Week 19 Update

Again, I apologize for my apparent lack of interest in this blog...I'm having a hard time adjusting to my new work schedule and being pregnant! 

STATS

How far along: As I write this, I am 19 weeks and 2 days!  I absolutely am BLOWN AWAY that I'm almost half way there!!!

How big is baby: Our little baby is the size of a delicious mango!!  Almost one pound!  The baby is essentially fully formed, and vernix (that cheesy white stuff) is coating his/her skin for protection.  He/she can also hear us and is kicking up a storm in there!  

Total weight gain: Today I weighed 138.7 (I think), so +8.7 pounds.  By next week, I'm supposed to weigh 140, but I don't think I'm going to hit that mark.  I've been eating well, just not gaining to much.

Maternity clothes: Oh my, yes.  I love my maternity jeans!!  So comfortable.  I also have been wearing lots of skirts and dresses.  I'm going to need to get maternity scrubs or some other alternative soon though, cause it's really hard to get my scrub pants on in the morning, haha!

Stretch marks: None yet, still faithfully lotioning myself every morning!

Sleep: It's honestly pretty awful unless I don't have to work in the morning.  I'm going to have to change my routine or something, because getting only 7 hours of sleep kills me.  If I don't have work, I'll sleep a consistent 9.5 to 10 hours.  Then I'm happy :)  I've also been trying to take a hour nap after work most days.  That helps me a lot!

Best moment this week: Having this weekend off has been really nice and helped me to get some things done around the house.  I am also feeling the baby more, so see below :)

Movement: I feel the baby at least once a day.  I have to be sitting still and really focusing, otherwise I can't feel it.  I can press my belly down and feel the baby inside there.  It's such a strange feeling!  People describe it like butterflies, but it feels like tickling inside me.  It's strange to me that I can't feel the baby on the outside yet, but I know as he/she gets bigger we will be able to feel more! 

Food cravings: Hot dogs, sausage, bacon (if it's got nitrites in it, I want it!  Too bad I'm not allowed).  Guacamole and salsa.  I have loved spicy things so far and they don't give me horrible heartburn, so that's nice :)  I've also been craving cold water.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still the smell of my dishwasher and plastic tupperwares.  I think it's high time I get new tupperware!

Gender: Unknown, but the doctor at the last visit was 75% sure it is a girl.  I feel like it's a girl, and my co-worker brought up a good point that she only had bad acne with her girls, never with her boys, because of all the extra female hormones running around!  

Labor Signs: None, thankfully, but I did have a bad abdominal cramp the other day when my bladder was really full!

Symptoms (if you don't want to read TMI, please skip!): Shortness of breath, being tired ALL THE TIME, stuffy nose, very small amount of edema (swelling) in my feet, tender joints after standing or wearing bad shoes, sore and swollen breasts, being moody/depressed, some diarrhea (don't know why), horrid acne, and frequent urination!

Things I miss: Having a clear face.  Eating lunch meat/food with nitrites.  Feeling energetic and getting things done during the day instead of sleeping.

Looking forward to: Our next appointment and finding out if we're having a little boy or girl!!!!

Next Appointment: November 20, 2012. 

Week 11-18 Update

I've been SO horrible at blogging.  I really honestly feel so guilty about it.  I need to be updating you all on my pregnancy and keeping a record for the future so I don't forget everything!!  This post will include a lot of pictures, so bear with me.  I'm really sorry to everyone and hope you'll forgive me.

We announced to our families on October 21.  It went SO well!  We did the FaceTime tour and it was so fun seeing everyone's reactions.  My mom and dad were called first.  When we showed them the ultrasound, my mom (who works in a fertility clinic) said, "What is that?"  My dad, catching on quickly, said, "Oh my gosh..."  Then my mom screamed and yelled, "You're pregnant!!!!!"  Then she started crying and asked lots of questions.  It was so fun and great!!    We called Jim and Wendy next, and had lots of trouble with their internet, so it was really lucky we were able to do FaceTime.  Jordan helped them set up the internet and then we called them.  When we showed them the ultrasound, Jim said, "What is that?"  Then Wendy poked him in the side, and said, "It's a baby!!"  It was so cute!  Later that evening we announced to my brother Jared and he was so excited (You're pregnant!), and emailed my brother Jordan on his mission in Argentina.

