My HG Story

 After two consecutive miscarriages, I was so excited on MLK day in January 2019, to see those two pink lines that indicated I was pregnant again. I thought I had dealt with the hardest part of pregnancy, just getting pregnant but that was wrong.

At week six, I began feeling nauseous, I told myself this was normal as all the apps said I would feel this way. By week seven, on Valentines Day, I began vomiting. Nothing that was suggested for nausea remedies helped and I began throwing up many times a day. I was in my 3rd year of teaching at the time, I would remember waking up and throwing up twice before I even got to work and trying to sneak into the hallway to throw up. At my 8 week appointment, I remember crying to my mother in law, begging her to take me to my appointment because I was so sick, I couldn’t drive myself. By week 10, my students noticed the drastic difference in my appearance and were worried I had something contagious so I told them I was pregnant. When I was focused on my students, I didn’t throw up as much. However, when I got home I couldn’t eat, I would just take a large bucket to my bed and throw up until I fell asleep. I knew if I was awake, I would throw up. I struggled to take my thyroid medication and my prenatals. I was taking promethazine suppositories I got from my mom and wearing a sea band.I was worried about what would happen to my baby. By week 13, I went to my friend’s bridal shower wearing a dress I hadn’t fit in years, gray skin, with 30 pounds lost. After the bridal shower, I began throwing up violently, my throat felt like it was on fire. I looked at my husband and said “I think I need to go to the hospital”. We went to the ER, I was terrified because I had never stayed in the hospital before. I was admitted to the Antepartum unit in my local hospital. I was put on a liquid diet and given anti-nausea medications (zofran, promethazine, diclegis and a banana bag. I was discharged after 3 days. I was put on diclegis once during the day and twice at night and told to stop taking the prenatals. I became functional, but I threw up every day until I delivered my oldest, Kara, in September 2019. 

14 months later, Kara was walking and growing up. I had learned some things about HG, though only my primary OB ever told me I had it, and knew it had an 80 percent recurrence. My husband and I thought we knew what to expect this time so we could prepare and it wouldn’t be so bad. However, we couldn’t be more wrong. The symptoms started like clock work, nausea at 6 weeks, and at 7 weeks vomiting again. This time I vomited every time I was awake and moved. Even if my stomach was empty, I threw up. I was admitted to hospital in the general population for 3 days then was discharged, while I was in the hospital someone called and asked if I was interested in using a zofran pump for treatment and I agreed. A week or two later the vomiting continued day and night with the pump. My husband had to wheel me into my doctor’s appointment because I was so weak I couldn’t walk. My OB got me signed up for IV home fluids and a nurse set up my IV showed my husband what to do to change my IV bags. I had to request a leave of absence from work because I could no longer function and I couldn’t bring my IV to school, and I was still throwing up. I began refusing to eat and was living off the sustenance of IV fluids only. My husband eventually admitted me to the ER again, they gave me some meds, gave me some water and said “well, you didn’t throw up so it’s time to go home”, and I got back in the car with my Mom and threw up. My mom said, “Do you want to go back there?” I refused. I told my OB I would not go back to the hospital unless they admitted me to antepartum. He agreed and when I was admitted he talked to me about getting a PICC line. Because it was COVID times, I had to go alone to get the procedure. It was extremely scary. The first week I was in the hospital they couldn;t get me to stop throwing up, and I wasn’t allowed anything except ice chips, which I still threw up. I had lost 40 pounds at this point and I was being considered for a feeding tube due to severe malnourishment. The doctor finally decided to go past the maximum dose for the anti-nausea medications and I was on a rigorous schedule of 6 different medications every 2 hours until I stopped throwing up. They got me on TPN through my PICC line (feeding tube through IV) and gave me the nutrients I needed. The second week in the hospital they finally let me see my 15 month old, I remember crying because I hadn’t seen her in a week. Because of COVID, I had no visitors except my husband. I remember feeling so alone and feeling like I was going to die. Even seeing food on a commercial on the hospital TV made me want to throw up. During that second week, I was slowly able to eat food again. Then since my body had gone so long without real food, I had severe gas pains and threw up all over again due to the pain. Eventually, my body adjusted and I was able to remove the zofran pump, PICC line and leave the hospital. I stayed off work another two weeks to give myself some time to recover and was on a strict 2 hour medication schedule just to function. I was eventually able to return to work but it took until about week 18 for me to be able to function again. If I didn’t take my medication, I would go right back to vomiting all over again. This continued until I delivered my son, Luke, in August 2021. 

