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.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, February 1, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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