We announced to everyone in our branch at the Branch Halloween Party on October 26.  We wore these shirts I had made, and they were a big hit at the party.

I told my boss sometime after then.  I was trying to talk to her in her office, and never could, so we went in the laundry room on our unit and I told her.  She was so excited and hugged me, and asked me questions about what I was planning for maternity leave and such.  After I told her, it just leaked out to all other staff members :)

My appointment with my new OB, Dr. Thomas Mead at Dominion Women's Health was so great!  He seemed so nice and easy to get along with.  Here is a picture of our Jelly Baby at 12 weeks, 6 days, along with my first real bump (which is mostly clothes and bloat, if we're being honest, haha!).

We announced on Facebook on November 14 at 14 weeks and 5 days with these pictures.  Baby is the size of a lemon!

And 15 weeks (11/16/12), baby is the size of a navel orange...

Around this time, I had yet another (voluntary) change in my schedule.  I began a job share with the nurse who does Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).  Basically, I work a few days a week as the ECT nurse and a few days a week on the unit.  ECT is nothing like "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest."  It's very beneficial for different patients with depression, catatonia, etc. where medications aren't helpful.  Anyways, with this additional job, I have to wake up at 4:20 AM!!!!  Ahh!!  Needless to say, my sleep has been SO erratic.  Getting only 7 hours of sleep is no bueno for Melyn.  The great thing about this job, is that it allows me to sit at a desk for the majority of my day, which will be especially nice when I'm hugely pregnant.  Also, I get to come home at 2:30 in the afternoon.

We had our third OB appointment and Jordan was able to come to this one!!  Yay, celebrations!  Here is a picture of our baby looking right at the camera!

Thanksgiving was fun!  We went to our friend's house and ate delicious turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, salad, apple pie, etc.  Then we enjoyed a game of Risk.  (We are all very serious players!  No smiling allowed!)

Black Friday was fun because I finally got some maternity pants and some bigger bras!  The pants are SO comfy.  'Nuff said!

On November 28, I treated myself to "Project Prenatal Pamper Day" at the spa.  It was SO relaxing and worth every cent.  I got a massage, facial, lunch, mani/pedi.  I felt so relaxed and beautiful, and would highly recommend a pamper day to every pregnant woman.  Also a HUGE plus to the day was I felt the baby for the first time!  It was amazing!  The massage therapist said, "Now the massage will release a lot of endorphins and make the baby happy!"  So I was laying there feeling great, and I felt four distinct taps/kicks on the right lower side of my abdomen.  I couldn't believe it!  First-time moms very rarely feel their babies before the 5th month, but it was real!

17 weeks (11/30/12), baby is the size of an avocado...

18 weeks (12/7/12), baby is the size of a potato...and I love this bump picture!

Week 10 Update (Originally written 10/18/12)

I finally made it to the double digits!  Yay, celebration!  I had my first prenatal appointment ever on October 3.  I was so excited and nervous at the same time!  The first thing was the dating ultrasound.  It was amazing.  At the time, I thought I was 9 weeks 6 days along.  Well, I guess that's the point of a dating ultrasound, because we found out our little jelly-baby was actually only 8 weeks 5 days along!  I guess I ovulate late, despite my regular cycles.  :)  So that is one reason I haven't blogged for a few weeks, because I've been catching up.  When you're reading all the previous pregnancy posts, just move the week back one.  I guess that all means I found out I was pregnant around 4 weeks!  Anyways, I'm rambling now.  Time to get to the stats!

Also, one little note :)  I may talk about things in these posts that are personal and sometimes gross.  This blog is meant as my journal and memory keeper, so please excuse me sometimes!

STATS

How far along: As I'm writing this, I'm 10 weeks 6 days.  Time has seriously flown!  I can't believe we're going to be announcing to everyone in about a week!!!!

How big is baby: The size of a prune!  Yummy, sweet prunes. 

Total weight gain: My weight fluctuates daily (like pre-pregnancy).  Last time I weighed myself, I had gained about 2 pounds.  So total is around 132.

