38 and The Plug

38 weeks!

I am two weeks away from my due date, and last night I lost my plug. Well, at least part of it (not sure how big the entire thing is - sorry about TMI!). I was so excited because it means my cervix must be opening, right?? Of course I asked Dr. Google, and found that either labor is ready to begin OR it can be weeks still. It's quite possible it was loosened up at my appointment Tuesday. No way to tell at this point..so we continue to wait...

M and I met with our pediatrician yesterday. We both really like him. He gave us all his background information and we got to ask lots of questions. He seems to have a very gentle, calm demeanor. He comes highly recommended, and our OB sends his kids to him. I think we have a winner, folks! Good to know ahead of time since he'll be performing surgery on our little guy (circumcision) on his second day of life!

Check-Up

37w5d

Today's appointment went well! I am happy to report that I am now 70% effaced and a fingertip dilated...so it looks like there is some movement in the right direction. It's getting harder and harder to wait! My patience is about gone, and my irritability (hormones + no sleep = grumpy Katie) is increasing. Elfie has discovered that he loves to drum on my bladder at night, so I'm definitely spending more time on the toilet than in bed. Oh well. I guess I'd better get used to the lack of sleep...it's only going to get worse!

We go back next Monday for an ultrasound to see how big our guy is getting. If I don't begin labor before then, I am really looking forward to seeing his growth one last time!

Details

36w4d

Had my 36-week check-up this morning. Dr. D checked me and found that I am 60% effaced, but no dilation yet. I am just so glad to hear that we have some progress and my cervix isn't going to hold out like Fort Knox (knock on wood!). Elfie's head is low, but not engaged in the pelvis yet. I'm just hoping he stays head down! BH contractions are also definitely increasing in frequency and intensity. Yay!

My energy level seems to have increased in the past few days...but maybe it's because I have a new determination to get the house clean and be as physically active as I can! I mowed the lawn yesterday, and surprisingly did just fine with it. I thought it would wipe me out, but I felt great the rest of the day! This is such a wonderful feeling...maybe I truly CAN enjoy my pregnancy for these last final weeks!!!

The latest

35w4d

My goodness, where to begin? I feel like I have so much to say, and can't organize my thoughts. I have been an extremely bad blogger lately for a variety of reasons. This pregnancy is literally kicking my butt, and I didn't want this blog to turn into a forum for all my complaints. I'm a little bit over that now, as I feel I should be honest with myself and the world that it isn't all sunshine and roses for everyone!

Back when I was TTCing and undergoing treatments, I never dreamt that I'd someday be here, almost 36 weeks pregnant and actually wishing I wasn't pregnant anymore! It's an awful feeling after everything I've been through to get here, and all the years of longing for a baby inside of me. There are aspects of being pregnant that I love: feeling him move, bonding with him, reading and singing to him, watching him grow, knowing he's thriving, and dreaming of the day I meet him. Obviously, though, there are things about being pregnant that I can live without. I need to remind myself DAILY that this is sooooo temporary, that it WILL end soon, that I need to be more appreciative of this time, that it will become a distant memory...(so many people tell me that there's an amnesia we get after giving birth about all the icky pregnancy stuff that allows us to want to become pregnant again!), AND that the reason I am doing this is because for the rest of my life I will get the privilege of being this little boy's mommy -- a gift that compares with nothing, and a love that isn't matched.

I'm bulleting the last month because there's just too much:

• The painful contractions have subsided, meaning I don't have to rely on the terbutaline to keep me sane. I do, however, continue to have frequent BH contractions.
• Our family and friends threw us an amazing couples' baby shower and we had a blast seeing everyone all together!
  
• M and I have attended 2 out of our three classes: the all-day childbirth class, which was EXCELLENT (I learned so much about the actual labor process and what to expect from our hospital); and the breastfeeding class, which helped calm some of my anxieties. This Thursday we will go to Newborn Care class to finish up the series.
  
