Welcome Home Ashley!

Ashley was being too stubborn to come out on her own so we made it all the way up to our induction date. The whole experience was pretty traumatic, but well worth it.
I was admitted at 9pm on July 6th and the nurses prepared me for labor. First was the IV. The last time I had an IV was when I had my wisdom teeth removed five years ago. However, at that time I was put to sleep before the IV was placed. This is my first IV I've ever gotten while I was awake. The nurse used a very large needle and jabbed it into the back of my right hand just behind the base of my thumb. The vein she had targeted seemed elusive as she chased it around for a while with the needle...ouchie. She eventually penetrated it and within seconds, the vein blew...ouchie. She pulled out the needle and began squeezing the blood out that was pooling under my skin. I didn't realize that I was hyperventilating, I felt pretty calm but in a lot of pain. However, I began to feel faint and nauseated. The nurse let me rest for a few minutes while breathing into a bag. After I began to feel better, she tried the IV again, this time with a smaller needle (why she didn't use the smaller needle in the first place is beyond me). Attempting a different vein on the same hand, she was successful right away. The antibiotics and pitocin were added to the IV machine and I was left to rest for a while. Nurses came in periodically throughout the night to replace the antibiotic bag and increase the level of pitocin.
Contractions started within minutes. I could feel them, but they were not painful at all. It simply felt like a tightening sensation. I was able to sleep through them pretty easily. The only thing that made it difficult to sleep was the fact that I truly had to pee every fifteen minutes. The IV fluids combined with the contractions made my bladder very uncomfortable.
The pitocin dosage was increased in small increments every couple of hours until the nurses were satisfied with the intensity and frequency of my contractions. I decided not to receive pain medications until I felt I really needed it. For most of the next day (July 7th),  I did just fine without pain medication. The worst part was the fact that I was not allowed to eat from the time I was checked in. By the time I delivered, I went about 26 hours without food. By about 2pm, my contractions had become very painful, but not intolerable. The nurses and my doctor all marveled at how I was able to handle the very intense contractions without pain medication. I felt I was starting to lose my energy due to the pain, though, so I asked for a quick shot of pain meds in my IV. That stuff was great! It knocked me completely out in under a minute. I woke up an hour labor in serious pain. By then, me strength was almost completely gone. Both exhausted and starving, I was losing my battle with the pain that was draining me. At 4:30, I yielded to an epidural. That was probably the worst part of the whole ordeal. I was asked to lay on my left side to be given the epidural. At the time, I was in the middle of the most intense contraction thus far. Laying on my side increased the pain by about 400%. I was crying hysterically. The anesthesiologist had an emergency C-section he had to get to right away, so he had no time to numb me before inserting the "drill bit" into my spine...while I was still in that horrible contraction that I was already in the most terrible pain for. I had no idea what to expect from the epidural. I had no idea that the worst pain of my life laying on my side there was about increase dramatically. Again, there was not time to numb my back before inserting the needle, so I felt everything. I felt the very large needle penetrate my back, and then my spine. As it entered the spine, I felt and heard several popping sounds. I thought I was going to die. I don't know how I did not pass out from the pain. After he finished, I was rolled back onto my back. It took a few minutes for the medication to kick in. Once it did, I was still able to feel very intense contractions, but it took the edge off. My legs went numb right away. At 4:40, I was fully dilated and ready to start pushing. At 4:53, after about 5 pushes, she was born.

The labor and delivery experience was terrible for me. I often have nightmares about the experience. I suppose I probably have mild post-traumatic stress. But again, it was worth it. I feel I went to hell and back to bring this baby into the world and I would do it again...hopefully not anytime soon.

39 Weeks

 Yesterday morning, I experienced my first "false alarm". I woke up at about 4:15am feeling like I had really bad gas. The feeling stayed for a couple of minutes, then faded. At 4:22, it happened again, and at 4:29, 4:35, 4:40, 4:45, 4:50, 4:55, 5:00... Stephen and I neither one got any sleep all that night so I knew he was awake. I told him I had been cramping off and on for the previous hour. We decided to go get checked out at the birthing center just in case it was labor. We got ready and off we went. I got checked in at 5:45am and had to wear a contraction monitor and a fetal heartbeat monitor. My cervix was checked immediately and was at 2-2.5cm. It was checked again an hour and a half later (rather roughly I might add... ouchie), there was no change. The nurse left the room to contact my OB and returned to tell me that I could go home. The conclusion was that I was experiencing cramps and some Braxton Hicks contractions, but not real labor. She also mentioned that it was good that I came to get checked to make sure it wasn't real labor and that I should not have felt guilty for coming in.
I am still getting a few cramps here and there but otherwise there is nothing to report. I am a little curious to see how I will handle labor. I am not the "double over in pain" kinda gal. I wonder if there is a possibility that just like these cramps, the early labor wont bother me a whole lot and I may not know I am in labor at all. I guess I am hoping my water breaks at home just prior to contractions so that I will know for sure that I am truly in labor.