Maternity clothes: I went and bought a sleeping bra finally from Motherhood Maternity.  The girl there was SO nice and helped me so much!  A little TMI here, but taking a bra off is painful.  Having one on while I'm sleeping helps keep me supported.  

Stretch marks: None yet, thank goodness.  I'm sure I'll get some though!

Sleep: Sleep has been off and on.  I'm still able to sleep on my stomach, hallelujah!  I'll take advantage of that while I can.  But I'm starting to get a tiny bump of fat and bloat, so I'm a tiny bit uncomfortable.  I've been sleeping with a small pillow under the edge of my stomach so that helps a little.

Best moment this week: Coming up with a way to announce to our families!  I'm so so excited!  Jordan and I are going to arrange a FaceTime with both of our families, saying we want to show them some updates to the house.  While we're going through the dining room, we'll show them our picture wall.  My first ultrasound will be framed there, and Jordan will say, "Oh, and this is Melyn's favorite picture she took a few weeks ago!"  Ta-Da!  I'm so excited to see everyone's reaction!

Food cravings: Oh my gosh YES.  It's sick, really.  I'm usually a pretty healthy person.  I don't eat fast food hardly ever and don't really like fatty, fried food.  Well, in the past few weeks, I bought take-out Chinese for some fried rice, egg rolls, and wontons; gotten KFC chicken and mashed potatoes (ate almost the whole thing of mashed potatoes by myself!), and McDonalds.  It really makes me sick when I think about all the gross stuff I've eaten.  I'm determined that I'm going to eat more healthy!  My baby needs it!  And I need it too - fat doesn't sit well with my stomach!

Anything making you queasy or sick: There are some lockers that we keep patient belongings in at work.  I work with a lot of homeless people, so naturally, their clothes aren't kept as well as some other people who have access to a washer/dryer.  I opened the locker one day and the intense smell that came out made me want to barf all over.  It was so sick.  I think my co-workers thought I was crazy, because I was spraying air freshener all over the nursing station!  Haha :)  Also, and this is very strange, but the smell of our dishwasher detergent is so disgusting right now.  Every time I go to empty the dishwasher or heat up a tuppeware, the smell comes out and makes me so nauseated.

Gender: Unknown!

Symptoms (if you don't want to read TMI, please skip!): Nausea is getting better.  It's not 24/7 anymore, just mainly in the mornings.  I'm really hungry a lot, and need to eat every few hours.  It's hard to eat that often at work too, but I manage.  I've been SO tired, and haven't done laundry in forever.  Jordan actually started 2 loads of laundry today (he is so sweet to me).  One thing that I learned while I was in my OB appointment is that I have hypothyroidism!  Apparently, it happens pretty frequently in pregnant women.  Some symptoms going along with hypothyroidism are being cold all the time (VERY bizarre for me, I'm usually hot all the time) and being constipated.  TMI again, but I've been so constipated.  It's awful.  I eat so much fiber, drink tons of water, take Colace, etc.  Ugh.  I've also been a little more moody than usual, but not bad - just teary :)

Things I miss: Nothing really!

Looking forward to: Being able to announce to everyone next week!  

Next Appointment: Well, I fired my other OB because her c-section and episiotomy rates were way too high for my liking.  So I found another with super low c-section and episiotomy rates and have an appointment with him on November 1!!

Week 9 Update (Originally written on 9/28/12)

Time is seriously going by so fast.  I'm starting to think about how to announce to family members, my boss, co-workers, and branch members.  I know the way I'll announce to people in the branch - I'm going to be an oven with a bun inside :)


So right now, my uterus is the size of a grapefruit!  I'm still not showing yet, but most first time mom's don't show for a while.  Of course, every woman is different.

How far along: 9 weeks!  Almost done with the first trimester!

How big is baby: The size  of a grape, or an olive.  (Uh-oh, no one mention olives to me.  The thought of that just made me so sick!)

Total weight gain: 1.6 pounds so far!  My starting weight was exactly 130.  I'm hoping that by eating well, continuing to exercise, and then breastfeeding after having the baby, the weight loss won't be too difficult.