At this point, I knew I was done, I could not go through this again. I was dealing with severe postpartum depression, so much so that I was taking antidepressants, and when my period was late 8 months later, I took a pregnancy test and my heart stopped. I was pregnant again and I knew what was coming again. I cried and wrestled with emotions of wanting to terminate my pregnancy because I just couldn't do it again. My family was like, “think positive, it may not happen again”. But like clockwork week 6 nausea, week 7 the vomiting episodes began. I felt so embarrassed telling my boss that I was pregnant again and that I was probably going to struggle with HG again. I spent a week in the hospital, things got better for a while but then the symptoms came back into full force and the medication wasn’t working. I spent another week in the hospital. I had gotten a new job in between hospitalizations, but was told my old job wouldn't cover me anymore because I couldn’t make it to work on my last day, why? Because I was in a hospital bed attached to an IV. Finally, I figured out promethazine worked best for me and it became my primary medication. I felt so weak all the time and it took me almost 25 weeks to feel more “normal”. I finally felt like myself again when I delivered my youngest daughter Cecilia in December 2022. 

Now 16 months later, I struggle every day with coping with HG. I feel sick when I think about the foods I could only eat when I was at my worst. I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder. I made my husband get a vasectomy because I fear becoming pregnant again. HG robbed me of the joy/excitement pregnancy should have brought us. Instead, I spent most of it alone, fighting for my life, and my children’s. I share my story because a treatment needs to be found. My doctor was mostly supportive, but I came across many doctors/nurses who were not. I even remember once in the ER saying, “I have HG”, and a nurse saying, “Have you actually been diagnosed with that?” Women and babies globally deserve to be heard and listened to. No one deserves to have to suffer with HG.

Nancy Drew Games: 30 Games in Review- Best and Worst

Ok so I'm crazy about the Nancy Drew series. I loved the books as a child and I started playing the video games as a child, although they were way too difficult for me then and even sometimes now. Here is what I think about the games and my best and worst games. WARNING: THESE REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. 

1. Secrets Can Kill (Original) and Remastered

Ok so this was the first game and it’s honestly terrible. I was very disappointed in this game partially due to the fact that I had played the games out of the order and had grown used to the up tec of the newer games. The design is completely different and the original story is interesting, the culprit isn't even a character in the game. Also it was just so cheesy and barely any puzzles at all, just weird hidden codes that made it very difficult in my opinion to play.

Remastered: Much better, more up to the current style of Nancy Drew games and the made the plot more interesting, while keeping some of the original dialogue of the game. They also changed the culprit making them an actual part of the game. They also added an actual confrontation to the game and more puzzles. Added bonus that Michael Grey aka arglefumph's picture is in the game, I love following his game play on YouTube. I still don't like the game as much as others, but much better. My only negative is they made the character Daryl look ugly.

2. Stay Tuned for Danger

This game is popular among other gamers. I do like that it involves a serious crime and that there is a lot of character dialogue and sneaking around. Also you find hidden passageways and learn about different secrets of each of the characters. Also the design is a huge step up from the previous game, although the characters look kind of like Barbie and Ken, their current character design is flawless compared to these original games. I also do like how the threats build and how Nancy is even threatened. Negatives: don't like the phones calls or the voice actors of George, Bess and Ned. The ending was great, super climatic. Her interactive discontinued this game, so fans are hoping that means that it will be remastered soon.

Update 5/22/14- looks like on the herinteractive website you can buy this game, previously it had been discontinued.

