Week 16 - Headaches and Doctors

At 16 weeks my little lemon has ripened into an avocado, about 4.5 inches from head to butt. My sickness is almost fully gone however last week was plagued by headaches and according to the midwife at my appointment today it could have been caused by SEVERAL things; stress, increased blood flow, caffeine withdrawals, dips in my blood sugar from not eating often enough among other things. In other words I need to start eating every two hours, quit drinking coke as soon as possible and relax for a little each day. I wonder if eating a skittle or two every half hour will keep my sugar consistent…might be fun trying.

At my doctor’s appointment today I met one of the other midwifes at the office, she was nice and informative. I’m healthy, my test results were fine and my uterus is now about two fingers below my belly button – it was kind of uncomfortable trying to find it. Heard my baby’s heartbeat again today, was beating at 150 beats per minute. Mark heard it from the waiting room where he was keeping the kids entertained. Apparently I have to get the movie Jungle Book and let Mark watch it since he could not properly pronounce Mogli’s name when he read the book to the kids of which I got a good giggle out of.

I’m only up 3 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight and I’m really trying to eat good and more to get my weight up (that sounds so weird to say). One place I read said if you are not gaining enough weight then to drink a milkshake each day, good source of calcium and extra calories…I need to go to the store and get me some chocolate ice cream and bananas, make me my banana chocolate milkshakes!!! I’m excited! Another exciting thing…two of our neighbors have brought over fresh veggies and fruit. Baby Rich REALLY appreciated the healthy stuff – she did share with the rest of the family too!

Speaking of SHE’s or HE’s, we have the date for my ultrasound to find out the sex; June 22nd. I can’t wait! Last night I had another weird dream in which I went in for a regular check-up and the doctor held up my baby by the back of the neck and inspected the genitals. The doctor said it was going to be a girl and there was no way it would change to a boy. This is a change from the dreams I was having about my little girl changing into a boy minutes after it was born. Four more weeks and we will know for sure.

Week 15 - World of the apple

So here we are at week 15, the week of the apple. My baby can move all of its joints and can see light too although its eyes are still sealed shut. At this point I am far enough along to tell what the sex is however I won’t have another ultrasound until 20 weeks – so only 5 more weeks until my baby girl is confirmed.

This past week has been a lot better than the last few, I’m still able to eat and have put on 2 pounds past my pre-pregnancy weight (which it’s better for me to think that way instead of putting on 6 pounds in one week). I really did miss food. I still have a few water hang-ups like I cant drink out of certain containers or different brands of water but I’m getting over it. I still have a headache or two a week. Yesterday’s was bad enough that I had to go to bed a little past 9. Although I am allowed to take certain medications I still don’t want to unless I have to. I’ve been health this week (I think), we will find out on Monday at my next doctor’s appointment.

I have not been so good at my exercising, but I made up for it yesterday, walking up and down River Street for 5 hours. I still have my gym membership that I need to actually start using – even if it is only walking on the treadmill for half an hour.

Our last baseball game was Saturday, which I am sad and thankful for – sad cause it will be a whole year before we get to play again but thankful because it was getting HOT out there. I know why there are no summer sports – too damn hot! Thinking we’ll try soccer in the fall – I love soccer, just have to convince Mark it’s not a sissy sport – he’s more baseball/football guy cause that’s what he played as a kid. I wonder how he will do when our little girl goes to dance class…

Second Trimester and Lemons

I’ve been waiting for 13 weeks to get to this point…my second trimester!!! I’m so excited to finally be at this point – hopefully no more getting rid of my meals before I can digest it, the ability to drink water (never tasted so good) and actually able to EAT!!! I’ve been starving to death these past few weeks, losing a total of 5.5 pounds. I’ve managed to gain back 1.5 pounds of that so far and I’m sure by the morning I will have gained more back due to the dinner I was just able to eat including steak, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn on the cob, blackberries and asparagus – and I cleaned my plate. Along with my appetite returning so has my libido…

Ok at week 14 my baby can now squint and pee, probably both at the same time. My baby is now the size of a lemon and is kicking and punching more and more each day although they are still not noticeable by me yet. Apparently my baby can now suck its thumb too.