• Starting at 32 weeks I developed a pinched nerve right next to my belly button that caused excruciating pain when I stood up or walked around. It lasted until 34.5 weeks, although my doc had said that could very well be painful throughout the rest of my pregnant days. This was awful for me, since the only way I could get relief was to sit or lie down to take the pressure from the weight of Elfie off my belly button. I was banished to the couch and could really only get up to go to the bathroom before it got too painful. SO GLAD that it's gone now...knock on wood! Oh yes, at one point it was so bad that my friend was visiting from out-of-town and she took me to Wal.Mart and pushed me around in a wheelchair just so I could get some shopping done! Talk about humiliating (and hilarious all at the same time!).
  
• My pelvis feels like it's being ripped apart.
• Elfie's room is totally complete, and I promise I'll post some pics soon. It's my happy place :) I even have all his 0-3 month clothes washed and ready.
  
• I'm not getting enough sleep (yes, I know that this is preparation for what's to come!) because my hips ache and Elfie either throws a dance party or has long-lasting hiccups in the middle of the night. Every. Night.
• I am experiencing horrible pain and pressure right on the top of my pelvis from the weight of this kid. It's constant, and makes walking very difficult. It sort of feels like any muscles right there are being torn on a daily basis.
• I can't breathe and become winded and sweaty even just sitting on the couch talking on the phone in my air-conditioned house.
• We have our hospital bag packed. Yowza. I think this might just be real.
  
• I can no longer shave my legs. It's embarrassing how disgusting I'm sure they are, and the same goes for my feet. I need a pedicure just to clip my toenails...which grow at the rate of the weeds in my backyard that I can't bend over to pick.
• Getting dressed is a CHORE, and NOTHING fits anymore, so I do laundry every other day for the 5 items I can still wear. I'll be damned if I'm buying anything new now!
• And while we're on the subject of clothes, none of my bras fit.....what's a girl to do?! Everyone tells me to wait until he's born to buy nursing bras since the girls are going to explode once again...does anyone have insight into this? Opinions?

Okay, so I know that this did end up sounding complain-y. But it feels good to get it all out there! Thanks for enduring it all!

A girl can't catch a break.

31w5d

I've been a busy girl lately....and to quote my doctor, "Wow, you seem to be having an exciting pregnancy!"

Yeah. Not so much. "Exciting" is not exactly the word I would use.

8 p.m. on July 4. I decided to call my doc's office because what I thought had been BH contractions all day were occurring frequently and regularly....as in, I was having 6 in an hour and they seemed to be spaced at regular intervals. I was also noticing some slight cramping with each tightening of my belly. The on-call doc said to drink a jug of water (I was probably dehydrated due to the heat), and if they kept coming to report to L&D. In this time I also took a warm bath, as I had read that it, combined with rest, could sooth and eliminate BH.

They indeed kept coming, so M and I waffled back and forth on whether to go to the hospital. It wasn't until about 12am, as I was lying in bed trying to fall asleep, that I realized that the pain I was experiencing with each contraction was in my back and lower abdomen (it felt like menstrual cramps). What I also noticed is that the pain would come, and then subside. Alarm bells went off at this time because I knew these were NOT BH!!! We packed a bag and promptly headed out.

We were admitted at 1 am and hooked up to the heartbeat and contraction monitors. Sure enough, I was contracting every 4 minutes, and each one was lasting a minute. As we watched the screen, the intervals eventually went down to 2 minutes apart and my pain was increasing with each one. I was starting to get scared! The nurse gave me a shot of terbutaline to stop the contractions and started an IV. She also did the Fetal Fibronectin test to see if my cervical enzymes indicated the possibility of labor in the next two weeks. The test came back negative (yay!), and since my contractions had stopped, they sent me home...at 5 am.

