Week 11. . . .

Well I made it on my first trip. We just got back from Detroit, Michigan yesterday. I made the eight hour drive feeling fine. I was a little concerned about it seeing that I get car sick on top of being pregnant but it was ok. Those Reglan pills my doctor gave me sure came in handy. It's finally week 11. It seems like it is just dragging by. I want to be done with this first trimester so badly that I think I'm making the time seem slower. I still have the same symptoms. I need to eat alot. I'm not showing in the mornings. I can tell, but no one else can. After I eat you sure can tell though. I get supper bloated after I eat anything but unfortunately it goes away. I know there's something going on though. TMI-I know, but my boobs are bigger and my pants are a little snugger. Guess that's how it goes. I'm also beginning to wonder when other people started to show with their first baby. Guess I will have to ask around more! :) I'm ready ready ready to feel this baby. My next appointment is next Monday. Just a check up to weigh me and listen to the heartbeat. I can't wait to hear that heartbeat again! It is very comforting! I haven't been reading to much. Just keeping up with my "what to expect" book as far as weeks go. I'm trying to eat as healthy as I can although the doctor said the first 12 weeks are survival weeks and to eat whatever I felt like I could handle. So I snack alot. No caffeine though. None! Well maybe a sip that's it. I've had the weirdest belching since I got pregnant. I know it's gross but that is one of my major symptoms. I'll sure take that over getting sick though. I've got my nursery ideas in my mind, but I think I'm just going to wait on buying things until I know what this baby is. Only 7 more weeks!!

Beside baby news, things are good at home. Same ole, same ole! Rich is leaving for the Master's golf tournament Saturday. Not looking forward to being husbandless for 5 days. When you get pregnant you seem to need them to just be there so much more! I think it will be rough on me! We are looking for a new car. We've only had one for over 6 months. It's been fine because I work from home and Rich is usually home on and off all day, but we are gonna need something before October. Some kind of SUV, hopefully the Cadillac we want :). Family is good. Life is a blessing. :) That's my update for now.

10 Weeks and Counting

Yesterday was my 10 week mark. It was one of the best days I have had so far that is until dinner. I had so much energy yesterday and completely forgot that I was pregnant but when I came down from finishing up my work I started to get a little nauseous. No biggie right, just eat it will go away. This time it didn't and I immediately took one of my Reglan pills that my obgyn gave me for nausea. Those have been life savers. When you are pregnant get them for backup. I've only had to use 3 so far, but it really does take away any sickness I promise. I was already so nauseous by the time I started making dinner that the smell of the food hit me like a ton of bricks. I just knew it would be my first date with the toilet. I was determined to not let it be but then again anything would have felt better. I laid down with a cold rag and after about 30 to 45 minutes it went away. I think the pill kicked in and I was up and around eating too like nothing had happened. My first spell of vomiting was avoided! My doctor said that if I could make it through 10 weeks she thought I would be sick free. Last night when I started to get sick I was so frustrated but thank God it went away. We are leaving tomorrow for an 8 hour car trip to Michigan with some friends. I sure hope my normal car sickness doesn't mix with the pregnancy! You better believe my pills will be at my side. I weighed this morning. I've gained about 2 lbs which is ok I guess. Your supposed to gain between 2 and 4 lbs during your first 12 weeks. I just hope I don't blimp out in the next few. I need to get walking again. I tried walking a few weeks ago and it made me really sick feeling. My doctor told me to wait until after 12 weeks. She said to then try exercising again. I guess exercising can be to much for some moms during the first few weeks. Well that's been my rollacoaster ride for the past few days. It seems like there are always good and bad days. I am just ready to feel this baby and have reassurance that there is a life inside of me that my body is fighting to create just perfectly. A LIFE inside of me! No wonder you get so out of wack!

Now on to another day. We will see how it goes. Maybe if I'm brave I'll post some belly pics soon.

Word travels fast....

    

It seems like the word is officially out now. We have pretty much announced to everyone that we are expecting. I think that as far as the majority goes, we have covered all the bases. If not, word will keep spreading I'm sure. Facebook really helped in that matter! Henry and Virginia want to be called Nonie and Popie. :) They just informed us of that. My mom and dad want to be called Mimi and Pop, and Donna wants to be called Nonna. I haven't heard from Rick yet, but our child will be so confused with all these names. That doesn't even include Donna's parents. Poor child. Everything seems to be going fairly well. I still have to eat every few hours and will be more than happy when these 12 weeks are over. I think my mom is even more protective now than she ever has been. She calls me everyday but now its a lot more. I'm sure it will die down once the shock has surpassed but it is still a bit overwhelming. It might die down for maybe 9 weeks until we find out what it is. Then comes the spoiling. Anyway I just wanted to write a quick update. I'm trying to keep some form of record of this pregnancy for my own memories and for my friends who may want some advice when they are going through it.

