Happy Halloween and Sweet Dreams

Sydney went trick-or-treating for the first time last night! She did very well. We went to a grand total of three houses. It didn't take Sydney long to get the hang of it. By the time we got to the last house, she was holding out her Elmo trick-or-treat bag (thanks to Jodi) and hoping for the best. After trick-or-treating, we came back to the house and handed out candy. We had an almost record-breaking 10 trick-or-treaters!

Last night was a big night for a variety of reasons. After Sydney finished trick-or-treating and eating her dinner, she went to bed in her "big girl" bed for the very first time. Tom took off the front of the crib and replaced it with a short rail (to keep her from rolling out). Anyway, we put her to bed around 7:45 pm, and she stayed in until 10:45 pm, at which point, she took a header out of the crib on to the floor. I think she fell because she's so used to standing up in her crib, leaning on the front rail, and crying for mom. Anyway, it only took one header to learn. After that, she woke up a couple more times and just cried. I went in, gave her hugs and kisses, and back to bed she went. As far as I'm concerned, it could've been worse.

I told Tom this morning that this afternoon's nap would be the real test. Well, it was a test for sure. After running around in her room for an hour and 15 minutes, she finally fell asleep on the floor next to her bed. I guess she'll eventually learn that the bed is much more comfortable than the carpet!

BB2 Appointment and Update

So, my doctor's appointment this week went well. The baby's heart rate was 154, which is middle of the road, and the growth seems to be on schedule. During the appointment, we discovered that we were cutting it very close on a test (that requires a sonogram) that we wanted to take. The doctor was nice enough to call over to the Radiology Associates and get me an appointment for today. Here's the thing: the test that we wanted can only be conducted between 11 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. Today, was the last weekday of week 13 - so we thought we had time; however, when the technician started taking measurements, it turns out the baby is measuring almost 15 weeks old! So - we could not take the test, which is fine - more than anything we just wanted this opportunity to see the baby on the sonogram. While the technician was doing her thing, she said, "Oh!". Mom B was with me and pounced on her! "What does "Oh!" mean? Do you know the sex of the baby? Can't you give us an inkling?" Anyway, it turns out that the technician thought that we may be having a boy! She told us not to go out and buy a ton of blue, but she said that things look promising. How exciting!

Yeay! We're Protected!

It's official. Everyone in the Bergeman household has received their vaccination for H1N1. Meanwhile, everyone around us still seems to be getting this nasty virus! Of 1600 students at Mom's school, nearly 300 were absent because of "flu-like symptoms." We're praying that they all recover quickly and don't end up in the hospital. Sydney will still need a booster on or after November 19, but in the meantime, we're 100% protected! House arrest officially ends tomorrow, when Sydney and I head to playgroup. Woo hoo!

Snarky's Lost His Sparky!

I'm very sad to report that something horrible has happened. Snarky has lost two weeks in a row - and to Lorraine and Jodi! What could possibly be going on? Perhaps Snarky did drink the turtleade (he's experiencing the same results as the great reptile club) or maybe the pressure of performing has finally caught up with him? Whatever it is, these are sad days in Snarkyville.

These are also sad days for Unnecessary Roughness. I'm on a 3-loss losing streak. Eeek! Clearly, it's all the fault of Jay Cutler, Brian Westbrook, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Anquan Boldin. Really - they should be ashamed of their performances. I could throw longer passes, not drop the ball, and actually make it to the end zone pregnant. Buck up boys - it's time to perform!

Lorraine is the leader of our league, followed by Snarky (for now) and Jay. Mom, Dad, and Jodi are holding strong in the middle of the pack. Angus and I are holding up the rear.

Here's the story for next week:

I play Mom
Snarky plays Jay
Angus plays Chey
Dad plays Jodi
Lorraine plays Stirling

Good luck!

Introducing Shrimp Bergeman

Here's the update on BB2 for week 13 from Babycenter.com:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

H1N1 Swine Flu

So - as some of you may know, Syd and I have been staying close to home for the last two weeks in an effort to avoid contracting the Swine Flu. The flu seems to be rampant in Northern Virginia. I know many, many folks who have gotten it: people in my mommies group, people at work, people at Tom's work, and - of course - Sarah and Jodi. Obviously, there are plenty of stories on the news about many more people who are struggling with this illness. Usually, Syd and I are pretty careful about disinfecting and washing our hands, but we've never really gone on house arrest before. Why the drastic action? Here are some facts and figures:

- Pregnant women and children under age 2 are specifically at higher risk of H1N1 than people in other age groups

- Since H1N1 was first discovered in 2008/2009, more than 150 children have died of H1N1 or pneumonia or other disease caused by H1N1 (this is significantly higher than from the regular flu).