There are several online sources that states that eating fresh pineapple can help the cervix get ready for labor. Well, I went to the supermarket which just so happened to be running a sale on pineapples. I grabbed one, took it home, and sliced it up. I ate about a fourth of it. So far, the only thing I have to show for it is happy taste buds, stinging lips, and a nice skin rash on my hands from the juice. But, I figure if nothing else, it is always good to get a little more fruit in my diet. I love pineapple. I'll keep nibbling on it, about a fourth of it every day until it is gone and see if it helps. If not, a little extra vitamin C certainly could not hurt.

38 Weeks

 Another week has gone by and still no delivery yet. I have noticed an increase in cramps and back pain lately which is something I mentioned to my doctor. She said it was normal. However, at my appointment today, my blood pressure was high again and the doctor sent me upstairs to labor and delivery to be monitored for a while. The thing is, I know why my pressure was high, but she didn't seem to really believe me. The reason it was high is because I was sitting there naked from the waist down with only a paper towel to cover up with knowing that she was about to check my cervix. As the door opened and closed I could see men standing out there with their wives and I was very nervous about feeling exposed. I mean I am always so anxious when I have to sit there naked with the door opening and closing that I just almost want to cry. So, because she feels like my pressure has been too high every time I come to see her, she is going to induce labor the day before I am due if I do not go into natural labor before then. At least I can wait up until my due date. I feel a little better that she is not trying to induce me too early. I feel like it is just best to let my body do things naturally. So, I really hope I go into labor before the induction date.

Right now, I am feeling exhausted, a little scared, and anxious about the impending delivery. However, I am excited that we will soon have our precious little baby in our arms.

37 Weeks

Almost there! So close and yet so far. I am really getting anxious now about...well everything: the labor, the birth, but mostly seeing my baby girl for the first time.

I found this little quote on a baby website and I wanted to comment on it:
"It was instant love between me and my daughter. It's so primal and natural. I thought it would take at least a few hours, but my love for my daughter has been fiercer than I ever thought it would be from the second she was placed on my chest. – sophieg74"

My comment is that I don't have to wait to see my daughter in order to feel an intense love for her. I already do. I have loved her from the moment she was conceived. I know that my love will grow for her as I get to know her, but my heart is full for her right this second. I pray for her every day. I pray that she is healthy, will be born without complications, and that she will live a happy life. I pray also for guidance and wisdom from the Lord on how to raise this child.

Lately, I have been having some slight cramps down below. I am not sure, but from what I am reading it may be a result of those false labor contractions. It doesn't really hurt and I hardly notice it most of the time. Other times, I can't tell if I'm just a little gassy instead. Apart from that, I have rally had trouble sleeping lately. Between having to get up to pee in the middle of the night and insomnia from the impeding delivery, it is difficult to get a lot of rest. When I do sleep, my dreams are often disturbing. I am told it is just nerves. My dear husband, Stephen, however, has been wonderful. He is so supportive and has been especially sweet lately it seems. He mentioned that he was concerned that we would not get as much snuggle time for the two of us once our daughter is born. I reassured him that there would be plenty of time for snuggling. We have been married a little over a year now, yet the honeymoon phase has never fully worn off. I would much prefer to still be in honeymoon phase when we are in our old age.

I am so incredibly blessed. Life has not always been a basket of cherries, but I can't say I would trade any of part of it. My husband and I are still very much in puppy love and have been very content in our lives up to this point. A daughter on the way only adds a rich and wonderful icing to an already delicious cake. I am so glad that she will grow up in a happy home where she is loved and adored by parents who love and adore each other as well.

36 Weeks

 Boy have I had a rough week! Here it is Thursday and I have been really sick since Tuesday. The doctor (my PCP) said I have a serious sinus infection and a double ear infection. Yuck! I feel just crummy.
I have another appointment with my OB tomorrow morning. She is going to perform a strep test to check for bacteria in the birth canal. I can imagine, though, that because I am now on antibiotics for this nasty sinus infection that she probably wont find any bacteria growing anywhere else in my body either.
I believe Ashley is doing just fine even though I feel like crap. She has been kicking and dancing away as usual. I'm glad to think that she doesn't feel as bad as I do right now. These medications I am taking should help me feel better soon.

This Sunday is June 13, our one year wedding anniversary. I am supposed to go pick up a free cake from the place that made our wedding cake tomorrow. I just hope I feel up to having a good time this weekend. Our cake topper is still in the freezer and looks like it fared the year well in there. I'll be taking it out to thaw either tonight or tomorrow to make sure it is good to go for Sunday. I am really looking forward to this. I love my hubby so much!