Carrie brought Mayer home yesterday. I hope she is feeling good! He is just a beautiful gift! I can't wait to see mine!! I'm attaching some pictures that we have taken up until now :).

Baby Journal... may be TMI beware! :)

January 22nd, Tried Conception Today!

January 23rd, Still Trying to Conceive!

February 12th, I cannot believe this is my
body!

I've missed my period for four days now. I'm assuming I am pregnant. The first two test that I took were negative, but I bought the cheap ones and don't think I took them right. I'm going to take another one tomorrow morning. I've had nausea but no vomiting. I've had horrible lower abdomen cramping, like I would have had on my period, tender breasts, and an overall weird feeling. I can't believe when you find out your pregnant you are already four weeks. Richard and I are anxious to find out just exactly if I am pregnant, we will see!!

February 13th, The Most Amazing thing Happened!

The first few tests I took were negative. I think again it was because of the less sensitive brand I took and because I took them on the day of my missed period. Well today is Friday and I took the final one of the pack. Immediately the pregnancy showed up! So there is no denying it! I am PREGNANT! Richard is working out! I'm going to have the video camera ready when he gets home! :) I did wake up with some brown discharge. I hope this is normal. Right now, I feel nauseous but that's OK! Last night I was secretly elated to myself. I know my body and new I was pregnant! I don't think it will sink in until I hear that heartbeat!!! Lord bless this child as you knit him or her together in my womb.

February 16th, First Appointment!

I'm going to my first doctor's appointment today! I'm just meeting with the nurses and getting blood work, an exam, and all the pre-visit over with. I'll find out the due date and how far I am :). I feel great, as long as I keep eating!

Well, I went to the doctor. I am official PREGNANT! My urine sample was positive. She said it was faint at first but then popped right up as positive. We went over questions and concerns. She drew my blood (a lot of it) and then set me up for my next appointment to see the first ultrasound at 8 weeks and hear the heartbeat on March 9th. So in three weeks, we can see our "Little one." Rich and I have named it that so we can have something to call he or she for the next 16 weeks. I have to say when I left here I was all SMILES. I am just full of joy! We have decided to wait until after our March 9th appointment to tell anyone. We want to make sure the baby looks healthy. My nausea has gone away. As long as I eat every few hours all day long, I am good to go. She prescribed me two prescriptions for nausea incase it gets worse. I am praying that I continue to feel good so that I can enjoy this special miracle growing inside me. What a blessing.

February 18th, Blood Work

Today my doctor called and left a message on my phone. I was very nervous when I saw the call. The nurse had told me they would call if there were any problems with my blood work. Of coarse I assumed something was wrong when I saw that I missed the call. Well I wrong. The nurse just told me that all my blood work came back normal every test they ran was perfect. She also said that my thyroid was normal, which was a relief and it means the medicine is working. She told me I was (O+) and that everything was great. It was a great relief to here. I have felt great the past few days and just now I feel a little nauseous. I pray that I continue to feel well. I think what I am most leery about is telling everyone. I just don't want to. Isn't that weird! I pray that changes too!

February 20th, BLAH!

This morning, I woke up with a sore throat. Just what I need, huh? So far, today has been the most sluggish day. I feel so tired and crappy. I think it has to do with the cold symptoms I have but also the baby. I have yet to throw up, knock on wood. I'm so nervous it will get really bad, but I have read of woman who already can't keep things down and who don't even want to eat. I still have my appetite, more so than usual, and if I eat all the time throughout the day, the nausea seems to be somewhat contained. Again, knock on wood. I think today I just feel under the weather because of this cold or something like a cold I have picked up. I did look at more baby names today. I am still partial towards our few originals. We will see if those change, even though they haven't in years. It's crazy to think I can even be looking at names, but I still want to think about a lot more names. I have the time! I wish my first trimester was over. I wish my family and friends new and that was blown over, and I wish that I knew what this new miracle was inside of me! A lot of wishing! :) Today I just plan on hopefully running a few errands and relaxing with my husband tonight! :) Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow. I'm supposed to help Carrie with some things for Mayer. Do you know how hard it is to not tell your best friend who is pregnant that you’re pregnant? I just want to wait until he's here and she has had her moments! :) Did I mention I am still as nervous as ever to tell people? UGH I hate unwanted attention

March 7th, Feelings up Until Now.