M and I fell into bed and slept until about 11:30 am that day (Monday the 5th). When I woke up, I could tell I was contracting again, but that they weren't too severe. So I got up and had breakfast, did a few chores, and then decided to lie down and watch TV, since I had been instructed to "take it easy." By about 12:30 they were coming regularly again, so I called the doc's office AGAIN (they were closed for the holiday), and a different on-call doc instructed me to head to the hospital to get another shot of terbutaline. As you might imagine, I was less than thrilled about this..but I knew it was the only way to stop my uterus!

So we went to L&D, got the shot, and they also decided to do a cervical check to make sure I wasn't dilated..and I certainly wasn't prepared for the treat that was:

OH.
MY.
GAWD.

This is the first time in my life any has attempted to stick their entire hand up my lady business. I was SHOCKED at how much it hurt. I was literally scooting up the bed away from the nurse because I thought I might die if she tried to get that hand in any further. And the sucky part (well, actually, it turned out to be a good thing) was that she couldn't even reach my cervix! Apparently this is great news because it indicates that it is still high, tight, and closed. But still. I was not amused with the pain of that incident.

We were sent home with a prescription for the oral form of terbutaline. I am to take it as needed for contractions. It's really a miracle drug, except that it makes my heart race and gives me the jitters...as if I've had 10 cups of coffee...but that's small potatoes compared to the cramping the contractions bring on. So far, I had to take a pill last night at 7 because I was contracting every 6 minutes, and then again at 7:30 this morning when they were coming 8 minutes apart.

Coincidentally, my regular doc's appt was this morning, and I was relieved to be able to see him and get the scoop about what's happening and where we go from here. He told me that the FFN test combined with the position of my cervix tells him I am not experiencing preterm labor, only preterm contractions. He said it's most likely due to the size of Elfie compared to his GA (guess it's really not so cute and funny that he's a big boy). He also said that he does expect me to continue to contract throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. In two weeks I will see him again and get the FFN test to check for labor signs. The doc's goal is 34 weeks, and he said 36 weeks "would be gravy". So I guess I am to expect that Elfie could very likely be arriving quite a bit ahead of schedule...

So. Yeah. Not too "exciting;" rather, "nerve-wracking, anxiety-inducing, stressful, and scary" are the words I'd used to describe this.

I had hoped that with all the hell we experienced getting pregnant that I could at least have an uneventful pregnancy. This is just further proof that I am not the one driving the ship here, and that God laughs at the plans I make. But as I ponder the events of the last 10 weeks, I am reminded that nothing really truly worth having in life comes easily. This whole experience has been hard, and I know that motherhood, too, will be difficult.

And I welcome it with open arms. I wouldn't trade this "suffering" for the world. Because in a few short weeks I'll meet my son, and that's what really matters.

30? How did that happen??

30 weeks!

This morning I got the best 30-week present EVER! The perinatologist reported that little Elfie is cured of his arrhythmia!! I am over the moon that my guy is healthy and that this "hiccup" has resolved itself (at least for now!!!).

To make my life even more fantastic, the doctor gave me some INCREDIBLE 3D pictures of our handsome little boy! This was such an unexpected, added bonus that I bawled like a baby right then and there as I saw my son's face for the first time. I got to watch him opening and closing his mouth and covering his face with this hands. Unbelievable! He looks just like his daddy!!!!!

How is it that this pregnancy is three-quarters complete? Where has the time gone? I cannot believe that in a few short months I will be what I've dreamt about my entire life: a mommy. It's simply unreal.

Here's his profile:



And a straight-on face shot with his mouth open:



And one of the 3-D shots (he has his hand over one of his eyes):

Uh-Mazing!

Costa Rica was amazing! We had such a fun, relaxing vacation with M's family. If you haven't been, it is the most lush, green, tropical country and the people there are so friendly! I had a chance to brush up on my very limited Spanish, and loved listening to the natives "Ticos" speak. Overall (minus the mosquitoes and humidity), a fabulous trip!!! We feel so fortunate to have been able to go.

Traveling in my seventh month proved to be more difficult than I anticipated, but M was such a champ in helping me out. He was so attentive and caring to my needs and limitations, which made the trip infinitely easier. Third tri exhaustion has definitely set in, and I am now taking daily naps (siestas!) to cope with the fatigue.

