Ultrasound Scheduled and Travel

Today, I am 16 weeks pregnant and baby is the size of an avocado. Yay! I feel like the past month just flew compared to the other weeks. According to the doctor's office, I have gained 6 pounds, but I find this hard to believe since I still weigh the same on my home scale. And when I weigh myself I usually do it in my undies in the AM. I wore different shoes for each appointment, as well as heavier clothing since it has gotten colder outside. And at the appointments I usually have to pee really bad (gotta come prepared since it's the second thing they make you do after weighing) and have just eaten lunch. So... do I believe I have gained 6 pounds- not one bit. I weigh the same as I did prepregnancy on my home scale and that is what I am going off of (exp. since I can still fit into my pants just fine).

Here's a pic of me at 16 weeks:



There's a little bump there for sure, but you can't really tell. Most people probably think I've just gotten pudgy, but I have felt a heaviness in that area that I've never felt before. When I do my prenatal yoga I also notice that my belly is more noticable (to me) and sticks out just a teeny bit further. My breasts still feel like a foreign object, and I'm constantly amazed at what is happening to them every time I get dressed!

We scheduled our first big ultra-sound for Feb. 11th!! This is when most people would find out the baby's gender, but we have decided to wait until the big day in June! I am super duperly excited to actually see this little thing that has been growing inside of me.

Right before we flew to Texas for Christmas, I finally caved in and got the H1N1 (Swine Flu) shot. I just felt so paranoid about it, so I went ahead and did it. I'm glad I did since I feel so relieved now, but it HURT. The guy who gave me the shot practically stabbed me, and my arm was sore for two days afterwards.

Travel on the plane went well, except I didn't bring enough food to eat on the long flight so I was really hungry most of the time. I was able to get preboarding and sat in the front, which made for a smoother ride. On the way back we were running late (due to the longer security lines after the Christmas day failed terrorist attack) so I had to sit in the back for one flight. There was such a HUGE difference- the back is very uncomfortable and I felt like my tummy was being pushed. When we fly again in a few weeks, I am going to try to get a front seat again.

We are going to Las Vegas for a celebratory trip in a few weeks. We're celebrating Rob's graduation from CCU as well as our 2 year anniversary (it was on the 5th). Luckily, I was able to get a sweet deal on the flight and hotel package, which means more money in savings for our little Olive! This will be the last chance for me to travel long distances (after 22 or so weeks some airlines do not allow pregnant women on the plane- it's just not recommended since the decrease in oxygen can stimulate pre-term labor), so it's kind of our own little babymoon too!

2nd Trimester!!

I am officially a THIRD of the way through this pregnancy! Wahoo! It feels so good to know that I am done, done, done with the MS of the first. Not only has my morning sickness really gone done, but I am getting my energy back too! Although, my food adversions are still with me (as I suspect they will remain for the rest of the pregnancy)- I cannot stomach the smell or look of chicken or beef. I don't even really like to think about pizza either, which used to be one of my favorite foods.

At the moment, I'm loving orange juice and orange slices, string cheese and decaf coffee. Just can't seem to get enough of 'em!

This week, the baby starts to hear!

We have decided NOT to find out the gender. :-)

And we're decided on either a home-birth or freestanding birth center for the big day. (More info on this later).

And the biggest news of all- Rob had an interview with a church in Illinios yesterday evening. He thinks it went well, but we won't know until the end of the month if they still want to consider him. We are personally holding out for this church, but know that God will put us where we're meant to be. Today is a great day for both us for another reason too, because Rob is officially DONE with college! Life is really starting to look up!
UPDATE- Rob made it to the final round of interviews, but was not selected for this position. We are still looking and praying while he continues to send out resumes to hiring churches. Church hiring procedures are typically much longer and more drawn out than traditional jobs since there is much prayer and deliberation that takes place between different teams within the church. Big thanks to all of you who are currently praying and supporting us during this time, as it can be very stressful and take a while.

