February 25, 2015 - 2nd Prenatal Appointment

Hi again! I have a little bit of catching up to do. Today marks 4 weeks since my last doctor appointment. Things have been going really well as far as the pregnancy goes. I am still really tired all of the time, and I notice I start to get more "sicky" feeling the more tired I am. So, around 8:30 or so every night, when I start feeling sloshy, I know it is time to go to bed. I've also been taking my prenatal vitamins at night, because something about them makes me feel worse nausea-wise. Laying on my tummy is no longer an option. It just feels too uncomfortable: on my side seems to be best. (I know it is always the BEST feeling when you are able to sleep on your tummy again after the baby has been born). :)

Showering and brushing my teeth still makes me cringe, but I think it is getting better. Things I've wanted to eat more than usual include: veggie burgers, donuts, pop/flavored drinks, warm breakfasts, and mac and cheese. I also kind of feel like eating pepperoni pizza, but I'll settle for a piece of thick crust cheese pizza. In fact, on my to Michigan the other week, I dined-in by myself at a Pizza Ranch! Haha! I've been so desperate for French fries, I've gone through the McD's drive through a couple times. YES - DRIVE THROUGH! Me! Alone! Crazy. I think I need to start eating a little healthier, but that should get better as my favorite fruits start being "in season." I foresee a lot of smoothies this summer!

So, anyway, our doctor appointment! I was super duper excited, as the words of my doctor kept going through my brain: "the baby will be a lot bigger and look much different!" Not only that, but because the baby was such a small little blob last time, we would have a more accurate measurement and know more certainly how far along I am. Our appointment was set for 9:15, so again, the 4 of us climbed into the snow-covered van and drove to our appointment. We got there just in the nick of time, but ended up waiting until after 9:40! Not much was to be said, other than my blood pressure was taken (and was great). The doctor told us that my labs looked great. No anemia, I'm immune to German Measles, and negative for HIV/Hepatitis (I would sure hope so!). We didn't have any questions for him, so we went back to the ultrasound room again. On the way there, I overheard him tell a nurse that he had a patient upstairs "pushing," and that they would come and get him when it was time. So, he seemed a little preoccupied. But once we got to the room, the lights dimmed, John and the kids took a seat, and the doctor put the warm jelly on my tummy. It was time!

Almost immediately, he focused in on the baby. He or she certainly DID look bigger and different! It was so amazing to see such long arms and legs moving. That little person is in his or her little own world, growing and playing and being all secretive. It's so incredible to have a black and white peak of a portion of what is going on! The baby has a very strong, regular heartbeat - at 155 beats per minute. It is normal for the heart beat to slow a little as the baby grows (even though that is still a lot faster than a grown-up's heart beat). We also saw the baby's spine. His or her profile is so cute! It looked like s/he had its little lips pursed. Even our doctor told us that the baby is super cute! :)

Remember just four weeks ago, the baby was only the size of a kidney bean? Now he or she has grown to the size of a peach! The baby's measurements indicate that I'm 12 weeks and 6 days along. That means tomorrow I am 13 weeks and beginning the Second Trimester! The vocal cords and teeth are developing, and the fingers have tiny fingerprints. The intestines are also busy traveling through the umbilical cord up into their permanent home in the baby's tummy.

He calculates my due date to be in September. I think he said September 30th, but September 3rd would make more sense. SO...I'm sure next week we can clear up that miscommunication. For now, I will leave you with a super duper cute ultrasound picture of our Littlest One. If you picture the baby being swaddled and held in cradle position, that will help in understanding the picture. The baby's head is to the right, and you can see how the little lips are outward - and - what appears to be a tiny nose is close by.

I'm so, so, so happy all is going well!

January 28th, 2015 - 1st Prenatal Dr. Appointment

Our first prenatal appointment was 4 weeks ago on January 28th, 2015. Because I work through Mayo now, my insurance would have the best coverage if I stayed within the Mayo health system. So, I opted to go with a new OB doctor for this pregnancy. Johnna had school that day, so John, Jem, Badgy, and I all went to the appointment. That first appointment is always so exciting because it not only confirms the pregnancy test but it also gives you an idea of how far along you are. Babies are so mysterious. Here they are doing all of that important work in the womb (like growing) yet you know nothing about them. How old they are is a very important detail, in my opinion! :) I just love being able to read along and see what is happening week to week.

Before my actual doctor appointment, I had lab work done. What was really nice is the next day I was able to use our lab interface to look up my own results. All looked great from what I saw ;)

After we spoke with our new doctor, who is very nice by the way, we headed off to an ultrasound room. Within moments I found myself looking at a tiny little blob with a beautiful heartbeat. The doctor estimated that I was about 7-8 weeks along. According to Baby Center, webbed fingers and toes are beginning to poke out from the baby's hands and feet. The "tail" is beginning to disappear, and breathing tubes are beginning to connect the throat and developing lungs. The baby is only about the size of a kidney bean - yet so much is happening! The baby's heartbeat was fast and strong, exactly where they want it to be, at 178 beats per minute.

Because this is our *4th* time around, John and I really didn't have any questions for the doctor. We made an appointment for four weeks from then, and our doctor told us the baby would look *much* different then! How wonderful and exciting!

The kids are really excited about the baby. They are anxious to start buying baby things and help set up his or her room. It's fun now that they are a little older and can kind of understand what exactly is happening :)

A picture from our actual 8-week ultrasound!