13 Weeks

 I have had a little scare lately. Starting Christmas Day I have noticed some very light brown spotting. Since then it has gradually gotten a little heavier each day. I called my doctor's office today and she said it can be pretty normal to experience this without there being anything seriously wrong. She advised me to take it easy and not do any strenuous activity until the spotting stops. I just hope everything goes okay.

I am otherwise feeling just fine. I am not experiencing any cramps or have any other reason to believe that something is wrong. I guess that is a good sign. I don't really have much else to report unless someone leaves me a question. I'll write again next week and let you know how things are going.

!2 Weeks :)

  Yesterday, Stephen and I went to our second pregnancy appointment. The whole thing went short and very sweet. After taking some of my measurements, the nurse had me lie back on the table and lift my shirt. She then squeezed some very chilly gel on my abdomen and picked up a device that looked like one of those playschool karaoke machines (remember the little guy on Toy Story with the microphone?) Anyway, she stuck the "microphone" end to my tummy and moved it all around. She said we were listening for a little heartbeat. A couple minutes went by and we could not hear anything. I felt my heart begin to sink. The nurse then tried pressing the microphone very forcefully into my abdomen (ouch!). But a few seconds later, we heard a very faint but consistent "whooshing sound" that was like a dog panting heavily. "There it is" said the nurse, "twice as fast as your own heartbeat so this is definitely a baby beat." Stephen and I both looked at each other and smiled. We had brought a small voice recorder to try and capture it, but the sound was too faint to be picked up by the recorder. The nurse noted ~ 160 bpm which is right about normal and said the reason the heartbeat was so faint to our ears is because the little tyke is snuggled in way at the back of the womb. Therefore, she had to really push the microphone into my tummy to get close enough to hear it.
    Once the nurse was finished torturing me, she walked out and the doctor came in. My doctor said everything looks just great and being able to hear a heartbeat just shy of 12 weeks was really awesome. The only thing she mentioned a very slight concern about was that my blood pressure was not necessarily high, but on the "higher end of normal". She then explained that she was not worried about it but has it noted just to keep tabs on it. I, in the meantime am going to try to get back into my exercise routine and try to eat more dark fruits. I have been snacking on pomegranate seeds which are supposedly great for lowering blood pressure. I figure that if my blood pressure was only a little high and I could be doing more as far as lifestyle to be healthier, why not try and see if I can make small changes to bring it back down to my normal range, especially now that I am very slowly gaining my energy back. I still have to take about an hour out for a nap but I don't feel nearly as exhausted throughout the day.
     So, there's what's going on for this week. I would love comments. I have gotten a few from friends on Facebook but have not gotten any other feedback. If anyone reading this has any questions that I might be able to help you with regarding these first 12 weeks, please let me know, I'd be more than happy to respond.

11 Weeks

     Ah, the nausea is starting to dwindle and major gas pains are crashing through my system now. Actually, when I first noticed the gas pains I got a little concerned because I wasn't sure if it was gas or bad uterine cramps.I soon realized that the pain was moving around and then I heard squishing sounds followed by an uncontrollable urge to pass gas... like a large fat man after eating Mexican food. Figuring out that the pain was gas and not an issue with my baby made me feel better mentally, but not physically. It is actually kinda nice that the nausea is not as prevalent. It still rears its ugly head once in a while but a  quick bite of graham or saltine crackers and it feels much better. I am also starting to notice an increase in my appetite. I have been eating - or snacking rather quite often lately to fend off the nausea but now I am continuing to eat a little snack here and there because I feel genuinely hungry now.
      I know it sound like I am complaining or whining and I guess I kinda am. But really I am also excited to be experiencing these discomforts. For I know that with all the little changes going on with my body, uncomfortable as they may be, it reminds me that there is a tiny little miracle growing inside my body. Sometimes God gives us suffering so that we can learn to appreciate the little miracles in our lives. I know I could endure so much more and would do so willingly if it meant giving my child the best chance at life. Hopefully though, this pregnancy will continue without any hitches. I hope to be able to thoroughly enjoy this time where I can have my baby with me everywhere I go.
   
     Something a little more exciting. Every great once in a while I am pretty confident that I feel movement. Of course it is not as prominent as what I have heard it is supposed to feel like. It isn't like flutters or bubbles, at least not yet. I feel something more like a very slight tug or a tiny little pressure sensation that feels like a tiny tiny little pinch. I don't feel it real often and only then if I am lying really still and concentrate really hard. Still, it is neat and I can't wait until my husband can feel the kicks.