Starting to show!

11 week belly shot:

I am officially in maternity pants now! You can only stand buttoned jeans for so long, and then you start to feel frumpy in sweats all the time. So, hubby and I went out to the Gap outlet and bought a buttload of clothes for dirt cheap. Getting dressed is finally fun again now that I have cute things to fit into!

My little 'baby bump' isn't that noticeable, but I can definately tell a difference and Rob says that he can too. I still haven't gained any weight that I know of, and as I'm picking at my food and having difficulty getting food down that doesn't make me want to gag I don't think its likely that I will be tipping the scales much during this pregnancy. Of course, that could change down the road!

We are still deciding whether or not to find out the gender. I'm torn between wanting desperately to know and wanting it to be a surprise.

I am going to try and post weekly belly pics from now on to guage my progress and share with those who can't see my expanding waistline.

Only one more week until I'm officially in my second trimester!! Wooohooo! And it just so happens to be on the same day when Rob finishes his bachelor's degree. :-) Things are looking up!

Heard the Heartbeat!!

Today, my little baby is the size of a lime (11 weeks). A LIME. It is so crazy to think how big it has grown in such a short amount of time, and it still has quite a bit of growing to go!




We had our monthly appointment on Tuesday with a new milestone- we got to hear the baby's heartbeat! I was so excited, I cried. It is still so strange to think that another little being is ticking away inside of me yet apart from me. Rob said that it really made his day to here our little olive (who no longer is the size of an olive!) :-) . He or she is going strong at around 160 bpm.


My stomach is finally starting to protest when I get dressed in the morning, and I think that this weekend I will need to go get some maternity clothes. At least a new pair of pants and a new bra (the latter of which I already outgrew since buying one 2 weeks ago!). It's exciting yet depressing at the same time, because I'm not used to seeing my body this way. I feel like I don't look good in anything anymore! So I think buying new clothes to restore my confidence is definately in order.


I only gained 1.5 pounds since the last appointment, and that was before I went to the bathroom, so in reality I don't think I really gained anything yet at all (think constipation- the ailment of all pregnant women). It is going to be so weird when I start gaining one pound a week from here on out. I will be tipping the scales like never before!


Since my morning sickness has let up (but not disappeared), I've been able to start exercising again and eating more nutritous foods. One thing that I am working on is eating meat every day- this is a challenge considering I am practically a vegetarian. And one of my cravings lately has been salad- of all things to crave! So, the meat section and I are going to become much closer friends in the coming weeks.

Only 2 more weeks until I am officially in the second trimester- woooohoooo! Can we say Hallelujah? Sorry, but first trimester, I am not going to miss you at all! :-)

Crazy Preggo Dreams and Doctor's Orders

I have always tended to remember a lot of my dreams, but being pregnant seems to have exaggerated it. Since I sleep most of the day (12 hours on average!), it seems like I am constantly in dreamland. I've had several dreams about the baby, but the strange thing is that in each one of them, the baby did not look like it should. Once it was half-cat and half-human.

Another time it grew up it be 18 years old after a couple days. Another time it was too small and I didn't know how to touch it. Weird. I guess these just indicate that having a baby is so unfamiliar to me that I don't really know what to think. What's different about most of my dreams is that they are much more complex, a lot crazier, and seem to last for hours on end. Oh, and most of them feel very very real.


I am starting to feel more pregnant as the days progress, and it feels so weird. It seems like my breasts were stolen from me and replaced with giant balloons complete with landing pads for rocket ships. They are the biggest they've ever been and are sore and tender. I went out to buy a new bra the next size up, but after wearing it for a day, I think I may need to get a bigger size still!!


