March for Babies 2016

The Family Qhamata will be participating in the March for Babies again this year.  This is our 8th Annual march.

This year I'm looking to order team shirts this year. They will be purple with "Team Qhamatas" on the back.

We got long sleeves, short sleeves and special request only are the Family Team bandana's.

Short Sleeve shirts: Youth-XL = $7.50 (including tax and shipping)
Long Sleeve shirts: Youth-XL = $10.50
Bandana: $3.50

Anything over XL add $2.

I will need orders and payments the order by February 21, 2016.

Email me, Facebook, or call in your orders. Payments can be made here: paypal.me/FAID

Don't forget to join our team!

Look forward to seeing you April 24th @ 8:30.

March for Babies 2016

2015 Butterfly Garden 

Each year the March for babies give participants the option to donate and purchase butterflies for a butterfly garden in memorial or celebration of a life lost or granted by the aid of today's technology and funds made and given from the March of Dimes.

It is that time again, the March of Dimes has set the schedule for the 2016 March for Babies.  And the Team Qhamatas will be at it again.  We hope you will join us or at least donate.  

Join our team for 2016: Team Qhamatas

Why we walk

When you walk in March for Babies, you give hope to nearly half a million babies born too soon each year. The money you raise supports programs in your community that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. And it funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies. We’ve been walking since 1970 and have raised an incredible $2.3 billion to benefit all babies.

What to expect

This year, 3 million people will join their family, friends and colleagues in nearly 700 communities across the nation. Our volunteers and staff will encourage and support you in your efforts to raise awareness and funds. No matter if this is your first year or your 25th, you can expect the event to be fun, compelling and rewarding.

Walk Distance: 5 miles

Registration Time: 8:00 AM

Start Time: 9:00 AM

Chapter: Houston Division

Welcome to National Prematurity Awareness Month

We have made it to another year.  Welcome to the National Prematurity Awareness Month -NOVEMBER. 

It's that time of year again.  I have no words for the joy I feel participating with the March for Babies each year.  The first year we did it to support the organization, but after 2009 preterm labor and birth took on a whole new meaning for me and my family.  Now we walk to support the organization, but also in memory of our DS who was born way to soon due to complications.  But we also thank the March of Dimes for all they do because after him I had 2 successful full term pregnancies with the help of medical care and weekly progesterone shots that helped me carry my DS and DD right to the 37 week mark.

So this month I want everyone to remember those in their family born to soon or those in your extended families (friends/co-workers) that were born to soon.  Wear PURPLE in love on November 17th for World Prematurity Day. 

MARCH FOR BABIES Coming Soon!

Qhamata Team get ready the walk for babies is this Sunday at 9am.  Please me us at the University of Houston Stadium by 8:30 for the walk.  Look forward to seeing you.

Also if you haven't signed up for our team yet please go to The Qhamatas Page and sign up.  Lunch will not be provided if you are not registered.

It's that time again, MARCH FOR BABIES TIME!

It’s that time of year again - it’s March for Babies season! We all love walking for babies, lets start by kicking off Qhamatas team fundraising. 

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. I'm walking in March for Babies because I want to do something about this. And I need your help.

Please support my walk. Making a secure donation is easy: just click the 'donate now' button on this page. Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

2014 Marchfor Babies Walk With Me or Make Donation Here

World Prematurity Day

World Prematurity Day is fast approaching, on November 17, 2012.  Please help blog on that day to raise awareness to overcome all the issues with prematurity and help decrease and/or eliminate premature births.

Urge the President to raise awareness about the prematurity crisis by lighting the White House purple!

Our goal is to get the White House lit in purple on January 3, 2013 — both to honor the 75th anniversary of the founding of the March of Dimes by President Franklin Roosevelt, and to give hope to the families whose children have been born too soon.

So far, more than 7,000 people have signed our petition at WhiteHouse.gov. Please join them by November 18 and help us raise awareness about the prematurity crisis:

sign petition

Congrats Keisha

I am happy to congratulate a mom to be that finally is... Due May 22 Ms. Keisha had her baby Elias Daye May 25 @5:49 pm after labor started on the night of the 24th. This very handsome little man is 7 lb 6 oz 21 in long.