Maternity clothes: Not much besides those leggings and a belly band I've already bought.  

Stretch marks: None yet.

Sleep: Let's just say this - I slept 10.5 hours again last night.  I love my days off!!  Days I work though, I sleep from 9:30 PM to 5:00 AM (7.5 hours).  At least I have about every 3rd day off so I can catch up :)  I'm really going to miss sleeping on my stomach too, so I'm taking advantage of that every night.

Best moment this week: Sleeping, lol!

Movement: None yet, hopefully in about a month(ish).

Food cravings: ICE WATER.  I've been so thirsty lately.  Granted, I haven't been doing as well drinking and eating like I'm supposed to because of this lovely nausea.  So today I've been drinking tons of water.  Also was craving McDonalds chicken nuggets yesterday.  This love affair with McDonalds has to stop!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Raw meat still.  Chocolate.  The thought of olives.  The smell of my kitchen - seriously, this enhanced smell thing during pregnancy is insane!

Gender:  Unknown, but hopefully in about a month(ish).

Symptoms:  I'm hungry, nauseated, and full all the time.  It's terrible, because I'll eat something that I want and only have a few bites of it.  Sore breasts - and they're growing too.  I'm going to need a new bra soon.  Enhanced sense of smell - I feel like a dog, I can smell everything, including my co-workers perfume after they leave the room.  Being tired all the time.  I had only 5 patients the other day, and was so tired by the end of the day.  I hope my boss will let me only work the general unit when I tell her.  

Things I miss: Eating whatever the heck I want (curse you, nausea).  Being happy and upbeat in general, I'm just so moody and tired all the time!  Definitely looking forward to the supposed burst of energy in the second trimester.  

Looking forward to: My first appointment next week!!  So scared and nervous, but so excited at the same time.

Next Appointment: The big number one - October 3!!

Eight Week Update (Originally written on 9/28/12)

How far along: Eight Weeks!!  Time is really flying.

How big is baby: A little baby raspberry :)  I've enjoyed buying foods that correlate along with the size of the baby.  The raspberries this week were delicious haha.

Total weight gain: A little over 0.5 pounds.  Does anyone know the recommended weight gain in the first trimester?

Maternity clothes: Went and bought 2 pairs of maternity leggings by Ingrid and Isobel.  They're super comfy but don't quite fit me yet, because I don't really have a baby belly, just a bloated belly.  Blahh.

Stretch marks: None yet, fingers crossed!

Sleep: It's been ok.  I switched to day shift again, and it's been rough only sleeping 7.5 hours (I'm sure all you moms out there are laughing at me)!  One of my days off, I told myself I would "only" sleep 9 hours.  Yeah, I slept 10.5 hours.  I've been so tired!

Best moment this week: Is it sad that my best moments so far have been giving into cravings?  Haha!  The best time this week was when I was driving, saw a billboard for hamburgers, and then kept thinking about McDonalds and how amazing a dollar menu cheeseburger would be RIGHT NOW.  Needless to say, when I drove home, I got two of them and they were very delicious.  By the way, I really hate McDonalds.  So this is saying something!

Movement: None yet!

Food cravings: See above for my favorite moment this week :)  Also, never go grocery shopping while hungry AND pregnant.  It's a really bad combination.  I bought the most random crap, including: anchovies (I have never had anchovies before), cottage cheese, pickles (so stereotypical), crackers, lemons, and ginger.  :D

Anything making you queasy or sick: Yes, blah - everything.  I can't stand the sight of raw meat.  I hate the smell of our kitchen.  Our bathroom stinks, and our house stinks in general.  It really makes me sick.

Gender:  Unknown

Symptoms: If you want you, you can skip this section.  It's kinda gross.  Bloating, nausea, GI upset, etc.  I still haven't thrown up yet, but this dang progesterone is messing up my system!  My leg hair is growing really fast, which is so random.  Feeling tired all the time, sleeping more than 10 hours a night.  Irritability and being emotional.  ACNE all over which is so awful.  I can't wait to see my doctor to find something for the acne.  

Things I miss: Having a pretty face.  Being able to eat and cook whatever I want.  