     I could actually use a little help if there is anyone out there who is a great bargain hunter. There are these certain pants I have been looking for. They are the Danskin Now Women's Rib Waist Convertible Pants, size Large: 12-14. These are a PERFECT fit and they have a stretchy drawstring waist that will allow me to wear them throughout my pregnancy and thereafter. Also, they unzip at the knee and "convert" to shorts. I have two brown pairs and I cannot find any other colors in my size. I am really looking for the black mostly, but the gray would be great too. If anyone sees these pants, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

 Until next time!

10 Weeks (continued)

   Now I am at 10 weeks and I am more tired than ever. What I have read on the internet says that morning sickness should be winding down but I am unable to tell. I still feel the same morning sickness if not a bit worse than a few weeks ago. I still have not thrown up even once for this pregnancy but I always seem to feel like I could at an moment. Nothing really seems to help except just trying not to think about it. I am always tired. Before week 8, I was doing pretty good at keeping up with my exercise such as playing with our Wii system. But right about the time week 8 hit me, I have been feeling exhausted even when I am sitting down. I feel a light cramping in my uterus every once in a while that isn't even as severe as a PMS cramp for me but feels kinda similar. I can still wear some of my jeans but they are beginning to feel not necessarily tight but uncomfortable nonetheless. Mostly I have been wearing drawstring britches.
   I found some wonderful pants at Walmart by Danskin. The fabric of the pants themselves are not real stretchy, they are more like dress pant material but they are really soft. The top is wide band and drawstring which makes them ideal for a growing tummy. At the knees are zippers that when opened allow the pants to become shorts. They fit great, they allow for a growing tummy, they don't look like sweat pants or pajama pants so they are great to wear in public, and they convert to shorts which will really make them ideal to wear throughout my entire pregnancy and for as long as I want after. The only unfortunate thing is that I can only find my size in one color, brown.There are other colors out there, but I just can't find them in my size at the store.
   Other than that, I have really nothing new to report. My next appointment is one week before Christmas. I am hoping we will be able to hear the heartbeat via doppler when we go in. My husband had been really great for this whole thing. He likes to read online about the week-to-week progress of our little bundle of joy. Just last night I showed him how to set up the pregnancy.com website that calculates your week-to-week based upon your due date. I know he his going to be a great dad if for no other reason than because he cares so much.
   I am so glad to be blessed so abundantly. When this baby is born, God will have fulfilled every true desire of my heart. I will have everything I ever wanted.

10 Weeks Today

   The picture at the bottom of this post is "Little P" at 8 weeks. Little P is what I have been calling my baby because we do not yet know the gender and I got the idea for the temporary name from my mother who had been calling the baby "Precious Peterson" and I just shortened it to Little P instead.

    On November 24th, which was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving my husband, mother, and I all went to my first appointment. I went in not really knowing what to expect and I really wish I had known what they were going to do just to mentally prepare myself for it. The first thing they did was a Pap test and even my mother was shocked about that because she never had to have one with me or my brother. I also did not really expect to have an ultrasound done that day but that was a very pleasant surprise. I would honestly be perfectly happy if they did one every time I go in for an appointment. But again, it involved sticking a cold object up someplace unpleasant. But getting to see my baby fir the first time made it well worth it. In the picture at the bottom of this post, the baby is in a dark circle in the upper left-hand corner and it appears to be upside down. We were able to see the tiny little heart beating away and small arms and legs squirming around inside of me.

    After I got dressed, I had to go get some blood drawn. Guess how many large vials of blood they took from me in less than two minutes. Just guess. The total was SEVEN. Never in my life have I ever had that much blood drawn all at once. After the nurse filled the final bottle, I felt okay to my surprise. Holding the cotton ball on my arm I noticed my ears beginning to ring. I said to the nurse "I have never had my ears ring after having blood drawn before." She immediately turned around with her eyes wide and asked me if I was okay and said that ears ringing is really not a good sign. About another minute past and I could feel my consciousness slowly start to slip away. It started with fuzzy vision and it was like a gray fog  had covered my eyes. The nurse touched my arm and said I was burning up. She grabbed an ice pack and put it on my neck. I could not tell that the pack was even cold. After about five minutes, I started to feel my head clear. Someone brought me a glass of ice water and I drank and drank. When the nurse removed the ice pack, my hair had frozen to it because I had been sweating profusely. I didn't even realize I had been sweating until then. But indeed my clothes were soaked. Next time I get blood drawn I am supposed to drink a ton of water before and lay down while having the blood drawn. They said they will only take three vials next time which should be a lot easier on me. Again, I wish I just knew to be ready for that, but I hope that someone will read this post and be prepared for their first prenatal visit as a result of my experience.

8 weeks