Toni Conrad

Dr. Do Boys

November 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment

As you all know I went to Dr. Do Boys (as he is from Dubois and that is what is going to call him from now on) and he was FANTASTICAL!!! Dr. Do Boys is a high risk OBGYN that I interviewed yesterday. He is definitely going to walk me through my next pregnancy. He will let me continue to go to Dr. S in Indiana and hopefully deliver in Indiana as well. He doesn’t foresee a problem with me getting pregnant and having a healthy little baby at the end.

Here is what I learned:

I had Cardiomyopathy caused by RV pacing and maintaining a relatively high heart rate during the latter portion of my pregnancy due to the AV sychrony generated by the pacer. WOW! That’s a mouthfull!!! But it was DEFINITELY not Postpardum Cardiomyopathy! I just happened to be pregnant and most likely would have had cardiomyopathy no matter when I got that pacer. (UMMMM DUH, I knew this already)

I need it in writing from Dr. Heart Failure that he thinks its ok to proceed with a baby. He already told me it was, and I see him next week and I’ll get the note then. Then, Dr. Heart Failure will be following me very closely through this next pregnancy.

Dr. Do Boys will see me at 7 weeks for my initial appointment and then at about 20 weeks for my 1st sonogram. He will see me as needed then through the rest of the pregnancy. Dr. S will follow me just as he did with Kendall; however, he will also deliver at the end of this one. I will DEFINITELY have a C-Section and I should have NEVER pushed a baby out the first time. He can not believe the doctors let me do that. It is very stressful on a heart and I had just had “open heart surgery” so my chest was not even really good to be pushing out a baby. (UMMMM DUH again)

I need to get in writing everytime I see a heart doctor what is happening. Then I must keep it in a folder all together so that if something should happen, Kevin can have the information I need when I go to the hospital. It will be easier for the ER doctors to know what to do with me.

I am to limit stress… I am hardly ever stressed, but I am to really try to remain relaxed for the 9 months I am pregnant. Stress is bad for your heart and the baby will be enough stress for me to handle. I think I should be fine, but things come up in life that are stressful and I need to know how to deal. Kevin told the doctor that I am the most relaxed person he has ever met and he doesn’t know how I do it. Kevin on the other hand will probably have a heart attack.

I am allowed to exercise just as I have been the past several months, but then once I hit 13 weeks I am allowed to walk, walk, walk and swim! YAY

Lastly, flu season will probably not affect me as I snorted the h1n1 cure and had the shot for seasonal flu about a month ago and never got sick. The baby will not be affected… it will just be a golf ball.

 

So this is the plan. Go to Dr. Heart Failure next Thursday, get a note and then just get pregnant when it happens. I’ll not worry about it and then when it happens, it happens! YAY! Just a little side note, I LOVE numbers and I would LOVE to have a baby on 8/9/10; and that day is quickly approaching. I’m not sure we will hit that deadline, but I can hope!

Good times!

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Yesterday after our Interview with Dr. Do Boys, Kevin took me Golfing!!! It was a fabulous time that I could not stop laughing at. Kevin did really well getting all pars and a birdie (we only played 5 holes). He said I was his good luck charm and he wanted to continue to play. I was tired and wanted to go home though. It was a long day. Maybe Saturday we will go out and I’ll play 9 with him. w00t! w00t! that would be fun! So anywho, I got to wear my new golf shoes and I sunk 3 balls in the pond. Once I lost 3 balls in a row, I was finished (I didn’t have anymore balls) and Kevin continued a few more holes. Oh fantastical fun at the PCC!!! I had an awesome golf outfit on too!

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w00t! there it is!

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Ignorant People!

November 10, 2009 · 1 Comment

 

I try to donate to as many charities as I can. I really do. I am a very strong believer in the American Heart Association (duh) and I always give to the United Way. If someone is in a walk or something, I usually sponsor them. I think Kevin and I really try to do our part in helping others.

This past weekend I was chillin out max at my house and the home phone rang. Well, the home phone NEVER rings, unless it is a telemarketer or our cell phones are missing and sometimes a doctors office. The other weekend I got a call from my health insurance company wanting me to complete a survey on the case worker I was assigned. Well, needless to say, I gave a lot of terrible comments to the surveyor. At the end of the survey she said she would probably call me back for more information on why my case worker was so terrible. Ok, sure, I was fine with that, so when the phone rang, I assumed it was about that.

Well, I answered and it was the March of Dimes. I totally get this charity and support it when they send the papers in the mail, but I NEVER give money over the phone. They asked me if I could mail 15 papers to my neighbors for the January fund drive. Well, about 3 months ago, I agreed to mail papers in February for the American Heart Association, so sorry, but you were too late and I am not mailing to my neighbors 2 months in a row. I told the lady and she understood and thanked me for supporting the AHA. I figured that was the end of the call. It was not. She then asked me to make a donation of $25 to the March of Dimes. I told her no thank you (because I always say no on the phone) and I figured that was the end. It was not.

The woman proceeded to tell me how many babies are born prematurely and ask me how I would like if my child was born prematurely and there was no research done on how to save them. I immediately got choked up and upset and instead of giving her an earful (which Kevin thinks I totally should have) I told her “I have to hang up right now” and I put the phone down.
I don’t get it… This woman had no idea our life and no, my baby was not premature, but I do know what it is like to have a baby die. You never know anyone’s story and I have found that many, many more people than you can even imagine have lost babies, had miscarriages, preemies or children died. It happens so often and it is very rude to just assume.