I have a peri appointment on Thursday to see if Elfie's arrhythmia has gotten any better. Keeping fingers crossed that it has!

Here are some pic from the trip...

Some Relief

The appointment this morning went well. This doctor is, by far, the best I have ever been to in terms of his bedside manner and attention to detail. I know he works primarily with high-risk pregnancies, so it's his job to be uber-sensitive to hormonal pregnant women..it is my impression that he is certainly in the right profession!

We started out with a full anatomy scan of Elfie. Boy, is he growing! He is now measuring 13 days ahead of schedule, and is an astonishing 3 pounds. I was shocked! We got some great pics that I'll scan and post later.

The doctor was a bit concerned that he is so big. I hadn't been worried (until today!) because M is a big guy and was 11 pounds at birth. We just always expected to have a big baby. So my instructions are to reduce my carb intake...uggh! That's a hard assignment, since that what I crave the most besides fruit! Oh well, small price to pay for Elfie's health.

And then on to the goods:

After an extremely detailed look at the heart, the doctor determined there aren't any structural abnormalities. We did see and hear the irregular beats, and he explained to us that it is not uncommon for them to resolve themselves. I was instructed to eliminate ALL sources of caffeine from my diet, including chocolate and (get this!) my cocoa butter stretch mark cream! Apparently, unbeknownst to me, I've been feeding my baby caffeine through my belly every morning! So there goes that.

Oh yes, and one more set of instructions: "Have a great time in Costa Rica!"

I left feeling much better, but of course it's going to be in the back of my mind until it's gone or we know more. I have a follow-up appointment in two weeks. If the arrhythmia is still there I will be monitored weekly with this perinatologists until I deliver. He also did mention that there is an increased chance that, if the arrhythmia persists, I'll be recommended for c-section, as they prefer to not put the baby in a stressful labor situation under these circumstances.


For now, I'm just taking my kick counts, relaxing as much as possible, and PACKING! We leave early Saturday morning and return the following Sunday, do I probably won't be blogging until at least then. I hope you all continue to enjoy June!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Good news first:

I did, indeed, pass my glucose test, although the number (115) was not as low as I thought it would be judging by my "almost passing out" experience!

Bad news second:

M and I are involved in a worker's comp nightmare (really just filling out the paperwork, knowing whom to send it to, waiting for calls to be returned, etc, etc.). This is regarding the $2600 hospital stay I had as a result of the soccerball to the uterus at school. Uggh. I hate this.

And now, the Ugly:

My appointment with Dr. D this morning revealed the Elfie has a cardiac arrhythmia. As soon as he put that doppler on my belly I knew that the beats were not right. His little heart would beat 3 or 4 times and then skip one or two; wash, rinse, repeat. Dr. D is sending me to the perinatologist on Thursday morning to have him check the chambers and valves of my little guy's heart. I am freaking out, but know that there is nothing I can do to make it better right now except wait and pray. I am reassured with the fact that Elfie is extremely active (which the Dr. said is an excellent thing), but just can't help but be apprehensive.

Obviously, if we find an abnormality, our trip to Costa Rica is out of the question. My own heart feels so fragile right now...I'm asking for lost of prayers and support if you can lend it.

Cheer up, Charlie!

23 weeks!

Just checking in to report that Elfie and I are just plugging along, growing bigger every day and experiencing some of the not-so-joys of pregnancy! Lately, I have had quite a bit of pain and pressure in my lower abdomen, mainly triggered by walking long distances. Unfortunately, the longest distance my body seems to be okay with is to the park down the street from our house. In my book, this is just not nearly enough exercise. Oh yes, and the back pain and heartburn? They're still hanging around too! I don't worry about it too much since most of my pain is relieved the minute I sit down and relax, but will definitely be bringing it up to Dr. D at my appointment on Monday. I'm guessing it is just par for the course, and most likely ligament stretching...Has anyone else experienced this or something similar?