I an so happy for you ma. Enjoy and I will see you later.

Birth Story

Thank you for all those that prayed for our family while we were at the hospital and kept us in their thoughts well after delivery.

Warning: Will be long being that I got an epi this time instead of just the IV drugs I was a lot more clear headed and less focused on the pain.

Well 2.28 I went to sleep with my husband telling LO to hold tight till morning so we could get some sleep.  I guess he listened because around 5:30am 2.29 I started having intense contractions.  It's funny because at first I thought I was dreaming, but quickly by the second one woke up realizing this was to painful to be a dream.  The contractions were pretty close and strong so I started tracking them around 5:47am.  I woke up my husband to let him know this was probably it and he was going to have to get up soon, but I would let him know soon for sure.

After about 20-30 mins of timing I realized they were about 2-3 mins apart lasting 1 min each.  This was mighty close and as intense as they were I didn't want to risk waiting the normal hour of tracking and have the baby at home or in the car trying to get to the hospital.  Being my 3 the doc told me to come before then.  I called to let her know about the contractions and she said to come on in that we are probably having a baby today.

On the way to the hospital they spread out to about 3 to 5 mins apart when we got there at 7am.  I got checked in and trying to breath my way through the intensity.  The nurse checked me and sure enough from Monday's 3.5 cm, I was now dilated to 5 and 50% effaced.  I had signed my release for the tubal a few days to late (would have made 30 days on 3/4) so I couldn't get that done same day, but I still had the epi option.  Knowing my body and my lack of tolerance for pain I opted for the epi.  I got that in around 8:06.  I took well and I was in heaven.  Especially since not even 10 min later my doc decided to add Pitocin to my fluids to kick things up a bit.  So I was definitely happy to have the epi this go round.

9:12 cath was placed and I was checked. Up to 6 cm, 80-90% effaced.  We are moving along.  My bag of water was still intact, but they wanted to at least get one round of antibiotics for the GBS in my system before they did.  9:40 I tried to take a little nap, but around 10 the nurse came in to move me to my side and up the amount of fluid I was getting because the baby's hb was going a little low.  A few mins later she calls the doc and tells me she will be there soon because LO's hb was still low, but she will break my water when she arrives.

11 moved to my other side and got a better reaction from baby whose hb rose.  11:35 doc broke my water and check my cervix.  Up to 7cm +2 station.

12pm feeling pressure, thoughts are he should be here within the hour.  12:10 still 7 but baby hs moved down to 0 station.

2:27 checked by nurse she feels like i'm still 7cm and cervix is swelling closed.  Baby's hb is till going low maintaining at 100 bpm.  Doc coming to see what she can do.  I worry at this point because if my cervix is reversing, my dilation has stopped in 2 hrs and his hb remains low those are c-section words.

2:35 doc came in checked I was @9 cm the swelling hindered earler check.  Tried to push through one contraction see if helped push down baby and it did so they prepped for delivery.  P ushed through one contraciton and @ 2:49pm Israfil Haneef ibin Qhamata was born on February 29th.   He was out and making the most beautiful noise, crying.  The neonatal doc was called in about his irregular hb's inside, but out he was maintaining 137 so he passed.

Without further ado here HE (Team Green) is:

Israfil Haneef 

Born 2.29.12 @ 2:49 pm

Weight: 7 lbs 5 oz  Height: 19 5/8 in long

36 Weeks

Your once-poppy seed would probably be able to breathe on his own if he was born right now. (If not, he’d probably need some TLC, but he’d likely be okay.) Most of his systems are in working order at 36 weeks. Baby really could decide to make his arrival any day now.

Your baby at 36 weeks

• She's getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on her own.
• Her skin is getting smooth and soft and her gums are rigid.
• Her liver and kidneys are in working order.
• Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.