I enjoyed my first Mother’s Day on Sunday. Spent the morning relaxing then headed to Wal-Mart and bought my mommy a “Grandkids” frame for when all the grandbabies are born and can get a picture taken together. I got four cards, including the GIANT card Mark got me – he said he wanted to get a card he knew I could see LOL – I definitely saw it. We hung out at mama’s house for the rest of the evening and watched Avatar – really good movie.

Mama picked me up an infant baby carrier/car seat thingy so now all I need to get is a Grayco stroller (so the seat can snap right onto it), a crib, a dresser, and I think that will take care of the big items. Good thing is that most of the other infant stuff I’ll get from Sister since by the time my baby is born the twins will be out of the infant stage. In the mean time I can see my grocery bill increasing due to the food I’m sure I’ll be hording down.

Week 13 - Shrimp and Water

My little lime has grown to 3 inches long, which is apparently the size of a medium shrimp - I’m guessing that’s the size of the shrimps perfect for low country boil…low country boil - that sound REALLY good right now. People kept telling me once I hit the 13 week point I’d start to feel better - which seems to be relatively true. Starting on Friday I felt much better and didn’t get sick all weekend although I had another killer headache on Sunday.

Since I found out I was pregnant I’ve lost a total of 5 pounds, so you can imagine my excitement when I was able to eat this weekend. I was even more excited that I could drink water! Frankly, I’m getting tired of coke - it just doesn’t seem to do much for me except give me liquids that I can keep down. I’m really looking forward to putting those 5 pounds back on (when has a woman ever said that?)

Along with being able to eat this weekend I was almost productive. I managed to make room for the changing table I bought last week at a yard sale in my room. I had to move out the TV from my room that never got used in order to make room and the room actually looks bigger. Of course after I got things moved around my lower stomach felt like someone had punched me a few times too many so I had to quit and rest - leaving the bedroom in somewhat of a mess.

We had to run to Wal-Mart this weekend too to pick up a few things and get the boy some different shoes and while we were there I walked around the baby section and found the most adorable things. Mark wanted to go ahead and buy baby diapers and wipes to start stalking up for when it gets here but I didn’t want to jinx myself buying anything this early. I already took enough of a chance buying the changing table but for $15 I couldn’t pass it up. Maybe next week I’ll start buying diapers since I will officially be in my second trimester! Officially only 7 more weeks until I can find out what my baby is going to be even though my gut already knows - I’m just hoping I don’t have to admit that I was wrong, but if I am it will be ok - I’ll be happy with whatever is given to me. This baby will be the most loved child ever!

Week 12 - Limes and Choo-Choo Trains

Another week down, we are at week 12 now and we have made it back to a size I know…A lime! Lime’s may not be my favorite fruit but apparently they are really good in Corona’s – not that I would know due to the fact that I detest beer but nonetheless it works. My baby apparently will squirm when my stomach is prodded, which we found out first hand during today’s doctors appointment. While we were trying to find the little lime to hear its heartbeat, almost as soon as we found it the little stinker would move, causing a very loud swooshing sound. We did get to hear the heartbeat – sounded just like a little choo-choo train.

Today’s doctor’s appointment included my physical – which all the women know exactly what goes on with one of those – some points are not very fun at all. Since last week’s appointment I’ve lost 2 pounds. Normally I’d be happy, especially since this is the lightest I’ve been in the last 5 years but these past few weeks have not been so fun. I’d much rather have gained the weight. I feel horrible, not just cause I’m sick all the time, but I feel guilty that I cant drink water, which I know my baby needs, and I cant eat anything healthy (or even unhealthy) – I was wrong that all babies love McDonald’s French fries…mine just doesn’t care.

Mark was able to attend my appointment with me – he was a very good record keeper. I have a binder which has all my information that I need to know at this point, including a record page so I can keep up with my weight, blood pressure, baby’s heartbeat (today it was around 140) along with other things and Mark was steadily filling in the blanks making sure he got it all recorded. He even was tasked with his own homework, although it was more along the lines of “make sure she does ____” and I’m sure he will take his job very seriously.