35 Weeks

  Tired, bigger, slower, but getting more excited every day. We have our first baby shower planned for this weekend in Okmulgee. I am very glad that my mother is coming with us. I also can't express how thankful I am that someone is throwing us a shower at all. We really need a lot of things and do not have boatloads of money to get them. I was a little worried that we were cutting it a little close with these baby showers. My mother plans on having one for me too but at the last weekend this month, which is the week before I am due. Cutting it REALLY close. But who said it needs to happen before she is born? However, it sure would help so that we can be fully prepared for her arrival.

Ashley still moves and grooves in my tummy all the time. And there appear to be no problems with the pregnancy. Thank you, God...

34 Weeks

 I have had the worst allergy of the century this past week. My blood pressure was 135/75 this morning. I am not sure if these two ailments are related but I think they might be. I have had no high blood pressure symptoms today other than perhaps a sleepiness and feeling a little warm. I took a long nap and have been sipping cold water throughout the day, trying to take it easy. I think it is helping some.

 Other than that there is not a whole lot to report. I am getting excited as I see the patriotic item hitting the shelves as it means that my due date is drawing near. Of course, she may decide to be born a couple weeks early, or a couple weeks late, but the target date is well in sight and that makes me happy.

33 Weeks

  The end of one more semester of school is like a breath of fresh air. It reminds me that the light at the end of the tunnel really exists and that it is getting a little bigger all the time (just like my belly). Speaking of belly, it just keeps getting bigger. I have noticed the appearance of stretch marks only within the past couple of weeks. The nurse at the doctor's office said the fact that it has taken this long for them to appear is actually a pretty good indication that they will fade significantly after the birth. Well, hey, I never hate to hear a little good news once in a while.

Baby is doing great, she kicks and wiggles all the time. My blood pressure has gone up a few times this past week, not real high, and doesn't last long, but enough for me to want to continue watching it. I am generally tired a lot of the time. I don't really enjoy going on walks with my husband and the dogs anymore, I'm just so uncomfortable. Walking makes me feel crampy. I can still spend a few minutes on the elliptical. It is low impact and I don't have to worry about having to walk all the way back home when I start getting tired, I can just get off and sit down.

I'll sure be glad when Ashley arrives. I can't wait to cuddle her up and play with her.

32 Weeks

I had to delay my posting for this week because of school finals. They have made me pretty stressed out. I still have not found out yet if I have passed all my classes for this past semester. I am praying so hard that I have. It would cause me a lot of problems that would lead to a whole lot of stress if I had to retake any of them. For next semester, I am going to need to take all night classes so that I can make sure that Ashley is taken care of. I hate night classes. I don't like driving at night or being on campus in the dark. I also get very tired in the evenings and find it difficult to concentrate. That and caring for a newborn is going to make life a little more difficult for me. She is so worth it, though. I'd suffer through so much worse to make sure Ashley gets the best possible care, which means as much time as possible with either me or her father. I refuse to put her in the care of strangers.

At least for this summer, I will have nothing to worry about except giving birth and taking care of my new baby for the first few months of her life. I have taken the whole summer off from school so that I can concentrate solely on getting used to having a baby around. I am so thankful for that!

I am getting more and more excited with each passing week about the arrival of our baby. I went to the doctor today, who said we were doing just fine by the way. My next visit will be my last bi-monthly visit. After that, I will begin seeing my doctor once every week! Those visits will not be so pleasant as I will have my cervix checked for dilation often. But at least it means I am that much closer to getting to hold my angel in my arms. I am so ready to have her with me... on the outside.

31 Weeks

 Doctor said my baby girl is checking out very well. She is still laying sideways so the nurse gave me an interesting tip. She said that I could encourage my baby to go into a head down position by getting on all fours and rocking my pelvis back and forth. I don't know if it will work or not, but I have been trying that on occasion. It would be great if getting her to turn was that easy.

As far as how I am generally feeling, not to bad at all. Now I am getting bigger, slower, and tire a little more easily with each passing week. I told that to my doctor last Friday and she said she had the perfect solution for that...in about nine weeks. Lol!  So my biggest complaints are all normal stuff, which is actually great to hear.

I am noticing more and more that when my baby kicks in the womb, I can actually see the movements. Pretty creepy, pretty cool.

Until next time...

30 Weeks

I am feeling very similarly to how I did in the first trimester. I'm gradually feeling more tired, hungry, and experience more frequent heartburn than I have fore the past few months.

With my birthday money I got in March from my family, I purchased an elliptical machine this past week. It really helps me get in a little exercise now and then, especially on days when it is too yucky to go outside. I think it will really come in handy as I try to work off my pregnancy weight once Ashley is born. Today, I hopped on it and began to ride, only two minutes went by and I started to feel really sleepy. I took that as a hint from my body that it just wasn't going to happen today. This sort of thing has been happening more and more lately. Yesterday, my husband and I went walking. We usually go two laps around a little track in front of a local elementary school. But I was only able to make it one lap before I felt completely and totally exhausted. With my uterus pushing on my sternum, it takes a little more effort to breath which may be a big contributing factor to how tired I am, especially during exercise.