How far along?36 Weeks and counting

Weight gain/loss: -1 as of last Thursday

Maternity clothes? Uh yeah :D lol

Stretch marks? See above answer

Sleep? I vaguely remember something by this name.  Not sure what it is now.

Best moment this week? Getting to see my squashed LO on the big screen one last time (last A/s with MFM)

Movement: Yes, I thank God he doesn't have to many slow days to where I freak out and beg DH to take me to the hospital to get checked out.

My movement on the other hand his limited.  I get out of bed and go in 1 of 3 directions: Bathroom, Couch, Kitchen.  That's it. 

Food cravings: I've got a thing for cereal right now :\ hmm

Gender: According to DH and my previous post Looking blue (hence the font)

Belly button in or out? Out, but with the baby dropping not as out as it used to be

What I miss? Walking straight oh yeah and that thing I can't remember a few lines up

What I am looking forward to? Holding my precious baby

Milestones: Almost full term 

 

Early Release Part 2

So I went to the MFM (Peri) doc yesterday.  He agrees with my OB that I'm 3cm dilated and funneling (whatever that is).  Baby is very much head down (which I could have told him all the pain I feel).  Baby has gained weight and is up to 5 lbs 13 oz.  Right where big sis was 3 days before she popped out.

Now to the early release.  Obviously not being on the progesterone and it officially wearing off TODAY, being dilated and an added bonus, Doc suggested if I don't go on my own in 2 wks to induce. Yay, booo!!  I hate that word "Induce" mainly because I am a big baby when it comes to pain and the pain from induction is out of this world.  Only saving grace is being I plan to get my tubes tied I will have to have an epi anyways so induction or not (Insha'Allah - God willing) I will be pain free for the labor.

I am still having active contractions, loosing pieces of my mp (tmi I know) and feel like the baby is about to fall out of me he is so low.  So we are again playing the waiting game.  I am thankful though God and LO are waiting so far because in 30 mins I will be 36 weeks.  Which is still preterm (37 weeks), but better than the 34/35 I got the release papers on. :)

PS.  Special thanks to Dr. Kirshon at the Houston Perinatal Associates.  Keep up the good work.  Unfortunately after the last appointment you probably won't see me for my next baby unless God truly steps in. 

Spilled Beans

Dh finally spilled the beans.  I sent him to the store for diapers and a few things I knew he wouldn't mess up buying for the baby if I wasn't there and this is one of the things he brought (on his own) back. 

Now his routine is the bring the bags in and leave them by the door leaving me to put them away because they A) annoy me sitting there and B) Khalifah will start riffling through them sooner or later if left to long.  So this actually ends up being the last bag I pick up.  I open it to see what I've got to know which room to go to in order to put it away.   I look at all the blue firstly and see the words "daddy's little buddy" on the mittens.  I stop in my tracks, laugh, look at DH and ask really?  He looks back and says "What?"  I'm like dude "daddy's little buddy"? His response well you were going to find out sooner or later and I didn't want to waste money on unisex clothes when I already know what it is.  I was like dear that was part of the fun. 

So yes, Team Green is now Team peen as we have a baby with a peen growing in there.  

Early Release Granted

Well it looks like LO's early release has been granted.  

1st Peri appt: My peri checked and I am dilated, his guess 1-2 cm.  Baby is measured at 5lbs 2 oz.  He suggested I discontinue the progesterone, go out on leave til the baby comes and labor should not be stopped if it starts.  He also predicted I don't make it to the appt he requested I follow up with him on in a week. 

2nd OB appt: My OB thinks my peri is a downer (for the last statement above).  She did my GBS test, baby's hb is strong at 135, she checked and in fact I am 3 cm dilated.  BP still good, lost 1 lb.  She on the other hand thinks I will make it to FT so she scheduled her f/u for 2 wks.  

Now my opinion I am some what on my peri's side because again he "predicted" I wouldn't make it to my next week apt when I was preg with DD#2 on a Tuesday and I went into labor Friday night.  Also I was on 17p's then as well and went into labor the week after my last shot.  Also my pregnancies are like this if I contract I go into labor, if my water breaks it could be forever before I start labor.  And unfortunately I am contracting first this time and my CM has changed and is slowly increasing with each day.  

