting better, but definitely not gone. I have been taking a high dose anti-nausea pill originally created for cancer patients... aka, Zofran. The drug is outrageously expensive and very few insurance companies will cover it, but Dr. Anderson, knowing I work in the ICU, got me the goods for a very affordable price. I can assure you I will never get pregnant without full access to Zofran again! I am now able to put on pants and mascara for the first time in a month... and Matt only has to wake up once during the night to feed me, instead of every hour. I will take the major headaches (side effect) over the extreme barfing events.

I am hoping to return to work in the ICU within the next 2 weeks (I have been way too sick to work there for the last month). All in all baby and I are healthy and growing. I have already gained 7 pounds... which is very good news! My belly keeps expanding, and my bladder continues to "shrink". People keep telling me the extreme exhaustion will depart for phase 2, but that's hard to believe. I should only have 2 more weeks of barfing and only 8 or 9 weeks until we know if its a boy or a girl. We will keep you posted!

10 Things That Came to Pass...

So, here is the cliff notes version of what has happened over the last month.

10. Aubreigh graduated with honors from BYU. Finally!

9. Matt finished his semester successfully and started his GMAT class.

8. Aubreigh cut 8 inches of her hair off, courtesy of Amber. Thanks, sis!

7. Went to Las Vegas for a short weekend trip with the Williams. Went to a timeshare presentation only to say "NO" and receive show tickets to Circus du Solei - Mystere.

6. Decided never to return to Vegas.

5. Aubreigh got a job at Mountain View Hospital in the ICU where she will work two days a week.

4. Aubreigh helped open up the Tutoring Connection's sister company - Fabulous Living. See the new website at www.FabulousLiving.net!

3. Matt got a job title upgrade and pay raise. Great job, honey!

2. Went camping at Burraston Ponds. Michelle and I giggled like little high school girls. Hey, why not!

1. FISHING! Whooooo hooo!

(pictures to come!)

New Website!

Visit the new Tutoring Connection website, it is awesome!

www.TutoringConnection.net

Sweet Air Dudes!

Welcome to the blog!

Hello! For those of you who have known me for a long time, you know that this is WAY out of my comfort zone. Sure, I love keeping in touch, but the whole internet/online thing is a bit too cool for me. However, after 2 years of peer pressure, I caved in and so here we are...take two...The Parks' Team Blog!

Just as a quick update:

• Matt is working as an Accountant/Bookkeeper for Harman Property and Realty in Provo and going to school full time.
• I am working for free (as I finish my Capstone "residency" in BYU's Nursing School) in the Payson Mountainview Hospital -- Intensive Care Unit.
• No kids yet, but we do have a sweet, little gay kitty.

Okay, he's not so little anymore...

• Matt is currently serving as the 1st Counselor in the Sunday School Presidency.
• I am currently serving as the Compassionate Service Leader.
• We are right in the middle of a wonderful ski/snowboard season (check out the slideshow of Matt and Austin (my little brother) catching some sweet air, above).