- The spread of H1N1 is particularly high in Virginia/Maryland/DC (there are only two other regions in the US where H1N1 has a higher incidence).

- Pregnant women are four times more likely than the general population to be admitted to the hospital if they contract H1N1.

- During the first four months of the H1N1 outbreak, more than 100 pregnant women were hospitalized in intensive care and 28 died. That's a 28% death rate! Most of the women who have died from the virus were initially healthy when they caught the virus.

Obviously, this is a very scary situation. Jodi and Sarah's experience just underlined the importance of taking proactive measures. Here's some of their experience:

- Sarah was exposed to H1N1 on Friday and had full-blown symptoms by Sunday. Her illness was confirmed as flu on Monday. Jodi got it almost immediately after Sarah got it.

- Sarah's fever was consistently 101 or 102 with Motrin and Tylenol in her system.

- Sarah's doctors are especially concerned about the possibility that the virus will push congestion and infection into her lungs and chest - causing pneumonia.

At this point, Sarah and Jodi seem to be doing better. Say a little prayer that they will recover quickly.

The silver lining about this illness is that there is a vaccine available. The CDC recommends that pregnant women and children under the age of 2 especially get the vaccine. All the doctors that I have chatted with (OB, GP, and Pediatricians) have agreed that the risks associated with the vaccine are far fewer than the risks associated with getting the illness and then having to treat it and the possibility of secondary infection.

If you do end up with H1N1, here are some tips from Jodi:

1) Get plenty of liquid Tylenol and Motrin in the house now. Sarah typically takes chewable versions of those drugs, but was too sick to get them down with this virus.
2) Stock up on juice, Sprite, Gatorade, and Pedialyte. You'll need to push lots more fluids than usual to stop the fever from dehydrating your child.
3) Find a drive-through pharmacy near you. Tamiflu was in short supply this week, but I called around until I found a pharmacy that had it. It was enormously helpful for Sarah. I wasn't able to get it, and it took me much longer to start feeling better.
4) Harris Teeter has a drive-through grocery service. If nobody is able to get into a store for groceries for you, you can order them on their Web site, pull into the drive-through lane at the store at the appointed time, and they load everything into your trunk for you.

I think that covers it for now. Stay healthy!

Nacho Potato Soup

Here is another one of our favorites... very cheesy (you can adjust if necessary)!

1 pkg (5 1/4 oz) au gratin potatoes
1 can mexicorn, drained
1 can tomatoes with jalapenos
2 c water
2 c milk
2 c cubed American cheese

In a saucepan, combine potatoes and sauce mix, corn, tomatoes with juice, and water. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes (or until potatoes are tender). Add milk and cheese. Cook on medium until cheese melts.

I've used Velveeta instead of American cheese, and it works just fine.

Happy Anniversary to us!

What a great 8 years! We've had the opportunity to enjoy life's great celebrations and some challenges, too. We have a beautiful little girl and another baby on the way. I couldn't ask for anything else. Sydney and I are lucky girls! Tom is definitely a lucky guy! Happy Anniversary to us!

And - She - Will - Go - All - The - Way!!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable upset this week:

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Jodi (the owner who chose her team based on uniform colors and the sound of players' last names) beat the previously undefeated Snarky Sparky! And folks, she didn't beat him by a few points - try 25. Take that, Dad! Many of us have a sneaking suspicion that Jodi's upset had something to do with her new found swine powers. We'll see if the swine helps her moving forward.

In other news, Yertle's sad story continues. Really, I do feel bad at this point. Apparently, Lorraine, doesn't though - because she beat him pretty bad this week. Sorry - Yertle!

Last week, Yertle noticed that Stirling had forgot to update his lineup and asked that I notify him of his omission. I did just that. Well, thanks Yertle. He updated his lineup and proceeded to beat me to a pulp. I guess misery loves company!

To round out this week's games: Jay beat Mom (ouch!) and Chey beat Dad.

Needless to say, we no longer have any undefeated teams (Jodi managed to bring them both down - what's wrong with this picture?!?!?). Here's the story for next week:

I play Dad
Jodi plays Stirling
Lorraine plays Snarky
Jay plays the Turtles
Mom plays Chey

Good luck to all!

BB2 at 3 Months!

This week is a huge milestone in our pregnancy. We're officially 3 months pregnant and starting our second trimester! This is especially good news because the risk of miscarriage dramatically decreases after the first trimester, and it is safe for me to take some drugs if I get sick. With the huge incidence of swine flu in this area, the fact that I could take drugs if I got sick is big news!