I have heard that many women get really depressed after delivery because they claim to miss that feeling of being pregnant. I honestly don't know what those women are thinking. I am so ready to have my own body back, my strength, and endurance. I guess I never realized how much I had taken my own body for granted before pregnancy, but I miss how it used to perform for me. Now I take extra special care of my body because of the precious cargo I am carrying, and I am only getting heavier, slower, less stable. I'm a wimp! But I know it is only temporary and I'll have plenty of time to build my body back up and get back into my old clothes again. But I certainly do not think I will ever miss being pregnant. I want more children...far....far into the future from right now, but I don't look forward to feeling like a beached whale all over again.

29 Weeks

I went to see my doctor again last Friday. She pretty much gave me a clean bill of health. My blood pressure was still a little high, but not high enough to cause immediate concern. The nurse measured my uterus from the top of my pelvic bone to the top of my uterus itself, and told me that my baby was growing right on target. This is a relief because if my baby was determined to be too small for her gestational age, it may indicate that my slightly elevated blood pressure is having an impact on her growth. The doctor also told me that I passed the glucose test just fine, which means that I will not have to sit through the three hour glucose test. Thank goodness! I am so thankful that thus far I have had fairly good health throughout this pregnancy.

Ashley is being really stubborn lately. She will start moving around so much sometimes that I feel like I am going to give birth to an alien, but when I try to get her daddy to feel it with his hand on my belly, she stops moving! She always seems to stop moving around when her daddy wants to feel her move. We are both getting so anxious to have her here with us instead of dancing around in my belly. I keep dreaming of holding her in my arms, my husband really seems excited about her arrival too.

I have her picture on my phone at only 8 weeks gestational age and I keep thinking how amazing she is, a small miracle in and of herself. I have a new best friend growing stronger each day inside me.

 

God is taking such good care of us.

28 Weeks

 Third trimester is finally here. I seem to be feeling kinda tired lately, both sleepy and muscle tiredness. It's almost like my legs do not want to support all this added weight. As I stand up, my thighs and calves spasm.The spasms stop when I am up and stable unless I stretch a certain way that causes the muscles to flare up again.

I have not yet received any calls from the doctor about the outcome of my glucose test. I suppose she will let me know my results at my next appointment this week. A few people have told me that the fact that I have not been contacted immediately and told to lay off the sugar should be a good sign that perhaps I don't have a problem, or at least not one so severe so that the doctor could wait two week to tell me the results.I like the idea of remaining optimistic.

Ashley must be doing well in there. She spends her days splashing around in her small environment between naps, and her nights preventing her mom from getting any sleep because of all the movements she makes.

I suppose there could be many things I could complain about, I certainly feel like I am literally "tired" of being pregnant and do not think I will miss it, but I know it will be worth it.

27 Weeks

I've been feeling really optomistic today. It is strange,though, just how unwell I've felt the past couple of weeks, I suppose it was just hormones. I have no idea if it also had anything to do with the fact that I was feeling moody right around the time I would have had my period, but if not, it was an eyebrow raising coincidence. At least, now, I am feeling much better.

My glucose test was last week. I do not yet know the results, but I suppose my doctor will let me know when I go back in next week. I am now at the point where I see the doctor once every two weeks instead of four. As far as the test goes, they made me drink this syrupy stuff that was orange flavored. My mother had warned me that it would be just plain awful, but I don't really think it was all that bad. It was just really super sweet. It was kinda like flat orange soda. After exactly one hour, the nurse drew some blood from my arm, bandaged it up, and sent me on my way. The hubby had taken the day off work just for the heck of it that day and so we spent the rest of the day running around and enjoying each other's company. We had lunch at City Bites, which was delicious, and I watched him bowl a few games at the local bowling alley. I loved just getting to spend time with my sweetheart all day long, it really did my heart some good.

Baby Ashley is still getting bigger and stronger. She was really having a good time rolling around inside me the other day and I told Hubby to put his hand on my belly to feel her acrobatics. His eyes widened and he said "Wow! She's really moving in there!" It was a neat experience for the both of us to feel her movements.

One more thing, I hesitate to add this because it is embarassing, however natural it may be, but it appears that I have started leaking colostrum (pre-milk). I do not believe that I need absorbant pads just yet, but I feel that may be a possible necessity within the next month or so. Like I said, embarassing to admit, but normal.

Okie dokie, I'll give more updates next week!