3. Message in A Haunted Mansion

This was my first Nancy Drew game I owned and attempted to play as a child. I now find it relatively simple compare to other games in the series. I do love Victorian styles houses so that is a major plus for this game. The characters are rather dull, except for Abby who is causing hauntings and faking making contact with ghosts. It is the series first scary game as you hear noises and see "ghosts" in random scenes. It is also has a little bit of history learning about the Chinese role in Victorian houses in San Fran. The puzzles aren't too difficult and I like the hidden treasure in the house. This is also the first game when Nancy is knocked out. Overall I saw its ok, I don't find it outstanding. 

4. Treasure in A Royal Tower

This is a definite favorite and as been voted as the best game by Nancy Drew fans for the reason that is a fantastic game. It involves staying at an old castle in Wisconsin, quirky characters such as Professor Hotchkiss and the mystery of finding a diamond belonging to Marie Antoinette! It's one of the series first history type games and it is a definite classic and favorite along with kind of a shock on the culprit.

5. The Final Scene

This also a favorite game of mine, I love pretty much everything about this game. The game starts off with an immediate bang as Nancy's friend Maya is kidnapped! Searching to find Maya and her kidnapper against the clock of the theater being shut down. The game play is fantastic and there is a lot of great characterization and plot line in this game. Plus major twist of Brady Armstrong being half owner of the theater and not stopping the demolition. Also neat plot line of Harry Houdini being part owner and finding his will! It's great game.

6. Secret of the Scarlet Hand

This game is not a popular one among fans, but I quite like it. I read the book although I'll be honest and cannot remember much about it, but never the less I found this to be a really good game. I liked all the characters and the puzzles involved. Plus this is the first time we come in contact with the famous Sonny Joon, who will dance in and out of future Nancy Drew Games and we will eventually meet and discover his secrets in game # 30. I also found learning about Mayan artifacts to be interesting and the plot twist of .... getting hit on the head and losing his memory and .... suddenly leaving the museum and finding who stole the Pascal artifact. The phone contacts in this game are great and this is the first time Nancy is locked in a life or death situation and solves a puzzle to get out. Fantastic game in my opinion, I'm not sure why so many people dislike it.

7. Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake

This is not one of favorite games. I didn't not find the characters interesting, nor the game play very interesting. I did like the cut scenes of the "ghost dogs" attacking the house and I also like Nancy's discoveries about the gangster and the treasure he left behind. That plot line is pretty much the only thing that saves this game.

8. The Haunted Carousel

I loved this game the first time I played it. The accidents were mysterious, there was a lot of great plot with the different characters in the game and of course the haunted carousel itself was really interesting concept for a game. More to come.

9. Danger on Deception Island

Not a fan of this game. I like the story line was interesting, but I was never really a big fan of the game or the characters in the game.

10. Secret of Shadow Ranch

This was the first Nancy Drew game I played all the way through. Love it! I'd give it five stars, I like riding around in the abandoned city, picking veggies for shorty, riding horses and of course all the plot twists with the various characters is awesome. I also love the various cut scenes with the ghost horse and the love story between Frances Huber and Dirk Valentine. I also love how Nancy finds the treasure Dirk left for Frances. My only down side is that the culprit chasing you challenge gives me panic attacks lol.

11. Curse of Blackmoor Manor

I really like this game the first time I played it. I liked all the characters even Linda who you don't see at all during the game, just how hairy she is. The plot is quite interesting this time, with Linda being cursed and becoming the creature of Blackmoor manor. I totally dig it. Also who can't love the parrot!! This also the first time in the series Nancy goes abroad, to England! This game however is very puzzle heavy, although they are interesting. A lot of the puzzles had to do with the Pendulum family history, which is super interesting. I did not enjoy it the second time I went through it for whatever reason, I think once you've solved the mystery it is sadly not as enjoyable for this game.

12. Secret of the Old Clock

Love this game! I thought I wouldn't because of Nancy going back in time to the 1930's but I ended up loving it. The story is just so endearing. It is also interesting because the game is combo and alteration of the first four Nancy Drew books. I know I've read the first two, but I don't think I read the Lilac Inn one so I did know but the plot twist of Jane being an imposter and Josiah hiding his real will under someone else's name! I also love the golf challenge, the favors for the people, and although challenging pretending to read Toppan’s mind. I also enjoyed the bit of humor with Bess and George on the 1930's phone. I do wish Emily could have worn something besides that ugly white nightie. 

13. Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon

This game is supposed to have the most puzzles of all the Nancy Drew games, but how can you not love this game? It has the Hardy boys! And we get to meet the author Charelena Purcell from game number 10. I also kind of enjoyed the love plot line between Tino and Lori and the ghost hunter John was a memorable character. The game even has a glimpse of Jake Hurley's dead wife Camille’s ghost. The only story line is fantastic, I love how Lori disappears within a few minutes of the game, and the each time you complete a big puzzle you get to explore new areas of the train. The overall plot line of being invited about on a train with a big socialite to figure out what happened to Jake Hurley on his train is so awesome! I also like how you stop and meet Fatima who has some of Jake Hurley's thing in her store and finding Jake's hidden mine and what Lori really wanted to find a letter from Abe Lincoln on the day he died! What a plot twist. I just love literally everything about this game. 

14. Danger by Design 

I also really like this game. Nancy travels to France undercover in order to find out why the designer Minnette is acting so strangely, one being, why the hell is that bitch wearing a mask 24/7? All jokes aside I really like this game. I liked the characters in the game, and I like to old romance between Dieter and Minnette and Heather trying to be a part of it. I enjoyed the puzzles in this game like the tea puzzle and finding objects for Minnette and I also like the big sub plot of finding out about the spy who used to own Minnette's place and find valuable pieces of art from the war. It was beautifully tragic. I also like the final scene with Minnette and finding all her secrets. Nancy Drew lives such as exciting life!

15. Creature of Kapu Cave

Not really a fan of this game. It has interesting points in it and of course the Hardy boys are in it and our hirer goes missing. More to come.

16. The White Wolf of Icicle Creek

I rate this game in the middle, Nancy Drew in Canada, aye? I like being doing the maid duties and playing snowballs with Freddie. I also kind enjoy cooking meals. Also love being able to call mystico!! Funny extra in the game. I liked the sub plot of having Tino make from game 13 and I love the wolf Isis! I love that puzzles where you control Isis. The bomber plot line is ok, I found the actual characters in this game as bland. And the final chase with Yanni at the end stresses me out. 

17. Legend of the Crystal Skull

I like this game, not sure a lot of people do. Although some people think Ned's friend Henry is the hottest male Nancy Drew character and that he should hook up with Mel from game 21. Anyway I find the whole game interesting. This is the first time when you can switch from Nancy and play as Bess which her parts of are quite fun! I like her messing with the shop owner, to talking with Dr. Buford and of course sneaking into (and failing) at the Jolly Rogers Meeting, which is such an interesting sub plot. I like learning all the about the Whisperer skull and Dr. Bolet's death. And of course its just so much fun playing with all of Dr. Bolet's pets, the alligator really helped us at the end. My dislikes include getting so lost in the grave yard, getting attacked by the spider and I don't like how you can't stop Renee the first time you have to die first.

18. Phantom of Venice

I've just recently beaten this game again, definitely liked it although I think its pretty challenging. I liked most of the characters although Helena is ugly. I also found the whole locket sub plot to be annoying, but there are so many exciting elements in this game! I love that Nancy is working under cover for the FBI of Italy and she gets to spy on Fango and plant tracking devices. I also like how everything in the crime rig is so encrypted. And of course there is the awesomeness of the steak out, stealing a valuable diamond and tracking the pigeon. Also it is kind of funny that you have to be a striper and dance for money if you run out. I loved playing scopa with Enrico. The puzzles I disliked in particular are how you had to re do the lock puzzle every time you want to Fango's office, the mosaic puzzle with Colin (too many tiles) and the drain puzzle in the safe house. Overall a pretty thrilling game!

19. Haunting of Castle Malloy

This is the game I am currently replaying, I do enjoy it a lot. I like all the characters and I love the castle in Ireland although it is super creepy. I enjoy mixing drinks, although I suck at difference detective. The game starts of really exciting with a "banshee" running across Nancy's car making her drive into a ditch. Also you can kind of see Nancy, as you guide her around the castle grounds. Also who doesn't love flying jetpacks!!! The main sub plots of finding Matt and smaller sub plot of finding out about Brendan Malloy and his daughter Fiona is super interesting. I also like the love triangle and how there isn't really a villain this game. By the way I'm dreading the end game puzzle.