I joke with my husband that we are having twins since my hunger never seems to end. And although my belly is likely swollen from constipation, I have a feeling that much of it is indeed from the pregnancy itself (after all, I haven't gained any weight). What a whirlwind that would be- to have 2 babies! Since the MS had been so bad, I wouldn't mind just getting two of them out and over with at once, lol.
My first prenatal appointment was rather boring- lots of paperwork on our family histories. Then the dreaded pap smear. Then 2 urine samples along with a ton of bloodwork. After having my blood taken, I nearly passed out, broke out into a cold sweat, stumbled into the bathroom and thought I was going to puke. Since there was only one nurse for an entire waiting room full of people, she did not see me turn white as a sheet or pratically foam at the mouth. Thankfully, Rob noticed and went to get me some food and drink immediately. I promptly went home and took a 2 hour nap.

I was dissapointed to not hear the heartbeat. My midwife said that it was too early, but I know this to be false since many other women in my due date club have got to hear theirs. I am guessing the office just didn't have the equipment. It would have been reassuring to hear it, though. Hopefully, they will try to hear it at my next appointment.

Oh, I was also prescribed some nausea meds too. The only problem with these is that they tend to make me super hungry. I don't know what the crap is up with my stomach! I'd rather be eating every hour than not eating at all, though, so there is something to be thankful for. At least I can function now!

On Friday, Rob and I are going to apply for Medicaid. We just need to get our paperwork in line, and then hopefully we will be accepted. I don't see why we wouldn't since we meet the income requirements. Anyway, it doesn't seem like it will be any fun, so I am looking forward to getting it over with.

(UPDATE: Since we've decided on either home or a freestanding birth center as the location for the birth, we are not applying for this aid anymore. Instead, we'll be saving up and paying for the birth in cash. As of now I am recieving prenatal care at a local hospital until Rob's job situation looks more clear.)

Appointment in 2 days

My 8 week appointment is on Thursday, and I am so nervous! I thought I would be more excited than anything, but mostly I am just afraid of something going wrong such as not finding the heartbeat or something like that. I know I am probably over worrying, but it does cross my mind! I am really curious as to what to expect, since many doctors do first appointments differently.

I am anxious and nervous about getting the flu shots too. The HINI vaccine is only available to pregnant women and high risk ppl in my area right now, so I basically have to wait until my appointment for "confirmation" that I am pregnant so that I can get the shot. A young man in northern KY recently died a week after getting the swine flu and that has scared me since my immune system is supposedly 'down'. Getting pregnant during flu season is nerve-wracking! Every time I am out in public I am aware of the possible germs circulating through the air. I know I am probably being a bit OCD about it, but when you are at home most of the day, you notice it/ think about it more. Mostly I am worried about the possible side effects from taking the vaccine. I have not had a vaccine of any kind since high school. I HATE shots. It gives me shivers just thinking about it...

Morning sickness has not let up, and I think I am going to ask my doctor on Thursday if there are any meds I can take for it. It seems to be getting worse, and I have already LOST 5 pounds. I thought when you got pregnant you were supposed to GAIN weight?! Needless to say, this can't be good, so I want to see if there is something that will at least make food somewhat appealing to me again. I have been living off of toast, mashed potatoes, cereal and crackers. It's really hard to eat that everyday and every two hours!

Other new symptoms I've been having include dizziness, getting up to pee during the night and breast tenderness.

Let the vomiting begin

The past four or five days, my nausea has been increasing. I now officially have full-blown morning sickness and am vomiting as well. Unlike some lucky ladies who get sick in the morning and are free and clear for the rest of the day, my MS sticks with me throughout the entire day. I would rather be in labor! My trashcan follows me where-ever I am, be in the car at the grocery store parking lot or in the kitchen while I attempt to stuff some type of edible substance in my empty stomach. The worst part is the dry-heaving. It really takes it out of you when you do it 25 plus times a day.

My favorite part of the day is, therefore, when I am asleep. Because you can't vomit when you're asleep! If only I could sleep through to the 2nd trimester.

Let's pray I don't need medical assistance for this MS later on, though it's certainly pointing that way.