26 Weeks

 I was just thinking about a post I put up on Facebook recently about the new chocolate Cheerios. I think they are pretty dang good and yet only 100 calories a serving. I also noted that I'm sure Ashley will love them too. They'll probably be one of those "staple" items we keep with us in a diaper bag on a consistent basis.
 Well, so that's one of the healthier items I have been eating for breakfast. But one thing I seem to be craving the most is apple fritters. I thought I was supposed to be finished with my cravings by now, but I guess I'm not. I have also been craving ice tea and lemon with pink-packet sweetener. Supposedly there is some "scientific" evidence out there to suggest that pregnancy cravings are an indication that your body is lacking a certain nutrient and you can get it via the items your crave. But most scientists say that pregnancy cravings are strictly hormone related and have really nothing to do with deficiencies at all. All I know is, I sure have been wanting my apple fritters and ice tea lately and a little indulgence now and then sure is great.
I want to comment here on just how wonderful my husband is. He has been nearly waiting on me hand and foot even when I don't ask him to. Just sweet little things he does for me to help make my life a little less stressful. I truly think he is going to be a great dad. We are both getting so anxious to meet our baby girl. Last night, he held his hand on my belly and we laughed together as our baby kicked and wiggled strong enough for him to really feel it. The moment was magical. I really love my husband, I really love our unborn daughter. Life in general...I mean what more could I ask for?

25 Weeks

Sometimes it is hard to believe that I am 6 months along. I don't really feel like my belly is all that big. I have seen other pregnant women who are 6 months along who are pretty huge. I have a round little pop belly, but it doesn't really seem huge to me. Perhaps my lil darlin' is taking up her space deep inside and is not pushing to much toward the outside. That's fine. It just means fewer stretch marks for me!

This week has been somewhat stressful for reasons not necessarily related to having a baby. What may be baby related is how I have handled this stress which hasn't been great. I'm talking about hormones. For the past two or three days I have felt a little blue. Today I am feeling much better. I'm going to have lunch with my father tomorrow which I am really looking forward to.


Last night, I awoke from a nightmare at 3am. I quietly said a quick prayer thanking God for pulling me out of that awful dream. About a minute later, something happened that was to my utmost delight. I felt my baby squirm inside of me a little. Before long, she was kicking REAL HARD. I started feeling hard foot stomps going in large circles from top to bottom all the way around my belly in a clockwise motion. I wondered "What on earth is she doing in there?" It was so weird! And so cool! I rested both hands gently on my stomach to feel the kicks. I nearly laughed out loud but stifled my laughter so as not to wake my husband, although I would have loved it if he were awake to feel the kicks. So I laid there, quietly chuckling to myself as my daughter practiced cartwheels inside me. It lasted about five minutes or so before she settled back down. She wiggled a little now and then throughout the rest of the night, but not nearly as wildly.

Right this second, I can feel some light kicks. Generally, I feel her almost all the time during the day. The kicks simply keep getting stronger with each passing week.

That's it for now. I am seriously hoping that one of my next couple of doctor's visits will include another ultrasound so that I can see what she looks like now....oh what I would really like is to already have her in my arms, but I can't have everything I want when I want can I?

24 Weeks

  Spring Break has been quite exciting! My mom came over the past couple of days and helped me paint the nursery and the bathroom. For my nursery colors, I am going with hot pink, light pink, and black. I will have pictures up as soon as I am finished putting it all together. So far, it still needs quite a bit of work.

Today, though, I am just relaxing a little bit. My muscles are a little bit sore from climbing up and down a step ladder painting flowers and princess castles on the wall. Don't worry, I was careful! But my neck, back, and legs are a little stiff this morning.

 As I have just mentioned, I am taking today at a more relaxed pace. Upon waking this morning I realized that it had been a little while since I had gotten out the stethoscope to listen to my baby's heart...just for fun. So, that's what I did. I heard the little "whoosh whoosh" of her little heart quite clearly and, as usual, she tried to squirm away so that I could not hear it anymore. She has ALWAYS done that whether it is me with a stethoscope or the doctor using a doppler or ultrasound machine to hear her heart, she tries to squirm away. The only explanation anyone can guess is that she does not like the small focused pressure from the listening device necessary to hear her heart. Hopefully she wont be as hard-headed outside of the womb, but my husband and I aren't betting on it.

That's it for Week 24. My next OB appointment in the first week of April. During this next appointment, I will be tested for gestational diabetes. That means I'll have to drink that liquid stuff that has a sugar content that is about the equivalent of my husband's Kool-Aid and they will test my blood sugar after an hour has past. Sounds like fun...

23 Weeks

 
The doctor's visit last week went really well! In fact, my doctor was quite thrilled with my last blood pressure reading in her office which was 128/76, and with my list of blood pressure readings over the past few weeks which have indicated that my blood pressure had fallen quite a bit during that time. My UA have also come back with great results with only a normal range amount of protein in my urine. The Lord really is taking such very good care of me and my Ashley, and I have faith that He will continue to do so.

Ashley has been doing a whole lot of wiggling lately. Her daddy, my dear hubby, is able to place his hand on my tummy when she is particularly active and feel her kicks, which is really special. I'm glad he is able to feel her movements once in a while, I think it help him form a bond with our child. I can bond much more easily because she is inside my body and I can feel her every time she moves, even if her movements are too slight to feel on the outside.