I am thinking of emailing the March of Dimes… I don’t know.

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Yeah Steelers!

November 10, 2009 · 1 Comment

Can you believe this month is 1/3 over!?! Today is November 10 already!!! Luckily tomorrow we have a day off in honor of Veterans Day! I love it! Banking is fun!

Tomorrow the agenda is to go interview my first high risk OB. He is in Dubois and he has a pretty good practice. I have heard some good things about him and hopefully he knows about my issues. If he has NO experience with my issues, I will not be going to the one in Dubois. See, the reason we choose there is because it is fairly close. It is easier to get to than to Pittsburgh and parking is free… Hahaha… Also, Kevin’s parents live in Punxsutawney and if there is a problem and I am hospitalized, their house is close to stay at or to change clothes to get away from the hospital. There are several +++ to going to Dubois Regional Medical Center.

Next week if I do not like this doctor, I have an appointment with a Dr. at Magee Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh. The +++ are my heart doctors could come to Magee and practice there, the Doctor DEFINITELY has experience with my problem and has been doing this for a long time. But its further away and less convenient. We will just have to see what I decide… Tomorrow is the first step though.

BUT by next year at this time, I should be a mom again!!! That will be the best ever! It would be fun to have a baby on 8/9/10… I would have to get busy ASAP though for that one. We will see what happens!

How about them Steelers? They have been knocking off the top team every week! They beat the Vikings with Old Man Farvre and then last night beat the Broncos!!! I love it!

w00t! there it is!

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7 Weeks

November 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Open House 2009 021

I have been a busy little girl!!! Last night the bank held an open house in KTown to welcome business customers, the chamber and families of the employees to the new building. I got to help in the planning and executing of the event. I would like to say it went off beautifully. We gave tours of the building, had some snacks and visited with board members, friends, families and customers. It was an all around fun evening. My handsome husband even came out for the event. (I like to show off my husband any time I can)

 

We didn’t get home until late last night and then we had to watch the Office. It was hilarity as usual! I loved when Dwight told Andy to squeeze his butt cheeks together when he walked to take the pressure off his knees. It was delightful!!! I laugh a lot!

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, we are going to get fitted for our dresses for Traci’s wedding!!! I know! Already!!! Its only 7 months away!!! Time is gonna fly! I still have not decided what I am going to do with my dress situation. Probably a bigger dress and then get it taken in if I need. Its easier to take in than to expand it. We will see what kind of mood I am in tomorrow.

Then Sunday, I am going to a special baby shower. My friend lost a baby last year and had a very hard time getting pregnant again. She is due to have her little baby in a couple months and everything seems to be going great. I cant wait for her to have a healthy little boy! I also got a really cool gift for her… that I can not share until next week, but hopefully she thinks its as cool as I think it is!

On another note, my husband is making the commitment to run with me! We did Monday and Tuesday… we were busy Wednesday and Thursday and tonight, but Saturday and Sunday we are hittin the road. I think I am gonna get him a new pair of running shoes so that he doesn’t hurt his little feets.

We are not buying each other Christmas gifts this year because we are investing in a new entertainment center among other things… More on that later… So with that, I am almost done with my Christmas Shopping. It is only 7 weeks away!

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w00t! there it is!

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VOTE

November 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment

VOTE!!!

Did you get your vote on today? I did! Bright and early… 7:02 am to be exact and I was number 8! w00t! w00t! I know I am awesome and you don’t have to tell me.

There are a lot of races even though it is not a presidential year, you should definitely get out there today before the poles close!!!

It occurred to me I never talked about Halloween! I love Trick or Treating, but I have to say I was rather disappointed in the costumes this year. Every year my friend Jennifer and her Husband come over and have dinner and then we give out treats. We sit on my front porch and watch everyone. It is so fun! Usually the men sit inside and watch something (for example the World Series was on) but this year they were outside as well.

The greatest costumes this year were the Monopoly Family! There were three kids and a mom. They each had a sandwich board outfit that looked just like a monopoly card. Mom was “Go” with dice on her head. Oldest boy was “Electric Company” with a hat that lit up. Middle Boy was “Boardwalk” with a house on his head and little boy was “Pennsylvania Railroad” with a conductor hat!!! It was an inexpensive costume idea with so much CREATIVITY!!! So good. Then Cruela DeVille was walking across my yard (the mom) along with 2 Dalmatians (4 year old daughter and little baby)… It was fantastic!!! I did not even recognize Julie all dressed up! KUDOS!!! There were some teenager boys in dresses. I told the one I LOVED his dress and he said he was a football player. I didn’t have a comeback, but I should have taken his treat away from him! Patrick our backyard neighbor was an astronaut. His dad and him made a helmet out of paper mache! It was awesome!!! All and all it was a fun time. We distributed lots of treats, some homemade cookies to the friends and fireman and some homemade caramel apples to the friends. In the end we had about 120 tricksters! I would say it was a success!!!

Sunday was a catch up day on chores and cleaning and stuff.

Last night my husband ran a road mile with me. I have only asked him EVERY time I have gone out running for the past 3 years, so I was very happy to have him accompany me. We did a mile in 10 minutes and 45 seconds! Good job!

w00t! there it is!

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