34 Weeks Pregnant

At week 34, you might breathe a little easier, since baby may descend lower into your pelvis and give your lungs some space. The pitfall of this descent, of course, is even more pressure on your bladder, so be prepared to make even more trips to the ladies room over the coming weeks. 

How far along? 34 weeks :D

Weight gain/loss: Gain + 21 

Maternity clothes? Yes

Stretch marks? 1 or 2 new ones (They have all officially left their mark)

Sleep? Exactly, sleep?

Best moment this week?  Getting a free maternity belt.

Movement: Yes, baby is on a roll 

Food cravings: nope, nothing special just food food and more food LOL

Gender: Still don't know.

Belly button in or out? :( out

What I miss? Sleep

What I am looking forward to? This weight being lifted off my back and holding my baby

Weekly wisdom: Don't take any day or anything for granted.  Life is not a guarantee, but a blessing.

Milestones: No real milestone just 42 days to go :D

Going back in time

 It all started in 1872 when an English doctor, John Braxton Hicks, described the contractions that occur before real labor. Can you imagine constantly thinking,"This must be it," and then it wasn't. Doctors and pregnant women have Dr. Hicks to thank for clearing up all the confusion. 


Yes Dr. Hicks I want to thank you.  I want to thank you for lending your name to something that has come to greatly annoy the "H" out of me.  I say Braxton Hicks and I want to cringe just thinking about it.  Yes the contractions you lent your name to are false and they are just prepping your body for the real thing, but when you have as the article state had "multiple pregnancies" or are "in tune with changes in your body" you recognize these false contractions more.  Not to mention this time around they not only take my breath away, but tighten up my back as well I am not comfortable at all.  I have issues with PTL so to have more than 4 in an hour worries my nurse, but after drinking water and going to sleep NOTHING HAPPENS. So I ignore it.  Plus after DD#2 DH refuses to take me to the hospital unless I am absolutely positive either the baby is coming or in danger.  I honestly don't like going either just to spend $6 on parking and $10 of gas just to get sent home.  


So yes, thank you Dr. Hicks for giving a name to the most asinine pregnancy symptom yet.  Good thing being my 3rd I know what real contractions feel like and I know what it's like when my water breaks so I'm fully prepared to make just one trip and to come home only with a baby not empty handed.


Any other smart guys out there want to diagnose a woman's issue, Keep it to yourself!




Glossary:


PTL - Pre Term Labor


DD - Dear Daughter


DH - Dear Husband

Off to see the doctors...

the wonder doctors of mine, because because because, because I'm 31.5 today :) lol

Yes, ladies and gentlemen I am officially 31 weeks 5 days today and I will be visiting both my MFM and my OB today.  I have my OB first in which I will still be complaining about this insane itching.  :( I am not happy with this.  Alhamdulilah the initial test for the OB colestasis came back negative, but the itching has progressively gotten worse since then and I'm miserable.  I pray this time though that when I get my blood taken I don't look like I just lost a fight afterwards.  See below:

And this was actually only the beginning of the bruising.  Ouch.

After my OB I'm off to the MFM to catch another glimpse of my little person.

MARCH FOR BABIES

The 5th Annual Qhamata March for the Babies has kicked off.  The March of Dimes has released the date of the 2012 March for babies.  Those of you in the Houston area it will be at Robertson Stadium April 29, 2012.  We have already started fundraising and we are looking for Walkers to join TEAM QHAMATA!   


Please sign up to join the team and walk with me or give donations to the cause at Qhamata Family March.  


For those of you that are new to this every year the March of Dimes holds a march/run/family fun day similar to the Susan G. Komen Walk for Breast Cancer.  The difference is this march is to support the research to help determine, prevent and aid in the lives of mothers and children at risk of or born prematurely.  The proceeds also aid in medical research to find the cause and or develop ways to slow or stop prematurity all together.  One of these medical discoveries is the Progesterone shot (17P or Mirena) that helps to keep everything needed to hold in the baby closed so you can make it hopefully to full term or as long as your body allows giving the baby a greater outside survival rate. 