I am really enjoying the fact that I am feeling better. I have more energy and just generally feel pretty good. My husband and I have been taking our dogs out for a walk on days that are warm enough to go out. My birthday this past weekend was great. I got to spend some time with my mother, father, brother, and especially my hubby. This coming weekend, I will get to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (of course, hubby will be there too!). It is always great to see them and I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than with the people I love.

Although I am feeling much better, there are some annoying symptoms that still bug me from time to time. My palms get red and itchy pretty often. My breasts feel tender now and again as they prepare to produce milk for my baby. My back aches at night and prevents restful sleep. I get a headache once in a while that is usually easily remedied with a cold rag on my head, Tylenol, or a shoulder massage from my dear hubby. Sometimes it feels like my heart is racing, I keep hearing from other people that it's normal and is just a result of the extra blood volume in my system. When it happens, I feel a bit tired and slightly out of breath. Thankfully, it doesn't last long and doesn't really happen too often. All these symptoms are rather minor and do not generally interfere with my daily activities, they are simply annoying. But I really can't complain, this pregnancy has been pretty easy thus far.

22 Weeks

 22 weeks pregnant and turning 22 years old this weekend. How cool is that? My blood pressure has remained high-ish, but stable and has not gone up any higher. Today, I have to collect 24 hours worth of urine to take to my doctor on Friday so that she can check for even trace amounts of protein. I suppose it is just a precaution to make sure I do not have preeclampsia. It sure is annoying to have to pee in a cup every time I go to the bathroom...which is pretty often considering this baby is growing heavier and putting more pressure on my bladder.

Ashley has been paddling away at the inside of my uterus. I can feel her moving almost all the time. I really hope that my husband will be able to put his hand on my tummy and feel her kicks soon.

As I said before, my birthday is this weekend. My birthday wish is that I receive something that is not related to my pregnancy or to the baby. My mother-in-law gave me maternity clothes for Christmas and my birthday this year. And it isn't like I do not really appreciate it, I absolutely do, I'd also be appreciative of some bath and body works or a new nail polish...some way I can get a little pampering. Some chocolate would be lovely... I've been under a lot of stress lately and much of that stress has caused me to get the blues once in a while. Sometimes a brownie and a self-manicure is the perfect way to lift me out of my pity parties. Regardless of what this weekend holds, it is that start of a new year for my life and I am optimistic that this will prove to be the best year yet.

Normally around this time, I would be going to a tanning salon to get a nice golden complexion to sport for the summer and making frequent trips to the gym. This year, I can't do either of those things. But, the sun is bright and it is finally starting to warm up outside after this long cold winter. I guess I can just enjoy the outdoors for now.

21 Weeks

 I'm over the hump and am in the downhill slide towards the birth of my little angel. I've actually been feeling so much better than I have been these past few weeks. Winter is finally starting to break and Spring is on its way. The mold count was very high for quite a while due to all the snow melt causing the ground to go soggy. It has been causing my head to throb with sinus pressure and I have just felt drowsy and stopped up these past few weeks. But this week I've felt much better. My blood pressure seems to have dropped quite a bit this week too. Sunday night: 117/69, Monday late morning: 116/65, and this morning was 123/70. That's actually great news. I am hoping it continues to stay down as I continue to take general steps to try to manage it. I have started eating a couple servings of fruit everyday, especially those with lots of potassium, and I have also cut way back on my salt and have started using a salt substitute called "NoSalt" and is essentially just potassium (which has a salty flavor).

While the Olympics are going on in Vancouver right now, there is a private Olympic tournament going on inside me. Ashley is getting stronger and it feels as if she is doing cartwheels inside my belly lately. Last week, my husband and I were able to hear her heartbeat with a stethoscope, this week, we can't hear it because she has rolled over.  It is really neat to be able to feel her move around, but sometimes when she really gets to kicking full force, I get a little queasy. I am not sure why, I guess she may be kicking around on my stomach or something.

My next doctor's appointment is next week. She said that I need to have some tests done to make sure that my slightly elevated blood pressure is not affecting Ashley's growth or development and that it will not prove harmful to me in the long run. I just hope everything is going to be alright. I pray for that too. I truly believe God will take are of me as he always has.

20 Weeks

I have finally reached the halfway point. Yay! I can tell that Ashley is continuing to grow strong as her little kicks are becoming more prominent each day. I most often feel just the pressure of one foot (maybe both) at my side. She will stretch one or both legs (I can't tell) against my abdomen and I can feel a very small lump in my belly. If I put my hands on that lump, I can feel it move a little, but usually just shrinks right back down as she relaxes her legs.

In order to try to manage my high blood pressure somewhat, I have begun eating more fruits including bananas (which I really HATE) to get more potassium in my diet. So far, I have not really noticed this making a difference in my blood pressure, it certainly has not gotten any higher than it has been, but what I have noticed is that I seem to have more energy throughout the day and fewer headaches. Also, I had tried completely eliminating caffeinated beverages from my diet, but it seemed like my headaches only got worse. Therefore, I have found that one or two small caffeinated beverages per week really help me to control my headaches such as a half of a cup of coffee or a a half glass of soda.

