Good News!

Most of you don't know but Beni and I have been a little nervous the past couple weeks. We decided not to mention anything until the information was more concrete. At this point, we have only told our families about some of the stress we have been under since our last visit.

During our last visit to the specialist, we had an anatomy ultrasound performed. They check Baby Carmela's hands, feet, head, kidneys, eyes, bowels, ect. What they noticed was something that raised a bit of concern. According to Dr. Patel, there are "hard markers" and "soft markers" that are indications that there may be a birth defect or mental handicap. All of Baby Carmela's "hard markers" came back normal, but 1 of her soft markers didn't. Dr. Patel informed us that Baby Carmela had Hyperechoic Bowel on ultrasound. He told us that because I tested negative for being a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis that this could possibly be an indication of Down Syndrome. 

He offered us an amniocentesis, which I declined due to risk of loss of pregnancy. We elected to have to blood test done that can predict the likelihood of Down Syndrome. Although, finding out would not change our mind on continuing to care for Baby Carmela the same, we needed to know what we were up against.

Today, Dr. Patel's office called and told me that all the testing for abnormalities and mental handicaps came back normal, including the test for Down Syndrome. So although we are very relieved that so far everything with Baby Carmela "appears" to be normal, we are just continuously thankful for the opportunity for a little peanut to join our family. 

On a lighter note, the nursery is going to be the next big project. We are going to start to paint as soon as our visitors pass through.

19 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: 9lbs

Cravings: ICECREAMMMMMM!!!! Vinegar

I'm excited for: Our next ultrasound to see Baby Carmela

Baby Buys: Diaper Bag & Head Bands

Aches & Pains: BACK PAIN!! ( My boobs are ginormous) 

Drum Roll Please.......

After a long day of fighting traffic, sitting in waiting rooms, and talking baby shower colors we finally found out what we have certainly been waiting for since the very beginning. We got great pictures this time because it was the "anatomy" ultrasound. When I first found out I had to see the specialist once a month, I was like gosh that is a pain in the butt, but now I am LOVING it. Every time we go they do an ultra sound which gives us more opportunities to see our little munchie!

Here are some of the exciting pictures we got today:

 Profile Picture

Little Muchie's Feet

Giving a Thumbs Up!

And of course, what we all have been waiting for.

Drum roll please!

Today we had my dad and Laura and Beni's mom there to experience this wonderful time and milestone in our pregnancy journey. It was quite exciting! Before we went in we all took a guess and guessed girl. Yeah!

So, arriving August 8th will be Carmela Maria Ruiz!

We came to the name because we wanted to join our two families names. Carmela is my great grandmothers name from our Italian side and Maria is Beni's grandmother's name. 

I have another belly shot from when Beni and I went out on Valentines day. Which was quite hilarious because Beni had such a nice restaurant planned with reservations, but baby Carmela decided that night she wanted Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish Grill. LOL

The belly pictures are always great but not when your the one gaining all the weight. I am still restricted to no exercise for another month because of the Placenta Priva.

Placenta Priva: When the Placenta is located directly over and/or close to the cervix.  

Other then that all is well and we are looking forward to our much needed vacation with Derek, Megan, Abby, and Bucci to Key West in March!

 

(Note Ravioli in the Background! Photo Bombed by our Dog)

This is when I got my car and it was still a secret!

17 Weeks 

Have you started wearing maternity clothes yet? Yes... bought my first pair of maternity pants the other day and my wonderful friend Ryan gave me a whole box fully of clothes today!

Total weight gain: 5 pounds

Food cravings: Vinegar, Ice cream, and Breaded Chicken with Hollandase Sauce

Miss anything? Running! I wish I was allowed to run and I wish I could physically do it.

Best moment this week: Find out it's a baby Carmela!

My First Quinceanera

This weekend I had the privilege to attend my first quinceanera. It was quite a fabulous event that was more extravagant then I believe my wedding will ever be. For those of you that are not familiar, I have enclosed a definition for your review:

Quinceañera (lit. meaning One (f.) who is fifteen), sometimes called fiesta de quince años, fiesta de quinceañera, quince años or simply quince, is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in parts of Latin America and elsewhere in communities of people from Latin America. This birthday is celebrated differently from any other birthday, as it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood. The celebration, however, varies significantly across countries, with celebrations in some countries taking on, for example, more religious overtones than in others.

I have enclosed a picture of Beni's cousin, Romi and I dressed to the nine! (Also, please take note of the growing baby bump!)

 

There have been so many things that I have noticed in my body changing and here are a few updates:

15 Weeks

Have you started to show yet? Yeeees.... Have you not seen this baby bump?

Total weight gain: 2 pounds --> Goal is no more then 20

Food cravings: Well last week it was pickles EVERYTHING! But not its just sweets.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken, the worst, most disgusting thing ever.

Miss anything? Sleeping on my stomach

Best moment this week: Finally starting baby shower planning 

 

Looking forward to: 2 more weeks until we know what Baby Ruiz is!

 

Baby buys: I bought a pregnancy journal and we started our registry if that counts. I may buy my diaper bag sometime soon!! Tell me what you think! OHHHH AND I have handpicked the fabrics that my fabulous friend Stacie is going to help me with the nursery to design. 

 Here are just a sneak peak of the fabrics for the nursery. There is some pink so this probably won't work for a boy. :( But I am pretty darn sure it is a girl!

 Well till next week!