20. Ransom of Seven Ships

I'm not a fan of this game, its kind of not their best game. I do like seeing Bess and George for the first time although I like how they look in the modern games better. I also like that the character Johnny ended up being Dwayne Powers from game #2 and that he made sure the island was deserted and tricked Nancy and her friends into coming out there and kidnapping Bess. However, it was a very puzzle heavy game and it was obvious who the culprit was because there was only one character you could talk to in the game...

21. Warnings of Waverly Academy

Ok, I love this game too death! Not only did I go to an all girls private school like the girls in the game, but also when I first played the game I was in high school and I could totally relate. I love the black cat reference to Rita Hallowell, the school's founder and all the Edgar Allen Poe references! I love Poe, and the hidden treasure in the school in an unpublished manuscript by Poe (I totally nerded out) I also like the liked all the characters in the game. I loved the plot twist of Rachel, actually being a twin! I love all the gossip sub plots and I love all the puzzles in this game. It is just an amazing game for sure!!!

22. Trail of the Twister

Need to replay.... I remember not being a huge fan of this game. The tornado element is pretty awesome, however I did not like most of the characters except Pa, who I felt terrible for, he is so sweet! The car chase wasn't bad against the big tornado, not safe Nancy!

23. Shadow at the Water's Edge

Another amazing game, this game is by far the scariest Nancy Drew game in my opinion. I love Nancy being in Japan. I really liked all the characters and doing calligraphy with Taki. Also I love Suki and learning the mystery behind the ghost of Kasumi. Obviously the mirror scene is super scary! I also loved Yumi and the creepy scene in her apartment and being almost drowned by Kasumi. I love the Bento puzzle and the puzzle with Yumi's pictures and travelling on the subway. Also the phone contacts in this game are great. I like the sub plot of Bess and Logan and I love talking to Savannah Woodham. I also love Yumi's fashion program and Suki! My only dislikes are the all puzzles Rentaro gives you and that the family is so angry all the time. Otherwise love this game!

24. The Captive Curse

I liked this game the first time I played it, and I still like it but I'm mad at it right now. My mac version was glitch and I can't progress in the game because one of the legend pages is it not where it is supposed to be. However I like all the characters in this game. I also really the games like Raid and monster are super fun. The monster is pretty scary and puzzles are mildly hard. The overall plot of the game is great, and I find humor in the phone call "Monster on Castle Grounds". I also Nancy is in Germany (wish I score free trips places like Nancy) I also like feeding Renate cake. 

25. Alibi in Ashes

Love this game, everything about it. I love switching between George, Bess, Nancy and Ned. This game is so exciting with Nancy being accused of arson! Nancy gets arrested and put in jail and then you have to build a case against Nancy. I like Alexi and the weirdness of Nancy begging her boyfriend to date another woman. I like how you can distract Brenda, and what is a Nancy Drew game without hidden passageways? Finding tunnels under River Heights and learning Brenda's secrets. I obviously detest Toni and Brenda but this game pretty much has no dull moment. You even get to use fingerprint samples and all kinds of fun stuff. Great game, love it!

26. Tomb of the Lost Queen

I like this game, not as much as I've loved/liked the last three but this is a good game. I love learning about Nefertiti and Nancy is in Egypt translating hieroglyphs!!! I like all the characters, even Lilly although she is super annoying sometimes. The game as cool aspects such as sandstorms and learning more about Sonny Joon. Obviously all the false tombs and Jon being attacked as well as Dylan make the game super exciting. I also like talking to Professor Hotchkiss again from game #4. I don't love, love the game because some of the puzzles were super hard for me to solve. But I do like how Nancy jumps from columns!