Just recently, I have actually had a little bit of anxiety towards having this baby, and I mean a very little bit. For the most part, I am excited at the idea of raising a little girl. And at the same time, I am wondering if I am ready to be a mother or if I will be an adequate mother. I'm not sure that this feeling would be any less if I were a bit older. I believe it is more like a lack of experience. Perhaps it is like learning to ride a horse, you can be pretty nervous your first try but once you get the hang of it, riding is as natural as walking. I hope I am have a natural talent at being a mother. I hope it will feel like second nature to me. Right now, it just feels a little alien. Being worried about my health right now certainly does not help. I worry that my raised blood pressure will have a negative effect on my baby girl. The only way I know how to deal with it is to put my cares in God's hands and not worry too much myself, but instead remember that He is in complete control.

On a different note, I don't really think I will miss being pregnant like some women do. I am already anxious to hold my daughter in my arms. I am looking forward to being able to restrengthen my body when she is no longer inhabiting it like a little parasite. Actually, I mean that endearingly. In truth, I grow more attached to her each passing day even though she is not even born yet. As she grows, my love for her grows. I love her more today than I did yesterday, but not as much as I will love her tomorrow. The very same has always been true of her father, my husband, my very best friend. We're gonna be alright. Still, I can't wait until I can see her sweet little face.

19 Weeks

  Tomorrow makes 19 weeks into this pregnancy and I am thrilled at how easy it has been so far. Of course I am generally tired, mild hormonal headaches plague me from time to time, and I have a shorter fuse. Really, though, that stuff is pretty normal. My blood pressure remains a little on the high side which fortunately has yet to have any negative impact on me or on Ashley thus far.
   One thing that I have really enjoyed lately is feeling my baby's movements. She wiggles a lot and seems to be getting stronger everyday, for her wiggles are becoming more and more pronounced it seems. When I first felt the sensation of movements in my belly a few weeks ago, it made me feel a little nauseated. I guess I just didn't know what they were supposed to feel like...didn't know what to expect. When she is particularly active it seems a little weird and sometimes catches me off guard. It is neat to feel her, but its also a little creepy to feel a little body swimming around inside me.
   I often dream about my baby girl and what it will be like to hold her and play with her. I am so ready to see her face to face for the first time. My biggest anxiety at this point is the idea of labor. Not so fun, I hear. But as I have mentioned before, I would go through just about anything to ensure her safety and well being. Every woman with children who has ever walked this earth had to have given birth at one point or another, whether by surgery or vaginal birth, drugged or au-natural. I figure that because God made me a woman, and he put a baby inside me, that I am meant to do this, I can, and I will. Still, I also know it is supposed to hurt... a lot. I truly hope I can deliver vaginally, but I am going to prepare myself mentally just in case that isn't my option.

18 Weeks

   Okay, so I am actually 18 weeks tomorrow but it's close enough and I have some extra time on my hands. I have found myself smiling off and on today and often chuckling to myself as I drive to my next college class for the day thinking about what life will be like once my daughter is born. I keep thinking about how she looked like a little lady in the ultrasound sitting there with her legs neatly crossed at the ankles. Even from those blurry black and white pictures I can tell that she is beautiful.
   My favorite past time now is just to sit and daydream about my little angel and how she will one day grow and mature into a lovely young woman. I am so young myself, everybody says so. In today's culture, women do not typically get married and have children at such a young age as early twenties. True, a few of my girlfriends from high school have at least one child but that was because they made poor decisions about remaining abstinent.  I, on the other hand, was already married and pretty much ready for that next big step, a baby.  But I am glad to be having a child at my age. I really wanted to be a young mom with enough energy and stamina to enjoy playing with my children outdoors or simply crawling around in the floor with them. And I also wanted to be young enough to have some memory about what life was like growing up so that I might be able to better understand what my children are going through as they grow up. Yes, things change. My mother grew up in an entirely different America than I grew up in. I suspect that this world will likely become even more hostile for my kids. I just hope that I will be able to provide them with a sense of stability and rest when they go through tough times first through my faith in the Lord, second through my absolute love and devotion to my husband, and third to my absolute love and devotion to my future children.
   I do not fully understand how I am capable of loving my baby girl who is snuggled comfortably down into my womb right now so completely, I just know that I do love her very very much. Perhaps one day, she will read these articles I have written and know that I have loved her even before she was conceived, and I will love here unconditionally for all her life.
   One more thing...we finally have a name for our beloved daughter. After much consideration, her father and I have decided to call her Ashley, which means "one who is as strong as ash-wood." Ash-wood is one of the strongest types of wood known to man. It is very difficult to cut. But once you make something such as a table or chair out of it, it will never break. In fact, you would have to work pretty hard to even scratch the surface of it. I think this is a good name. I want my daughter to be strong; strong in her faith in God, and strong in believing in herself that she can do amazing things if she sets her mind to it. In conclusion to this post, I have stopped to sigh and smile at the bright future in store for our little family.
   I am shacking with excitement and anticipation to meet you , my dear Ashley. In the meantime, I'll just enjoy your company in secret as I feel your little kicks and hiccups in my womb. For the time being, I have you all to myself and am very happy to have you with me.

