10 Week Appointment

I am so happy to say that everything went well at my appointment today.  The midwife I met with went over everything again with me, just in case I'd forgotten anything since May.  She examined me and said I was measuring "exactly right" for 10 weeks.  She told me it was a little early to definitely hear a heartbeat, which I knew.  I also know that I am chunky and my fat would get in the way of the Doppler.  But Peanut's heartbeat came through nice and clear, anyway!  I laughed with relief and thanked God for being good.

They took urine and blood samples and gave me a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.  All adults should get a booster if you come into contact with kids.  The shot you got as a child wears off over time.

So, Jared and I will go for an ultrasound in about two weeks, and my next appointment with the Birth Center will be in four weeks.  I am so relieved that things are going well so far!

Start of Week Eleven

Peanut, you are 10 full weeks old!  I am a little anxious this week.  This past May, Angel passed away when she was 10.5 weeks old.  I am worried about possibly having to relive this trauma.  Also, Angel's due date was to be this Saturday.  As happy as I am to have you in my life, Peanut, I still miss Angel.

Well, this coming week, you will grow to be 2 inches long and will weigh a third of an ounce.  You really look like a little person, with hands and feet at the front of your body, open nasal passages on the tip of your nose, a tongue and palate in your mouth, and ears nearly in their final shape.  Hair follicles will form and fingernail and toenail beds will, too.  Your fingers and toes are all individual and separately formed, not webbed anymore.  If you are a girl, your ovaries are developing!  We love you very much.

More smells seem to bother me lately, just random things, but especially Josie, our bulldog.  It feels like the house doesn't even smell like a place for people anymore.  I am also still a bit nauseous, but not as bad as the last two weeks.  I'm also moody and irritable, which I feel bad about.  I track back in to school on Monday for three weeks, before Christmas break starts.  Hopefully it will be a decent transition.  I did decide to stay with my job as long as I have Peanut, instead of going to look for something else.  It's not a good time for a career change, and I need the good health insurance that I get for working for the state.

I have my first appointment with the midwives at the Birth Center in an hour and a half!  I am really hoping everything looks great and that I will be able to hear Peanut's heartbeat.  If I'm not, I want to ask for another ultrasound on Friday.  I can't wait another two weeks without knowing if Peanut is okay or not.

9 Weeks Today--Start of Week 10

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're in the third month!  It occurs to me that I'm posting one week behind what I should be...so let's catch up, shall we?  Peanut, this past week, you "officially" became a fetus, as opposed to an embryo.  Jared and I don't think in those terms--you are our baby, and a person, no matter how small.  You also grew to one inch in length and tiny muscles started to form.

This coming week, you will grow to an inch and a half, about the size of a prune.  Bones and cartilage will be forming.  Your tiny knees and ankles will start forming, and your elbows are already working!  Tiny baby teeth will form and your stomach and kidneys are working hard.  If you are a boy, you will start producing testosterone this week.  We love you very much.

As for me...wow, morning sickness is really digging in!  The last four days, I have felt sick almost the whole day, with dry heaves/vomiting 2-3 times a day.  Breasts are sore, visiting the bathroom a lot, still feeling tired a lot.  Also, I've noticed that I really don't like sweets as much.  Lemonade and sweet tea taste like liquid sugar, and it's awful.  I have no desire for chocolate, ice cream, etc.  I would rather have acidic or salty foods.  Milk is also really good.

It's one week until I go to the Birth Center for our "first" visit.  They will try to hear the heart beat, and I really pray that they will be able to find it.  Last time, they couldn't find it, and I spent another few days thinking everything was fine, before we found out for sure that Angel was gone.  This time, if they can't find it, I will be wrapped up in anxiety and dread.  While we're talking about Angel, her due date would've been in another nine days.  Love you, Angel.  Miss you.

Back from Mexico!

Jared and I took a nice little vacation to Playa del Carmen last week.  We stayed at a nice resort, ate good food, slept late, and lounged at the pool and the beach.  It was wonderful!  I kept getting a little bit sicker each day, so that was the only downside.  I guess the nausea/morning sickness is just kicking in a little slower than last time.  Last time, I got very sick at six weeks.  This time, it's only really starting to bother me at eight weeks.  I'm wearing my Seabands and chewing mint gum, but I really don't feel like doing much.

It's another nine days until my appointment at the Birth Center, and perhaps three weeks before another ultrasound.