The nursery is coming along steadily. We are going to start our furniture shopping soon, and then it will really start to come together (!). Charlie (our canine "baby") has been moping around the house since I've become increasingly less mobile...but last Friday I found one way to cheer him up:

He loves to feel Elfie kicking away at my belly button! This is in the nursery..as you can see, I decided to get crafty with some canvasses, paint, and stencils. Funny that I have those done, but still need the majority of my furniture!!!

Halfway There!

Boy, oh boy!

I mean that in every sense of the phrase! Since Monday's appointment I have been busy picking out bedding (it is SOOOO cute!!), creating my color scheme, and researching registry items. It is SO OVERWHELMING! Thankfully (and I never thought I'd find myself actually feeling gratitude for this..), I have a few friends who recently had babies, and they are turning out to be excellent sources of wisdom and advice on the subject of must-have baby items. Tomorrow I will go to the pick up the paint for Elfie's room, and hopefully can get the room taped and tarped...... Ohmygosh I can't believe this is really happening!...... I've waited a long, long time to decorate that empty room. I'll post pics as soon as I take 'em!

On the "how I'm feeling" front, the heartburn is a constant!!! Thank the Lord for Tums and their soothing qualities, although I'm having to load up on fiber to counteract the, ahem, "effects" of a lot of calcium! Luckily it hasn't been too bad yet.

I am in constant awe of my changing body. When I pass a mirror, I can't help but strike a pose to see my bump from different angles! As I feel Elfie moving around more and more everyday, I can relax some of the anxieties that something might go wrong. Of course, I know that nobody is completely safe from complications and tragedy, but for now I choose to enjoy and delight in this amazing miracle. I get teary-eyed just thinking about holding my newborn son!

So...I am officially at the halfway mark. It's the blink of an eye when I consider what it took to get here, and I thoroughly look forward to the next 4.5 months and beyond!

It's a.....

BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Our appointment went better than I could have ever dreamt! Not only did our little Elfie reveal the goods, but they were THE FIRST THING WE SAW when Dr. D turned on the monitor! M and I both had guessed that it was a boy (I had two very vivid dreams about boys and their "parts!"), so we were excited to both be correct! (heeheehee...I LOVE being right!!!).

I have gained 6 lbs. in the past 5 weeks, which is a little over a pound a week. Doc was pleased about that (as was I, though shocked that it wasn't more!). This puts my weight gain at 9 lbs since my 10 week appointment, which is when I started keeping track. Overall, not too shabby. Baby's weight is estimated to be about 3/4 of a pound. Way to pack it on, little man!

Elfie looked absolutely fantastic on the screen. He was moving around a lot and practicing his dance moves for us. We got a big kick out of seeing his wiggles and watching the doc measure everything. Our quad screen came back normal, so it was explained to us that our chances for genetic abnormality have now decreased to about 1.5%. I was completely emotional seeing my SON wave and move, especially knowing that he is healthy and growing appropriately. Overall, a very moving experience. Quite a momentous event.

After the appointment M and I stopped at Babies R Us and parked in the Expectant Mother's spot. Wow. What a feeling. For the first time in my life, I didn't feel like an impostor walking into that store! We picked out two adorable outfits for our little man..our first gifts to baby boy. I can't wait to see them on him!!! Here are some pics from our day....

Tomorrow!

19w3d

Well, it's finally come! When I look back to my last OB appt, I thought 5 weeks was AN ETERNITY to wait! But then I compare it to the 2 years we've been waiting, longing for, crying about, and praying for this miracle of life, and it seems like such a blip on the radar. And it truly has gone by pretty fast.

I have been feeling my little elfin baby moving around quite a bit in there. It started about a week and a half ago, and since it is so subtle and not consistent, it took me a while to really identify it as the baby. Now I know for sure, and LOVE the feeling. He/she moves most when I am lying down or sitting still, so I try to do that as much as possible.