It's a Girl!

  We just found out today that we are going to have a baby girl! My husband and I have not quite nailed down a name yet but we are pretty close. The technician performing the ultrasound said that our baby girl is growing  at just the right rate and that everything looked good, healthy, and on schedule for the same due date. We were so pleased to hear that.

  It was kinda funny as she was trying to figure out if our baby was a boy or a girl. In the shot, the baby's legs were crossed at the ankles and the umbilical cord was straddled between the legs hiding our view. After poking my tummy a few times with her finger, she was finally able to get the baby to wiggle just enough for us to see that she was in fact a girl.

This is my favorite picture. It's a cute face shot.

   A little update: I can feel TONS of wiggling today! I think that's neat. I love having that constant little reminder that my precious baby is in there.

17 Weeks

 I got a call from the hospital today to confirm my appointment for the "big" ultrasound (as my doctor calls it). I guess this one is supposedly the purpose of checking to see if there are any problems we need to know about. My doctor said that if anyone can tell us whether our young-un is a girl or a boy, the hospital techs can. That would just be great. My husband and I have already been going through some names and we have some good ones narrowed down so far. But I'm not going to tell you what we are considering just yet. We'll announce the name when we pick one out specifically.

That's it for today. I have nothing really to report. I'll post again after our next ultrasound.

16 Weeks (continued)

 Oh my gosh!! Ha! This is enough to make you laugh. We did our ultrasound this morning. Baby looked very healthy and had a nice 160 bpm heart rate. But we have no idea still if it is a girl or a boy. Our poor doctor tried every direction she could on my belly to try and see the genitalia, but could not get a good look. Our little darling's legs were slammed shut. I guess we have a modest child :). Still, it is always nice to hear that he/she is healthy and appears to be doing just fine. The only issue that the doctor has continued to come across is my slightly elevated blood pressure. The top number stays in the low 130's and the bottom stays in the 70's. Urine tests were normal and so they do not yet see a threat of preeclampsia. My doctor instructed me to keep track of my blood pressure myself at home and log the results in a notebook for her to see on my next visit. I could not find any pharmacies in the are that had a public use machine anymore so I coughed up 40 bucks on a home machine. Thankfully, it really isn't a bad investment. This way I can take a reading any time I want in the comfort of my own home. I may even get more accurate results because I wont be stressing over traffic or doctor's visits in order to obtain a reading (which could end up raising my blood pressure some). I took a reading as soon as I got home with it and got a result that was right about the same as the doctor's office. The doctor said as long as it does not get any higher I should be OK. But if it does go up, I will have to take some medicine to bring it back down.

  Our next ultrasound will be in a couple of weeks and will be administered by the hospital technicians. This is what my doctor calls "the big one". This one will be done by the hospital techs to determine if there are any issues we need to worry about. She also said that they ought to be able to determine better than she can whether our baby is a boy or a girl. So we will be looking forward to that.

<16 weeks

Thanks for reading. I'll check back in probably next week.

16 Weeks

   I think what I would like to do once the baby is born is print off all my baby posts up until that point and put them in a little book for my child to read once he or she gets a little older. I think that would be neat to be able to read about the time I had a hunch that he/she might be in there, to the time when I got a positive test, and everything since. After the birth, I plan on continuing the blog to talk about my baby's progress as he/she ages.
    I am now 16 weeks pregnant and have been feeling pretty good lately. My next doctor's appointment is Friday (tomorrow) so I will add a supplemental post to tell how it went. We are hoping to find out if we are having a girl or a boy this time. :)  I have not been experiencing any more problems with my pregnancy. (Last time, I mentioned some minor bleeding that the nurse said I didn't really need to worry about.) I have, however, been feeling some "flutters" this past week and have been wondering if in fact it is the baby movement that I am feeling. I am so eager to be feeling strong enough kicks that will leave no doubt.
   This past weekend, we received a Sleep Number bed in the mail that we ordered. We have slept on it three nights now and my husband and I just LOVE it! We have both found that we are sleeping through the night now and waking up with little to no back pain. My own back pain and stiff neck and shoulders are greatly relieved. It was kind of an expensive purchase but we both seem to agree that it has been worth it.  A full night's sleep can be very valuable. I have notice that I am not as tired during the day and my headaches are not as frequent.
   That's all I've got for now. I'll post again after the doctor's visit tomorrow. I can't wait to see what the gender is so we can give "Little P" a proper name.