20 wks: funneling cervix and bed rest

We had our anatomy scan today and thankfully the babies both look great.  Baby girl weighs 11 oz and is on track and baby boy is still measuring ahead and weighs 12 oz.  We got our quad screen results, which were also normal.  But unfortunately, my cervix is funneling (which means the inside is open in the shape of a "V"), though it is still closed.  It is borderline short (2.5cm) and soft.  The OB said there isn't much they can do for this at this point, other than put me on bed rest and wait to see what happens, which is obviously not very comforting.  If my cervix starts to open, they could do a cerclage (where they stitch your cervix closed), but until that happens, they wouldn't do it yet.

This comes after an unplanned trip to the OB last Friday after I passed some abnormal discharge. which appeared to be my mucus plug.  I called and they had me come in and after finding the babies HBs on the doppler and checking that my cervix was closed, they sent me on my way.

So I finally finished my design class last week (it was disappointing, but I got an A) and we had a nice trip to NYC and the Hamptons (despite crazy delays on both ends).  So I'll be horizontal for the foreseeable future and praying to keep these babies cooking for as long as possible.  We have a long way to go...

Class dismissed!

Last night was my last class, final and oral presentation. I'm 99.9% sure I got an A. (Update: class grade: A/95%, not too shabby...) Sadly, this will be it for me for now, as my work travel schedule next semester will make it impossible for me to hold down even one class. But it was fun and I learned a lot. Stay tuned for my sustainably designed nursery... ;)

Pattern mixing and subway tiles

For those of you who read for the infertility coverage, I apologize in advance, as I'm breaking my own rules (of not filling my blog with mag pics) again. But trust me, it's worth it. I thought it was time for some pretty pics. I find home design to be the nearly perfect opposite to infertility, kind of irrelevant in the whole scheme of important things, but it makes me happy (when done well, of course).

So my latest assignment for my design class was "pattern mixing", which is actually much harder than it sounds. And in catching up on all my magazines from the last few months, I found two homes (in NYC and the Hamptons) which jumped out at me and put a huge smile on my face, and show pattern mixing done well.

The first is the home of Nancy Tilghman (featured in the October House Beautiful), designed by Daniel Sachs. The second is of Cosima Von Bulow Pavoncelli (featured in November Town & Country), designed by Markham Roberts. They are each, in nearly every room, just chock full of John Robshaw and Peter Dunham textiles. I didn't stand a chance...

From House Beautiful...
I love the dark blue in this foyer, and am still looking for the perfect blue for our den (to become a boy's room, if needed). Some crisp white beadboard will balance it out and lighten it up nicely for a kid's room.







I loved this use of paper, and yes I had to run out and do this with our china cabinet immediately.









From Town & Country...






In case you missed it, in addition to having a very similar vibe (feminine colors, great patterns, global influences), they both have great white kitchens with nearly identical blue-gray subway tiles. I love these! When we finally redo our kitchen (replacing the old white cabs with new white ones), I am so getting these.
*HB sources

A few things I've realized...

1. That I don't like my job, and that taking leave is the BEST thing I've thought of EVER. I was able to spend most of Thursday in bed (w/heat) (see #5) and Friday doing things I actually enjoy with great people.

2. That much more than interior design generally (rendering, dealing w/clients, yada yada yada), I love textiles.

3. Per #2, I'd like to move onto the 6th floor of the Merchandise Mart. I could live there and no one would probably notice, it's HUGE.

4. Also on #2, I need to learn to sew.

5. My period w/o ibuprofen = hell. I don't think I've ever even tried to go without massive doses in 20 years, my cramps are that bad. Why I have no idea, as the teeny bit of endo I had was removed. Those little baby aspirin better be doing something for me, because I can't take both, my stomach can't take it.

6. I haven't been getting out and about enough (with other people who are not my husband). I've got lots of excuses, but basically when you feel like you suck at life (in all things out of your control no less), you don't make great company. We're pretty busy, but I've been in a self-imposed exile, but yesterday was really fun.

7. Starting new meds (Gonal F and low dose HCG) when you are only half awake is probably not a great idea. Pricked finger, bleeding stomach, wasted syringes, leaking vials, half read instructions... Nice start.

It's official

I'm a (community) college co-ed! :) Thankfully, I'm not the oldest person in my class, there are a few other women about my age looking to change careers/start firms of their own. The class looks like it'll be fun. The first objective on the syllabus is to gain an understanding of design resources, like design periodicals. Yeah, I think I'm totally getting an A in this class. ;) I'm also looking to milk my student ID for all the discounts I can get. I'll easily make my money back... ;)

Last day of meds (for now), first day of class

Tonight I take the last of my Premarin (E2), Provera (P4) and my "Cape meds" (as I'm calling them) and then can start back on my regular vitamins tomorrow. After the stomach episodes I've had, I stop all other "non-essentials" while on my post-surgery meds. I can't believe it's been three weeks since the surgery. Hopefully AF will come soon, though I'm expecting it to be pretty terrible, for myriad reasons. When AF is over, I'll go back to the RE to get another 3-D u/s of my new and improved ute and if all is well (please God), we'll chart out a plan for IVF (w/long Lupron).

I also have my very first design class tonight. I swung by the college last night before my business dinner to pick up the last of my textbooks and it was a circus. I'm preparing myself to be the old fogey in the class. I'm hoping the professor is good. :)

Now that's my kind of textbook

The textbook for my upcoming class is over 500 pages (of design deliciousness, no doubt) and weighs nearly four pounds. So it'll help me out as I try to get my workout act together as it's fallen apart since my last surgery, in January. ;)

Had a lovely GTG w/the girls yesterday and we kept up our tradition from January of taking a picture of us all together. Well in this one I look pregnant, which of course I'd like to be, but am not yet... :| I wish I could blame the angle or my too small skort, but no I'm just carry too much pouch. Boo!

Well, it's about time...

I'm finally signing up for interior design classes this fall! The real kind, no longer just the decorating ones they offer at Pottery Barn to get you to buy more stuff. ;) I'm not sure where it will lead, but I figured it was time to finally do it.

I already have the designer's story of constantly rearranging my bedroom furniture as a child (trite, but oh so true). And of constantly changing my bedding, and painting, and wallpapering... I've always loved design and architecture and houses. One of my favorite memories growing up is going to endless open houses and "parades of homes" w/my mom. I earned a real estate license randomly nearly ten years ago, but have never used it, except for my own knowledge.

I think I was one of the only non-art majors (and certainly the only IR/econ major) in my architecture and art history classes in college (the closest thing at my liberal arts alma maters). I worked/designed rooms at Laura Ashley in college (back when they had stores). And I even got a teaching job where my chosen teaching demonstration interview topic was "how to decorate". So it's probably way past time.

Our local community college is oh so affordable (like $100/credit), and while I considered/visited Harrington back when I was soul/career searching in the early naughts, I decided not go back into hock to get another over-priced degree. So here we go, Interior Design 100, Theory and Fundamentals of Design...