With my pregnancy all my energy has gone to keeping my baby safe and healthy, which I don’t mind at all, but it has left my body susceptible too all sorts of infections. At 6 weeks pregnant I had strep throat, at 8 weeks a yeast infection, and 12 weeks a bacterial infection and with each new thing the meds cost more and more. The first prescription was only $4 but today’s…$70!!! That was not exciting to see.

We ended the day playing poker, trying to win back the money we just spent on the medicine but about 2 hours into the game I found myself getting more and more aggravated with the other players who kept taking my money, so I went “all in” to have myself taken “all out” which allowed me to chill out. I did manage to keep down my Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwich from Domino’s that I ate for dinner – even if I did only eat half of it before I fed the rest to Mark. Hopefully this will continue for a few days to help restore some much needed energy, but if it don’t I’ll at least know my baby is doing just fine and it will all be worth it in the end.

Week 11 - Figs and Doctors

Week 11 has come and my kumquat is gone, only to be replaced with the most adorable fig ever! My baby has its arms and legs and will soon be making fists to punch me with. This week has helped ease the “all day” nauseous but has replaced it with a whole lot of puking. Just yesterday alone I couldn’t keep down my breakfast or dinner – dinner ended up in the flower bed which my honey was nice enough to wash away for me.

This morning was my first doctor’s appointment at the Midwife Center, which was fun. Mark finally got to see the place and he was very impressed, he said the place was very “homey” which I agree. I am very happy with my decision to choose to have my baby here, even though my initial decision was based on the no insurance and it was more affordable to have the baby, but now I would have had the baby here even if I had the best insurance offered.

Today was more of a group meeting where me and about 7 other moms-to-be were introduced to the functions of the center and were rotated into different sections to have blood work done and our ultrasounds. I was last to have my ultrasound and at first the baby was sleeping – which scared me – I didn’t see it moving and my heart dropped. When I asked the tech if she could poke it with the wand thingie she just said that if I held my breath that she would wake up. Boy did she wake up…she started kicking and punching and moving her arms and twisting around. It was AMAZING! I managed not to cry but thinking about it again its hard not to cry in relief – my baby is perfectly fine! I’m gonna be a mommy! Oh – did I mention there is only one baby LOL – no multiples for me. (Pictures are posted on my facebook).

I have my next appointment on Monday, which will be more of a one-on-one appointment and my physical (which I really need – my last paps was back in 2005 if I’m not mistaken). Until then I hope that my sickness will get less frequent and I can go through a day and not fear that I will not make it to the bathroom or that someone will hear me puking in the bathroom at work. Will update next week – I wonder what size my baby will be then???

Week 10 - What's a Kumquat???

Well, it’s been 10 weeks and now my baby is the size of a kumquat – what the hell is a kumquat??? I guess my baby will still be referred to as a grape this week, or maybe I’ll regress back to a blueberry – that one was cute.

This past week was a rough one – most of which I wont get into. My emotions are still on high alert – I get my feelings hurt QUICKLY and I’m still getting sick all the time. I was a wreck all day Saturday getting ready for Terror’s baby shower. Bought her the cutest little outfit that said how great the boys Auntie was and when I wrote in sisters card it took me about an hour cause I didn’t want to cry when she read it – didn’t work too well.

Being at sister’s shower got me thinking about what we are going to do about mine in September. Since I can count on one hand who I would invite I figured it would be more fun to have a co-ed shower and have it be more of a BBQ or something, that way Mark’s friends could come too.

We are on the last leg of tax season – but it will still be very busy at the office until the end of the month. I feel bad that I am unable to work later than I have been due to the little grape sending these “feed me” warnings right at 5 and on the weekends all it wants to do is sleep and lay around to recoup from the prior week.

With the end of tax season brings my doctors appointment! Next Tuesday I will get to see my little baby for the first time – which I hope there is only ONE! It’s so funny going into this and be excited there is only one – most people don’t give a thought of there being more than one – we will find out soon.