8 Weeks, Starting Week 9

Today starts week 9, Peanut!  You are 5/8 of an inch long, the size of a kidney bean.  Fingers and toes are poking out of your limb buds, and your eyelids are forming over your eyes.  Your joints have formed in your arms and legs, and so have some breathing tubes in your throat, and nerve cells in your brain.  You are starting to make twitches in the womb and hopefully in the next week or two, we will be able to hear your heartbeat on dopplar.  We love you very much.

Jared and I flew to Mexico today, and I happened to throw up for the first time of this pregnancy while on the plane.  Lucky me!  Breasts are sore, still tired a lot, but I haven't been visiting the restroom as much. 

Like I said, Jared and I are on a little vacation--a "babymoon", if you will.  We are here in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, staying at a lovely resort.  It's so nice to get away and relax!

Peanut, stay safe and healthy, and keep growing! 

Reaction

We have had so much fun telling people about you, Peanut.  We started off telling coworkers with a special flower bouquet, then we told our church connect group by blurting it out, and then we told parents and Facebook, as described in the previous post.  Everyone has been excited, joyful, and more than willing to pray for you and against our anxieties.  We are thankful to have such supportive friends and family, who believe in the power of prayer.  It means more than we can say.

Here are our families' reactions--more subdued than last time, but still fun!

My parents

                                                                       Jared's parents

How We'll Tell

So tomorrow, we'll go to my parents in Raleigh.  As far as they know, it's just because we're headed to the Angus Barn restaurant afterwards to celebrate Jared's birthday with his family.  Mom will probably have Jared's gift to give him, and we will give her a present, too--something "we picked up a while ago and just forgot about."  And here's what she'll find:

My mother has a little collection of Boyd's Bears; it so happens that my maiden name is Boyd.  So, this was too cute to pass up.

After a few hours, we'll head to Jared's parents' house in Cary, where he'll blurt out the news in some clever way that he hasn't decided on yet.

And Monday, we'll post a picture on Facebook to announce our news:

We like making our pictures a little "weird", so people have to figure out the news.  Last time, we posted a picture of a hamburger bun, sitting in our oven.  It took a while for some folks!  This one is a little clearer.

Peanut, get ready to not be a secret anymore!

Seven Full Weeks, Start of Week Eight!

Peanut, you are growing fast!  You are about half an inch long, the size of a raspberry.  Your legs, back, eyelids, nose and lips are taking shape.  Your heart is beating around 150 times a minute, and you will start making little movements this week--twitching your legs and arms!  We love you very much.

The biggest symptom I notice is the exhaustion.  I never seem to get enough sleep, and I am tired all day.  I am grumpy at work and cranky at home.  And I don't want to be that way, so that makes me all the more irritable!  My breasts are sore, I visit the bathroom a lot, and I do have nausea, although it's manageable so far.

We have shared our news with coworkers, our small group, our church and our neighbors...and in three days (Sunday) our families will know, too!  Last time we told them first--but we don't feel it's a necessity.  We'll share with everyone else on Monday, and then it'll be a waiting time until my first real appointment in three weeks, when I'll be ten weeks along.  It seems the last week or two have gone by incredibly slowly!

That Familiar, Sickly Feeling

"Morning" sickness started today!  Although it was really just the nausea part.  I felt sick off and on today, and wore my Seabands all day.  I have been saying that I'd rather be very sick and know that Peanut was doing OK, than feel fine and worry about it.  So, I better not complain too much about it!  I am thankful for this little life and pray that God will let us keep him/her.  Five days until we tell our families, and then the world! :)

Six Weeks, Take Two

Peanut, today is the day you are really six weeks, and starting on week seven!  Your nose, mouth and ears are taking shape.  Your arm and leg buds are coming out.  Your intestines and pituitary gland are forming, and your lungs have started to appear.  You are a quarter of an inch long.  We love you very much!

I have been so, so tired the last week or so.  It comes out at being withdrawn or grouchy at work, and irritable or complaining at home.  I fall asleep if I lay on the couch too long.  I also have sore breasts, go to the bathroom a lot, and have had some vivid dreams.  No morning sickness, cravings or aversions yet.  I've thanked God for letting Peanut be okay up to now, and every time it crosses my mind, I ask God to continue to keep him/her safe, healthy and living.

Ten days until we tell family, eleven until we tell the world, and four weeks until my next appointment with the Birth Center.