I've been wanting to write about my feelings and what my body has been going through up until now and I am just now finding the time to do so. I will be 8 weeks on Monday. Richard and I go to our first ultrasound that day and get to see the "little one" and hear its heartbeat. We have been counting down the days until this. I think it will be even more real once we see and hear it. It will seem real then. As for the past four weeks, I haven't felt bad to my surprise. Since I've always been the one with the weak stomach, I figured I would be the misfortunate one who was always throwing up and have a miserable time. I even have a few friends who would always say how bad it would be for me. Ironically enough, knock on wood, it hasn't been bad at all. I have my moments where I feel sick to my stomach but as long as I never reach the hunger stage, I'm good. I've had to eat something every 2 hours to feel fine, but as long as I do that I'm not sick. I do feel exhausted and at times it will just take over me. I'm hoping that morning sickness won't just creep up on me after 8 weeks. I'm going to ask the doctor if she thinks that it will just appear. I'm just praying that I'll continue to feel this good. SHOCKED though that I feel remotely good. Blessed! Symptoms so far: 1. Extreme bloating to where I look pregnant. Here one day gone the next. 2. Moments of nausea that is dispersed with food. 3. Two moments of faintness/vomiting spells that did not happen. I think they were caused by waiting to long to eat breakfast and working out and getting to hot in the shower 4. Some dizziness 5. Overall exhaustion. 6. Sore breasts! 7. Discharge/two days at 4 weeks of brown spotting. Gone since. Not a worry though. Normal. 8. Moments of anxiousness about telling the family and carrying a baby. 9. Emotional lows and highs. Cry baby! 10. Dry mouth/stuffiness every morning. 11. Thirsty A LOT 12. Weird skin irritation. 12. Minimal crampiness. SO there you have it. My 8 weeks in a nut shell. Overall I feel surprisingly good. SO good that I won't believe there is a baby in there until I see it on Monday. Praying it all goes well.Carrie still hasn't had her baby. Don't want to tell anyone until she does. I still don't want to tell anyone period. I just loathe the attention and reactions. Scared for some weird reason. Not the reaction I thought I would have to getting pregnant. So we will see. Maybe after Monday I will feel better about telling everyone. I will wait on Mayer though. Maybe at 10 weeks.

March 9th, First Ultrasound

Today was out first ultrasound and it was amazing. I went in and actually had already gained 1 lb. I guess that is because I am eating every two hours so I don't get sick and am bloated. It seems to be subduing, the sickness, so I will sacrifice my body and gain a few lbs to stop from throwing up. Anyway, we went in and Richard got to meet Dr. McGuire. He loved her. I can't believe that she actually did the ultrasound and stayed with us in the room for so long. She treats me like I'm her only patient and I truly love that about her and her office. She is so caring and wonderful. I know I'm in good hands. Well she did my annual PAP before I got to preggo and then did my first ultrasound on my tummy. She showed us the baby and the heart beat. She said it was PERFECT baby. It had separated from the sack perfectly and had connected to me perfectly. The heartbeat was amazing to hear 156 beats per minute. Then she asked if I wanted a vaginal ultrasound because we could see the baby better. Of course I wanted too. We then saw the baby clear with little arm and leg buds starting to form and a perfect little 1.54 cm bean :). She laughed when she came in because she remembered me telling her that I wanted to get preggo in January and sure enough I did. She also laughed when she measured the baby crown to rump and he/she was exactly 8 weeks. My planning paid off. She also said it can take a healthy couple 8 months to conceive. So Richard and I are truly blessed. She answered my questions. Said I could eat lunch meat and travel and to relax and try exercising again after 12 weeks. She said to do yoga or palates to stretch myself out for labor. She was wonderful and we left carrying out first baby photos with us. Richard was so excited he could hardly stand it. He asks to see the pictures every night before we get in bed. I love him! He says he knows it’s a girl. I hope he’s right. But will be blessed with either or! ☺ I will write more soon. Glad the first apt went well. We are "planning" on telling next week!