27. The Deadly Device

This is also a pretty awesome game, and another murder! We haven't had a murder since game #1. I love the opening segment of the game where we are basically face timing Victor and the quality is outstanding it just shows you how far the Nancy Drew games have come. I also like all the characters, and finding out secrets about all the characters. The puzzles in this game are interesting and challenging. I really hated the geometric challenge. I did like learning about Telsa and the finding Nico's secret study and building fare day cage and learning who the true murderer is. I totally didn't see Victor being the killer after he hired us! I also like the re appearance of Deirdre Shannon from game 25, she is just too funny. Great game.

28. Ghost of Thornton Hall

Ok, I love this game! I love the family aspect and learning about how the Thornton family rose to power during the civil war and the blood on the family's hand. Also the story of Charlotte Thornton and finding Harper and seeing Charlotte’s ghost is super scary. I also like the phone call conservations with Addison and Savannah from game #23. Also the main mystery of Jessalyn's disappearance and the sub plot of Colton's cheating is crazy! Everything about the plot is amazing! Some puzzles are hard, and I'm not a fan of the multiple endings where you can choose not to save people and the ending is basically pointless because Nancy has regrets and you feel bad about yourself. 

29. The Silent Spy

Ok, this is also a pretty amazing game. I mean hello! Nancy's mom wasn't really killed in a car accident, she was spy stopping a biological attack on Scotland! I mean come on this game is fantastic, we get to glide across hotel rooms, peek on a spy, find a secret formula, stop a biological attack by terrorist organization, and learn the truth about Nancy's mom. The characters are awesome and we get to meet Samantha Quick from game 18 whose real name is Zoe. The puzzles are challenging and so many exciting events happen, it’s an intense game, definitely one of herinteractive's best.

30. The Shattered Medallion

This is the latest Nancy Drew game. Nancy travels to New Zeeland with George and Bess to complete on Pacific Run, a survivor type reality TV show. Someone injures George, and the big mystery is what is Sonny Joon doing? The challenges are fun and a bit frustrating. There is almost no character development and I don't like any the characters except Sonny. It was definitely an adventure game, however I was bit disappointed after the Silent Spy.

Serial Killers

So for my first official blog I am writing about serial killers... yes serial killers we have all thought "how could someone do that?' or been intrigued by all the stuff the have done. I watch a lot of NCIS, CSI, Dexter, and Snapped myself. They make the stuff interesting. I've done research on popular serial killers and I am talking about possibles issues they may have brought up their killing sprees and what they have in common. If you have never heard Adolf Hitler may have never killed all the Jews in Europe if he had been accepted to art school. Simple or more complicated things can mess up a person like this.
The first killer I looked at was the Zodiac killer. Most of methods didn't follow a pattern he shot, he stabbed, no rape or anything. His first kills were a teenage couple getting it on in lovers lane. He was most famous because of calls and letters he wrote to the newspapers claiming he killed the people. A lot of the notes had 4 cryptic messages that only one has been decoded. There were a few suspects but no one who the Zodiac killer is. He could still be alive. Which I think is totally freaky. Anyway the investigation is still open.
Then there is the well known Jack the Ripper killing prostititutes most likely because he walked in on his Mom having sex with someone, or his Mom had lots of men to sleep or with, or he could of been sexually abused by someone. His murders were bloody and he often left body parts sitting around. He also had sex with a lot of women that he murdered which goes back to the possible therories I mentioned. (I thought of them but I'm sure they have been thought of before)
Charles Manson for some reason I never really think of when I think about serial killers. But he did convince a lot of women to call him Jesus and do sexual favors for him. He convinced most everyone to kill themselves in the cult that he ran. He just liked to manipulate women.
Do you notice a lot of these serial killers have problems with women?
Except for this guy John Wayne Gacy, who dressed up as a clown and tricked little boys into getting to handcuffs before strangling them and raping them.
Another common theme: sex (so predominant in our lives)
Bascially their are a lot of serial killers out there most of them are sick or insane. They are never born that way something tramatic has to happen in order for someone to feel the need to do that.
Even in the popular show Dexter. Dexter thought he was born the way he was but then learned he and his brother watched his mother get chain sawed in front of him. His brother also became a serial killer.
Most of you are probaly wondering what inspired this blog? well I take pysch in school and a girl in my class talked about them a few times :)

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