We as a family have participated in the march since 2008 when we first found out about it and loving kids as we do decided to join and raise money.  In 2009 we got a first hand reason to continue our efforts to help other families prevent premature birth or be able to afford the medical care of a premature child.  I know about the shot mentioned above because it has helped bring me my daughter Khalifah who even though I was 3cm dilated weeks before my water broke at 37 wks 6 days I still made it full term before her birth.  I am on them again with this little bundle of joy in hopes of making it the same distance.  


Please Join our family as we continue to fight against prematurity and try to bring every baby into the world with a fighting chance.


Join us here: Qhamata Family March!

Slight After thought

Being swept up in all the excitement of my friends finding out what they are having a tiny little part of me wants to catch a sneak peek at the next Anatomy scan on the 12th.  However I feel like I've held out this long what's another 2 months.

Now I know I'm not due until March 10, but that is such an estimate I don't think I will reach.  DD#2 was 2 weeks early by nature (Thank God for the 17P shots that with the help of God held her off till then) and being that this baby is consistantly measuring 1 week ahead I have a good feeling I'm looking at a February baby not March.  As long as S/he doesn't chose February 29th I will be one happy momma Boy or Girl.

Ps.  I think it's a boy :D

Congratulations!!!!!!

Congratulations !!!!

Congratulations is in order for two of my friends.

First:

Mrs. Penny Lueders who is the proud mother of on Miss Campbell Lyn born yesterday.  I pray you and Randy have all the blessings in the world that can be given by these precious children.  I'm sure now SHE was worth the wait.  Congrats! 

Second:


Ms. Keisha Simon who found out yesterday as well that she was having a BOY!!!! Babies are a blessing and I pray God continues to bless her on her journey to bringing this life into the world ETA May 22, 2012.




Congrats to both of you lovely ladies you deserve the happiness you have been blessed with.


PS.  I chose purple being that one (Team Green) friend found she was having a girl and one found she was having a boy.

27 weeks and counting

27 weeks pregnant

Well here we are at the beginning of the 3rd trimester.  I'm so excited to be here.  10 more weeks to full term and 9 more 17P injections.  Definitely can't wait to be done with those.  The current consensus is that the baby is a boy.

What do you think?

Weight gain/loss: Gain of course, shhhh 17 so far AHHHH!

Maternity clothes? Can't deny it. 

Stretch marks? Finally found 2 new ones ( I say finally like it's a good thing LOL)

Sleep? Only on a good day 

Best moment this week? Making it this far

Movement: Oh yeah, LO (Little one) is a party animal

Food cravings: I would love some cookies n cream ice cream right now.....

Gender: Look at the pic above and take a wild guess.

Belly button in or out? Out

What I miss? Moving w/0 hurting LOL

What I am looking forward to? Follow up Anatomy scan and OB appointment (not so much the Glucose Tolerance Test)

Milestones: Last leg of the race 

25 Weeks

Your baby's the size of an eggplant!

During month six, the average fetus measures about 13.6 inches to 14.8 inches and weighs about 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.

At 25 weeks your baby

• S/he's enjoying her new sense of equilibrium -- she now knows which way is up and which is down.
• S/he's growing more fat and more hair too!

As of yesterday I am officially 25 weeks pregnant. Alhamdulilah!  I have passed V-day (Viability day) and I am on the road to the third trimester. whoo hoo.  

Weight gain/loss: gain of course it's all uphill from here

Maternity clothes? Yeppers

Stretch marks? No new ones, Alhamdulilah for that

Sleep? what sleep, I get comfortable I wake up I'm so light now a pin drop will keep me up

  

Movement: Yep, little guys is on a roll

Food cravings: none

Belly button in or out? Out-ish

What I miss? being able to move w/o feeling like I am about to fall apart

What I am looking forward to? seeing the baby again at my next Anatomy scan

Milestones: Passed V-day