The Pregnancy Story of "OurLittle One"

In October of 2008, Richard and I decided to get off the pill. I spent three months preparing my body for conception. Preparing in a sense that I charted my cycles and started immediately on Folic Acid and Prenatal Vitamins. Once I realized that my cycles were normal and ovulation was easily chartable,  we decided to start trying. So on the weekend of January the 23rd we began the process. I have to admit, during those three months I couldn't fathom the idea that we were going to make a baby. I went back and forth on the "Am I ready" thoughts, and we prayed a great deal about it. In no way was I ever scared to raise a child, just unsure about the whole process. I finally told the Lord that if it was his will we would get pregnant and in return had a great peace. I always had in the back of my mind that conception can take 6 months to a year for a healthy 25 year old, and I was never sure quite how long it would take me. Little did I know that the first time was a charm :). 

I have to say that the anticipation after that weekend was unbearable. Having to wait two weeks to see if you are pregnant or not is really tough. You just worry about if it worked and are fearful of disappointment. It's all that is on your mind. I started having normal cramping around February 8th and 9th. I was supposed to start my period on Monday the 9th and it never came. On Wednesday I bought a package of test and decided that I would take one. The funny part was trying to pee on the stick. I felt like I was doing it all wrong. The first test I took came up negative. I was a little disappointed, and felt like I was let down but decided that if my period didn't come it wasn't going to come and if it did we would try again. I ran a few errands and when I came back decided to look at the test one more time and when I did there was a faint line across the pregnancy side. I got a little hopeful and decided to take one more test. Well I did, and it came up negative as well. So I decided to wait a few more days before I took the final test. My period never showed and on Friday I took the test. Richard was out and I set the video camera up and had it in my hands when he came it. He screamed "NO WAY" and reacted just how I thought he would. It was a sweet time. 

So the secrecy began. We went to our first doctors appointment at 5 weeks and they drew what felt my liters of my blood and confirmed my pregnancy. I was reassured when they called that I was indeed in good health, O+, and my thyroid levels were perfect. Everything was on the right track. We waited three weeks until our 8 weeks appointment. During that time I was expecting myself to be super sick, but instead, I was pleasantly surprised. I have felt all the normal symptoms and side effects, but I have yet to get SICK! Knock on wood. Me, the one with the weak stomach who can't eat a lot of sugar, red meat, or cokes, hasn't gotten sick. It's very ironic. My doctor had even given me prescriptions for nausea pills, and I have yet to have to take one of them. 

At our 8 week appointment we had our first ultrasound. We saw the little bean as I call it and got to hear the heart beat. 156 beats per minute. I will post a pic soon. It was a blessing and a comfort to see and hear that everything was ok. She told me that now would be a good time to tell everyone seeing that miscarriages drop to 5% after 8 weeks and hearing a healthy heartbeat. Richard and I left the doctors office thrilled. He was begging to tell the world, but I wanted to make sure Carrie had Mayer and her time wasn't stolen by our news. 

Carrie had Mayer early Monday morning and we told both our parents Monday night. We bought them each a baby outfit and a picture of the ultrasound. We played it off as being an anniversary gift for my parents. They were so shocked and unbelievably happy. We caught it all on video. It was perfect. Richard's parents came over later that night and we showed them what we got our parents and they were beyond floored to. We called the extended family to. My favorite two reactions were from my aunt and Richard's grandfather Henry. My mom told my aunt that we had given her an ultrasound to which my aunt responded "Oh great, of what?" Henry also said "Are you telling me your wife is expecting?" They were thrilled once it clicked but those were by far priceless reactions. 

The news has been quickly spreading since. We told all our friends and I will never forget each of their reactions. The scream out load from Jenny in Subway. The screaming through the phone from Jess and her nervous knotted stomach all night at bunco, the "I just am so excited" from Carrie one hundred times, and oh the "I am crying, bless my heart" from Casey. Everyone's reactions were sweet and perfect. I must even say a few people were pretty good with their intuitions. Claiming they new way in advance. Its been exciting and a little overwhelming, but I am thankful that so many people are happy for us! And more than thankful that the news is out! So the journey begins! :) 

Below is a post of all the journal entries I had before I blogged. Just a step by step journey. I want to have this so my friends who will be getting pregnant sooner than later can see how it feels. It was a pretty lonely time there for a while. So this is mainly for my memories and for my friends. :)