-Tiffany 

At last!!!

As some may already know Beni and I have been trying for a baby since last June. We had some success that turn unsuccessful. Recently, we moved from Boynton to Homestead. The move, the new job for me, the new house, decorating, and everything else took our mind off of our focus. We even planned a trip to Vegas! We decided that when it happens it will happen and I was finally content that if it didn't that was ok too!

But ..... As you all know, this blog was started for a reason! To keep everyone informed about Our Journey. Aaand I happy to announce that Beni and I are expecting! We waited a long time this time to confirm everything, but I am 13 weeks along and the baby is healthy!

We have to see a specialist once a month until further notice because I am considered high risk. But other then that everything is perfect and we are so excited we have a chance to welcome a little baby Ruiz to our home this year! 2013 is going to be great! We get to go back at the end of February and we are going to find out the sex, maybe. 

Here is the first belly pic I have taken, today, 01/29/2013.

Where have you been?

Hello Hello!!

It has been sometime since I have written and life has been crazy. So an update is much needed. So much to tell so hold on to the seat of your pants.

In the past couple of months, I accepted a job in Miami. I am getting back to what I enjoy most, working with the pets! I am the new Practice Manager at South Kendall Animal Hospital and loving every minute of it! I am excited to get back to the day to day interactions with the staff, clients, and the pets!!!!

We have been in the moving process for about the past week or so and have some final things to do at our old place and then we will be finished!! We are now residents of Homestead, FL and really loving the new area. I will say the move was rough and like Murphy's Law - what could, did go wrong. But we made it through it and now have a beautiful new home. SIDE NOTE: I am now 15 min. from Key Largo! SCORE!!!!

Also, we have a new addition to our home! Don't get to excited, its a furry friend! Her name is Cappuccino and she is a sweet little munchie! She came to the clinic and needed a home. Of course I could not resist. I have told Beni, that he is going to need to buy me a farm one day!!!

On the pregnancy front, we have no dice. Last month we thought we were pregnant again. We had a positive at home tests and then when I went to the Doctor and completed the blood test it said I was barely pregnant. The doctor thought I might have had a chemical pregnancy, which is where an egg is fertilized which gives off the hormones but never really attaches. He said this could happen if it wasn't a viable egg. So I have given up on the ovulation tests and obessing over it. I can truly say that this has been the most frustrating thing I have ever experienced in my life. As many people know, I am very determined and if I want something, then I will work my tush off to get it. I have never worked so hard for something and wanted something so bad and not been able to make it happen. It can begin to weigh on you and your mind, it begins to make you feel as if your a failure or that your defective. So for my own sanity, I am going to try to let nature take its course and hope for the best.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the time I have with my wonderful boyfriend, my martini's, my furry children, and traveling.

On a lighter note, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who supported me in my walk against breast cancer. It is a very important cause to me and I support whole heartedly thr American Cancer Society and the great things they do for women fighting cancer.

I want to thank my wonderful friend Andrea for motivating me to become more active and is going to be my partner is our first half marathon. We will be running the Disney Princess Half Marathon on February 24th. Andrea has started to train, but my training starts next week. Wish us luck!!

 I have already decided on my costume: Red Wig, Purple Sports Bra, Green Tutu. Who am I?

Well this is all tonight. Hopefully there will be more positive news to come! Keeping our fingers crossed and wishing everyone a Happy Friday!

- Tiffany

Breast Cancer Walk!

This year I will again be walking for the cure at the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Some of you may know I lost my Aunt in 2009 to a lifelong battle with breast cancer. She was only 39 years old when she discovered a lump in her breast. She fought long and hard and always kept a positive spirit. She was a woman who was selfless and gave back to her community in so many ways. She loved and cared for every person she met and spoke with. She fought for what she believed in and gave hope to many lives. At age 52, God took her from us, to be with him and continue her work in heaven. When I am struggling I think of her and how strong she was and her smile that lit up every room that she stepped into.

I was very close with my aunt and spent every summer in Ohio with her since I was 6 years old. So on October 13^th, 2012 I will walk for her. Please help me by donating to the cause.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=47346&pg=personal&px=22953510

Keys? What?

Some huge changes for us coming up here.

WE'RE MOVING TO MIAMI!!!!!

Actually, to Homestead if this town home that we love goes through with no hiccups. We will be moving to possibly a 3 or 4 bedroom townhouse, depending on which on becomes available first. I have a job already lined up as a Practice Manager for a 4 doctor practice in South Kendall. Beni is interviewing with a couple places this week and next.

I know these are such big changes with everything else we have going on, but it is a much needed change for us. We are very excited to have a big space and I am excited to be like 20 min from The Keys!!!!!!! "OH, I wanna go to the beach today. I think I'm gonna go to the Keys. Ok!" How about that for a random Saturday beach trip.

I did 2 5K runs this week. (Shout out to my cousin Derek in Ohio, who doubted me a year ago when I said I was going to start. I know it took me a year but I did 2 of them back to back with no training.) Since then I have decided to start my training and my friend Sam and I are going to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February. <--I might be doing this Prego? WHAT!?!? So cheer us on!!!!

Pictures from the weekends 5Ks

On the baby front, we continue to try, but are not so enveloped by the idea as we believe it will happen.

Hope everyone enjoys my tiny updates. Hopefully a baby is made soon and they will be more exciting. I'll take pictures of the horrendous move, cause that will be funny to others, not Beni or I.