Here's this week's update from Babycenter.com:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now. Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

Chicken Divan with Rice

This is one of my favorite casseroles. Easy to make and yummy to eat.

1 lb frozen broccoli (cooked)
cooked cubed chicken
1 c cooked rice
1 can broccoli cheese soup
1/3 c milk
breadcrumbs
cheese
butter

In a 2-qt baking dish, place broccoli on the bottom. Cover with chicken and then rice. Mix soup and milk and put on top of rice. Cover with cheese, then breadcrumbs, and then butter. Cook at 450 degrees for 20 minutes or until hot.

Fantasy Football Round-Up: Week 5

Here's the story for week 5:

The beatings continue when it comes to poor Yertle. Mom showed him no mercy. He did put up a good fight, so we'll give him that!

In the battle of the Dads, Snarky Sparky continued his undefeated streak by beating HurryUpHurryUp. My Dad even tried this week!

In the biggest upset of the week, Jodi beat Lorraine. And she didn't just beat her, she smashed her. Jodi - with her "I'll pick my players based on their uniform color and how I like their last name" strategy managed to double Lorraine's points! Way to go, Jodi!

Lastly, I must tip my hat to Jay. He beat me by 11 points. I thought for a second that I was going to mount the biggest comeback of all time, but alas it was not meant to be.

So here's the story for next week:

Jodi plays Dad
Lorraine plays Angus
Mom plays Jay
Dad plays Chey
I play Stirling

We'll have to see if Lorraine shows Angus some mercy or if she puts the blood in Blood Turtles!

Chicken Orzo Soup

This is another good one... and good for you!

1 (32-ounce) container fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided
1/2 cup uncooked orzo
2 teaspoons olive oil
2/3 cup coarsely chopped carrot
1/2 cup coarsely chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/4 cups water
3 fresh parsley sprigs
1 fresh thyme sprig
4 cups fresh baby spinach
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Bring 1 3/4 cups broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add orzo; cook 10 minutes or until done. Drain.

While orzo cooks, heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add carrot, celery, onion, and chicken; cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in remaining 2 1/4 cups broth, 1 1/4 cups water, parsley, and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Discard herb sprigs. Add orzo, spinach, juice, salt, and pepper; simmer 1 minute.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Two great soup recipes coming your way! Here's the first...

Cooking spray
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (16-ounce) package broccoli florets
2 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces light processed cheese, cubed (such as Velveeta Light)

Heat a large nonstick saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and broccoli. Bring broccoli mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes.

Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture to broccoli mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Stir in pepper. Remove from heat; add cheese, stirring until cheese melts.

Place one-third of the soup in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return pureed soup mixture to pan.

Original Source: Cooking Light

BB2 at Week 11

Here's this week's update on BB2. It's from Babycenter.com, and in case you're wondering if you missed something, they alternate between he and she. :)

BB2, who is just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional.

Our Big News!

Tom, Sydney, and I are incredibly excited to announce that I'm pregnant, and we're expecting a new member of our family May 3, 2010. So far, we've told family, close friends, and work. We've not yet made the big Facebook announcement, but we figure this little post will be a "reward" for those folks who read our blog!

As of today, I'm about 10 and a half weeks pregnant. We decided to make the announcement a little early based on my appearance. We'll probably make the Facebook announcement when I'm officially 12 weeks, which will be October 19.

In the meantime, I'm trying really hard not to get sick. Right now, Syd and I both have a little cold, so things aren't going as well as we'd like. We would like to send a special thank you to all our family members who went out and got the flu shot several weeks ago. Now that there are shortages of the shot, we feel especially thankful that our family (including Bergeman Baby #2 - BB2) is protected.

Our next doctor's appointment is scheduled for October 29 at 4:00 pm. Stay tuned for details. We'll post other fun baby news along the way.

Whoa is Yertle...

It's a sad, sad time for Yertle the Turtle King. Really, I feel bad even writing this (not really). He's lost four in a row and been accused of including banned substances in the Turtleade he gives his players before the games. Whoa is Yertle. He claims he continues to play each week's top scorer (I don't believe that's the whole truth). Really, we should all feel bad for him. Maybe this week is his week? He's playing mom, who's 2 and 2... it's not going to be easy, Yertle!

Here are this week's results:

Obviously, Snarky Sparky beat Yertle, I beat Jodi, Dad beat Jay, Mom beat Sterling, and Lorraine beat Chey. Lorraine and Snarky Sparky are now officially 4 and 0 - undefeated!

Next week are some of the best match ups of the season:

I play Jay (I'm on a two-win run... you're going down), Jodi plays Lorraine, Snarky Sparky plays Dad, and Angus plays Mom.

Good luck, folks!