Saturday, January 16, 2010

Week 9


So we are now week 9, seems that there are lot of changes going on for Baby Earl. For me, not so much; breast tenderness, nausea - comes and goes, headaches - come and go, fatigue - all the time. :) This week Baby Earl is the size of a medium green olive and has graduated to a fetus; tiny muscles are starting to form and in a month or so I should be able to start feeling Baby E fluttering around, using those muscles to move his/her arms and legs. That is super exciting!

Still not much weight gain, thank goodness :) though my clothes are definitely fitting differently; well jeans and bras mostly. Other than that though, feeling really good. After meeting with the nurse last week, and then with the next appointment on Thursday, my "Is there really a baby inside there?" thoughts are less often, though not totally gone. And I am getting better still at not sleeping on my tummy, but that will take a little longer to get used to.

The newest things I have noticed in the last week is what I am guessing to be "pregnancy brain", forgetting I told people something, or asking my mom about something over and over again, even just tonight I offered to Tracy and Jace that I could work this summer for them since I wont be shooting pool anymore, part-time days - Jace laughed and reminded me I have a job. :) Funny stuff, nothing too serious. Then there is the irritability, last Sunday and one other day last week (I forget when - hehehe) I was irritable and crabby all day for no reason. The crying at the drop of a hat, even during American Idol, continues. But then again I have always been a crier, so no real surprise there.

Mostly I just feel so excited, so happy, so blessed. I constantly am thinking of names, and how much longer before I can tell friends. Oddly, only one girlfriend (other than BFF Tracy and Jess who know) has put two and two together - me not drinking, or smoking....Of course Tracy is itching to do birth announcements in her hobby room. After all the years I wished for, hoped for, prayed to be able to conceive and after all the surgeries, complications and conditions, I know that this is not the most conventional pregnancy but I do believe that all babies including mine, are a blessing and I am so grateful to have this chance to be a mommy because I had all but given up on the hope I would be in the last year or so. And I am so blessed too that I have such a loving and supportive family, which I have always known, but more so now. And when I say family I also mean my extended family; Tracy and Jace, the sister I always wanted with wonderful husband, they love and support me fully and are so excited too. Its just so much more than I ever expected, I cant help but smile all the time these days, except of course when I am irritated. :)

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The first appointment

Today we had our first appointment at the Midwife Center at Valley Medical in Renton. I had been pretty nervous and excited, of course Tracy went with us but it was some what of a let down... It was ALL paperwork, my history, my social life, etc. No heartbeat or ultrasound, still too early. But the good news is I am on track as far as prenatal care, vitamins, diet, etc. The nurse was most impressed with my quitting smoking cold turkey, before I even took the first pregnancy test. Yay!

We go back next Thursday to meet with a midwife for the "New OB" exam, which is another hour long appointment. Again no ultrasound next week, they want to wait until at least week 11 for that and testing. So no blood drawing either for a couple weeks which is great!

The facility itself is nice, easy to get to from work. The women were all friendly and full of smiles. I cant wait to go back and learn more. Even sitting in the office today with the nurse, it was surreal - Is this really happening?

Grammie was once again heavy on my mind today. She would be so thrilled, and I know she is surely just smiling and happy for me in Heaven. When I start having moments of doubt or start worrying about all that could go wrong, I think of her and how she wanted this as much as me, and I can nearly hear her whispering in my ear "God is good Mimmy, God is good".

Sunday, January 10, 2010

No more holding it!

In the last week, especially the last couple of days as I am now well into week 8, it seems Baby Earl is already wreaking havoc with my bladder. Never in my life have I gone potty so many times in one day!

Last night, just hours after going to bed (and yes I went before bed), I was awakened by this all to real seeming dream that I was going to the bathroom and then started "going" up onto myself. Surely this was just my body's way of waking me up to tell me to go, but isn't that so amazing how much Baby Earl has already changed my body.... I mean really, to me it is, before I could have slept 10, 12+ hours straight and never dreamt or thought about having to get up in the middle of the night to go potty. 2 months in and baby has me going at least once or twice EVERY night.

Tracy says its "bah-chi" or karma, for making fun of my mom and Grammie for getting up several times a night or having to stop every hour on a road trip. LOL :)