Looking forward to: Getting a baby bump :)  

Next Appointment: October 3, 2012!!

Week 7 Update (Originally written on 9/18/12)

I'm so excited to finally be doing these updates!  These past few weeks of not being able to tell anyone has been torture, and I don't know how I'll last 5 more weeks!!  

STATS

How far along: 7 weeks and 5 days!  Time is seriously flying!

How big is baby: A delicious baby Blueberry!  Jordan's been calling our baby a "baby blueberry," :) and I've been calling our baby a Jelly Baby.

Total weight gain: 0.2 pounds!  Haha to be honest, I'm having a hard time meeting my daily calorie requirement.  I've been using an app to track it all and it's hard!  Especially when you're eating healthy and veggies/fruits don't have many calories.  

Maternity clothes: None yet.  Jordan joked before we found out I was pregnant that the moment I found out, I'd go on a shopping spree!  That hasn't happened yet though.  I'm being cautious...

Stretch marks: None yet.  I know you can't really prevent them, but I've been lotioning basically my whole body every morning after my shower.

Sleep: Really restless!  I have the most insane, long dreams every night!  Like last night, I had a dream I was hanging out with this gay guy from college with all his friends and we were drinking.  Um, what?  I didn't really understand that one.  The night before that, I dreamed that Jordan and I were going down really tall waterslides for hours on end.  At the end of the waterslides, you would land in a really deep pool.  You would have to tip the lifeguard, and we tipped him with pieces of cheese and bread.  HAHA!!!


Best moment this week: Giving in to one of my cravings.  See below...

Movement: None yet, but hopefully in a few months!


Food cravings: YES.  A few days ago, I wanted to make Tollhouse Pie so badly!  Today I was seriously craving pesto sauce.  I gave in and made pasta with roast beef and pesto.  It was so freaking delicious.


Anything making you queasy or sick: Sadly, the day after I wanted Tollhouse Pie, I decided I would throw up if I made it. :(  Also anything sweet besides fruit makes me sick.  There are some cookies on our counter that make me sick every time I look at them.


Gender: I really, really hope we are having a girl!  I'd love a boy too, but this would be the first girl on Jordan's side and the first grandchild on my side.  :)

Symptoms: Oh man!  Morning sickness (or evening sickness, rather) has finally started.  I seriously thought that I wouldn't experience it.  :(  I was sick all day today, so I sat on the couch eating crackers and drinking Gatorade, lol.  
Sore boobs!  Agh!  
Tiredness.  I'm so tired all the time.  But, you know, I'm making a human here, give me a break ;)
Strange dreams.  See above!
Random irritability.  Poor Jordan, he is so sweet and good to me.  The good thing is, I know when I'm irrational, so I always apologize.

Things I miss: Being able to eat anything I want.

Looking forward to: Telling everyone at 12 weeks!  Going to our first appointment and seeing this little Jelly Baby and hearing the heartbeat!

Next Appointment: October 3, 2012!!!

It's Finally Happening!!!! (Originally written on 9/8/12)

It's no secret that Jordan and I have been TTC.  I had a preconception appointment in January, when my doctor told me we could start trying in May.  We have been trying our hardest, and even with a few hiccups along the way and some really emotional weeks, I finally missed my period in August!  I tested on August 25, with a negative.  Tested again 3 days later, August 28, and got another negative.  Tested again August 31, and got the faintest of faint positives!!

Tested on September 1, because I couldn't wait, and got 2 clear positive tests!

That morning, I walked up to our bedroom and announced to Jordan, "Guess who's gonna be parents!?!"  He is thrilled and so am I!  I am, as of today, 6 weeks and 2 days along.  At least that's what my calculator tells me, because I haven't had my first OB appointment yet.  I've been eating really healthy, drinking plenty of water, taking my vitamins, trying to sleep enough, and trying not to stress out too much.  I've been reading SO many books on pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for infants.  My absolute favorite book so far has been Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.  I've been trying so hard to keep this news inside of me, and it's so hard!  I want to shout it out to everyone I see - "I'm pregnant!!!"

Here is my first pregnant belly shot :)