I have so much excited anticipation regarding tomorrow's appointment. I am just a tad bit nervous about the scan, and am hoping that Elfie is measuring appropriately, is healthy, and doesn't reveal any major problems. In the back of my mind I know it will be fine, but the worry thoughts do creep in from time to time, and I can't help but be anxious. Mostly though, I am excited to fall deeper in love with my baby tomorrow.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY....

I really hope our little Elfie is not stubborn like his/her momma and decides to show us the goods!!! If we are lucky and do get to see those beautiful genitals, M and I are planning to spend the day together telling friends and family. I will post here tomorrow night after we've let our IRL peeps know!!

And then....LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN!! I have not bought a single thing for this baby yet, and I am excited to pick out a really special outfit for him or her. I can't wait to get started on the nursery!!

Today's the last day to vote...let us know what you think!

A Happy Weekend

18w4d

M and I had a busy, fun Easter weekend! My brother flew in early Saturday morning, and my dad and grandpa came Saturday afternoon. I hosted dinner on Saturday, and had a house full of MEN! It wasn't until we were all sitting around the table that I realized I was very much in the minority! Oh well, it was great. They were all happy to see me with energy and were surprised by my growing bump!

Sunday, my MIL hosted Easter dinner for everyone. It was a lot of fun to have everyone together. I LOVE holidays for that reason!

Lately, the bump has expanded so much that, while I don't feel huge, I certainly think I look whale-ish in pictures. I am very short-waisted, so little Elfie has nowhere to go but out! It's funny how I've always loved, admired, and envied beautiful pregnant bellies, but when it comes to seeing the weight gain on me, I'm just totally taken aback. Don't get me wrong...I'm loving it...just a little unaccustomed!

Here's me with my Dad:



And one of me and Elfie!

A whole bunch of happenings. (updated)

17w4d

First things first, my cousin is pregnant! I've never shared about her, but today it seems appropriate. Back in July when I had the ectopic, my aunt and uncle were out visiting from Chicago, so we shared the story with them (mainly because I couldn't drink alcohol due to the methotrexate). Apparently, they went back home and told my cousin, because a few days later I got a call from her (she is also in Chi-town). She was sympathizing with our infertility..and then she revealed that she and her hubby had been try for about a year. I was surprised (of course, because everyone I know seems to get pregnant very easily), and a bit relieved to know that I wasn't alone in my struggle.

Anyhoo, we've kept in touch throughout the 8 months since then, and I knew that she was scheduled for an HSG in January. I emailed her to check in and see what results the testing brought back, but I didn't hear back from her...which is pretty unusual. On Wednesday last week I got a call from her that she is 12 weeks and overjoyed! They ended up getting pregnant on their own immediately after the HSG! So our babies will be 5 weeks apart!

And since I mentioned the ectopic....

Yesterday was the due date for the ill-fated baby who couldn't find its way to my uterus. I was a little bit sad, but truly I think that my pregnancy took the edge off. Of course, if I was still fighting the good fight right now, the date would have been MUCH HARDER to swallow. I'm glad for the ability to be distracted and happy about my subsequent pregnancy success. I'm glad Elfie knew how to stop and ask for directions (maybe this indicates a female??!)!

M and I went to a fancy charity gala on Saturday night. It was great to get dressed up! I bought a new dress, and thankfully it is NOT a maternity dress, so I can wear it after little Elfie arrives. Here's a pic of my little belly starting to grow:

17 weeks!

Thanks for the advice about the heartburn. I bought some Tums and they've been working wonders. Phew!

I had a scary moment yesterday at work. I was in the middle of teaching a lesson when all of a sudden I felt as though I'd pass out. I walked over to my desk where there was a lovely muffin waiting for me and promptly stuffed it in my mouth. I told the kids I'd have to sit down for the rest of the lesson. They were very sweet and understanding! I was truly scared, as I've never experienced this before. I called my mom at lunch and she said it used to happen to her when she was pregnant, and that it's just my low blood pressure/low blood sugar. So now I know that I should keep food IN MY POCKET for emergencies such as this!

So..the weeks are moving right along, and I'm certainly comforted by my expanding belly. Of course I am counting the days til our BIG ultrasound because once we know the gender, the REAL planning can begin. I haven't even really seriously planned the nursery yet, and of course need to start getting serious about names, etc.

Hope everyone is enjoying Spring so far!

16.5 weeks and HEARTBURN

16w4d

Just as I was settling in nicely to the energy, motivation, and lack of sickness that the second trimester brings, I was stricken with the dreaded heartburn.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to reduce/medicate my crazy pain?? I looked on Dr. D's website for ideas of which medications are approved in pregnancy, but it didn't mention anything for heartburn. A friend said her doc let he take Tums. I want to try something, but feel like I should call the doc first. Suggestions??

I put a poll on the blog so we can all take a stab at guessing Elfie's gender. It will be open for 20 more days...I'll close it on April 12 when we find out. Make sure you vote!!!!

What are you having? When are you due? Are you going to find out???

Now that my belly is beginning to betray my little secret, I am finding that the questions become a bit repetitive! EVERYONE and their grandmother asks if we are going to find out what we're having. Once I've told them that yes, we are, they feel compelled to share their opinions about people who wait to find out. Geesh, people! I guess I'm glad I'm doing what YOU agree with...I'd sure hate to be that poor couple who decides to wait.

I'm starting to realize that people have very definite opinions about pregnancy. Names, birth plans (i.e. drug vs. no drugs), weight gain, pediatricians, breastfeeding. You name it, and there are opinions and advice to be shared. Being new to this scenario, I do tend to seek out advice, but still many times get unsolicited ideas. And this is just the tip of the iceberg...

I think this could quite possibly be the solution!!!

Second trimester

They say that you start to feel much better in the second trimester, but I couldn't even imagine that while I felt so awful in the first trimester. It's funny how, having never been pregnant before, I was starting to equate pregnancy with feeling yucky, tired, and sick. It gave me comfort to know that things were progressing as they should. So now that I've crossed the threshold into the "good feeling period," it is nerve-racking because I feel so good! It's astounding how my energy has come back and I can eat meals without the crazy nausea and food aversions. Now I am just dealing with headaches and sore tatas (when are they going to stop???). It is a darn good thing that I have the doppler to keep me sane!. My next OB appointment is a week from tomorrow!

M and I have started to discuss names. Nothing too serious, since we don't know the gender yet, but I am beginning to realize that it might be a harder task than I thought. It seems we have pretty opposite tastes in names..so we are going to have some major compromising to do. Yikes.

I found it!

Oh my goodness, what a glorious day! I just finished wiping the tears from my eyes, because..

..I have found my baby's heartbeat!!!! Elfie is aliiiive!!!!

So here's the backstory on the fetal doppler:
On Sunday, I was being lazy and surfing youtube for pregnancy-related videos. I came across one that showed a couple at home listening to their little one's hb and she was only 11.5 weeks. M heard the video and asked what I was doing. I told him how cool it would be to listen any time we want, but that dopplers were really expensive and not worth the cost at this point. What's funny about my comment is that I had just assumed they were too costly, but had never really done any research. Don't get me wrong, if you WANTED TO, you could easily spend a couple hundred bucks on a fancy, high-tech device. But we went the way of an am.azon search and found one for THIRTY THREE DOLLARS!! My first reaction was that it was cheap and wouldn't work...but it got 4.5 stars and a lot of great reviews, so we decided $33 was worth it. It doesn't have speakers, so you have to listen through headphones, OR you can hook it up to your computer and create an audio file to send to relatives.

So I wasn't really sure what to expect when the ultrasound gel arrived today. I bared my belly, squeezed on the gel, and waited. And searched. And waited. And got frustrated. And got panicky. And finally found it. Oh my, what a sound. I had heard it before, but not in the convenience of my house with the questioning looks from my darling dog! What a huge relief!

I think I might already be addicted!