Thursday, March 29, 2012

17 down, 23 to go

Wow...typing that title I realized that we're almost at the halfway point in this pregnancy.  That's just crazy!  September seems so far away, but it's really not that far off. 

I've still been feeling good.  I got sick for the first time right at 15 weeks and then got sick earlier this week.  Good news is that as long as I don't get too tired and too hungry all at once, I don't get sick.  My only other complaint is the cramps I've been feeling in my calves.  I've had two in the last week or so.  Hoping this isn't an indication of more to come.  If it is, can't do too much about it.  Drink water...eat a balanced diet...get exercise...and keep counting down the weeks until this temporary discomfort is over and Ian and I get to meet our little one. 

I had a very exciting moment today though when I felt the baby move for the first time during the day.  This last weekend, when I was in Dallas for the Clover Cup with the Omaha Roller Girls, I was laying in bed about to fall asleep when I felt a little 'pop' inside of me.  I felt it again a few minutes later and wondered if it was our baby.  A friend of mine who's an OB said it's possible for me to be feeling small movements.  I've felt the baby one more time before today but it was the same story...laying still right before bed.  Today, I was at work and felt that same 'pop' feeling.  Then I felt it again.  That's my kid kicking me!  It was a bit crazy to realize that's just the start of a lot more (and a lot stronger) kicks to come. 

Sadly Ian and I haven't been able to take too many pictures since I've been traveling so much lately.  Hopefully we'll get on track now and I'll have pictures to post.  I am starting to show and I have outgrown some of my clothes.  I'm not quite ready to graduate into maternity clothes, so using a belly band and pants that were too big thanks to running and derby to hold me off for another month or so.  Thanks to my mama...I mean baby's Nana...though, I have a few cute options for maternity clothes when I'm ready. 

Just a few more weeks until Ian and I get to see our little one.  Can't wait for that ultra sound!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Meaning of a milestone

02/24/2012

Wow...I can't believe I get to write this post knowing people are going to be able to see it and read it.  Ian and I are officially 12 weeks along in our preganancy.  Things have continued to go well.  We went in at 11 weeks for our second appointment to hear the heartbeat and the doctor found it right away.  She said it was good and strong...was such a great thing to hear.  It was so much fun getting to tell friends and family that we are expecting and that things are going well.  I even got to tease a cousin of mine about it a little bit.  Amanda, you made my night last week!  =)

So, how have things been going these last 12 weeks?  Amazingly well.  I can't really complain about the symptoms I've been feeling.  I was EXHAUSTED for a couple of weeks...right around weeks 9 and 10.  We're talking 8:30 or 9:00 bed times type exhausted.  Naps on the weekends have quickly become my best friends.  I also continue to feel a bit quesy if I don't eat regularly enough.  I haven't gotten sick, but earlier today and last night I was pretty darn close.  Thankfully a few crackers seems to settle my stomache quickly.  Red meat is still less than appealing, though I managed to successfully eat a taco the other night...progress!  I am starting to feel some clothes fit a little tighter, though I'm not sure how much of that is due to baby and how much is due to my decreased activity level. 

Excercise has been the most difficult thing for me to adjust to.  My doctor has advised me to make sure my heart rate does not get above 150 beats per minute.  I was using a heart rate when I was running and skating.  Yes...those verbs are supposed to be in the past tense.  I am done skating as of last week and haven't gone running for a few weeks.  I think those would have been much harder to give up if I had more energy over the last few weeks.  I decided to stop runnign just because of the the heart rate thing.  I found that if I was running a steady 12 minute mile, I was getting my heart rate above 150 beats after about 1/2 or 3/4 or a mile.  That just became too frustrating for me.  Skating was the same thing...in a normal practice I would be able to skate fast...watching my heart rate meant slowing my pace WAAAAAAAY down.  So I've gone from working out hard 9-12 hours a week to taking nice leisurely walks 5-6 times a week (that's my goal at least).  I think the change in my excercise routine is reason enough why I've gained about 3 pounds so far and have felt some clothes fit differently.  Ahhhh the changes to experience.  I'm really not worried about weight gain though, as long as I am still healthy and my doctor isn't concerned about my blood work.  I know it's all for a good cause, and training for a half marathon next year will help me to get back to where I was weight/size/health wise before Baby V.

Will keep you all posted (with pictures I promise!) here in the coming weeks.  28 weeks to go...it's going to fly but I am so excited to see/feel/experience all these changes in our lives.  =)

And then there were three.

01/26/2012

Well, I guess we're back in the proverbial saddle.  Ian and I found out in January that we're pregnant again.  =) =) =)

I've had a mix of emotions with this pregnancy.  I am of course VERY excited that we are pregnant.  I am however, very nervous about the fact that we are pregnant.  These first 8 weeks have been difficult, but I think everything is going to turn out OK.

The most difficult thing for me this time around is just how similar this pregnancy started when compared to our first pregnancy.  I had a few symptoms, but nothing too severe.  I haven't gotten sick yet, but there are times when I definitely don't feel well...and they are far worse when I am hungry.  Red meat is also less than appealing right now.  But...at about 7ish weeks these symptoms started to subside just a little bit.  They didn't go away, they just calmed down.  This is what really scared me.  When we had our miscarriage, the doctor said it looked like the baby stopped developing at about 7 or 8 weeks.  Not only that, but most of the symptoms I experienced last time had calmed down by about week 7 or 8.  Needless to say, I was a bit freaked out when I didn't feel the strength of my pregnancy symptoms anymore.

But...thanks to some friends, I was reminded that I need to ask people to pray for me.  I can't just pretend that everything's OK and that I can do everything.  God has given me people in my life so that they can be there to support me and help me...and pray for me!  After talking to a few friends (who didn't know we were pregnant), I felt so much better.  It was good to tell them that we were expecting and what exactly I was feeling.  It was also good for them to tell me they understood why I was so nervous...but that I should probably try and calm down a bit if I could.  Thanks friends...you helped to bring me back down to earth.  <3

So here comes week 8 and the day of our doctor's appointment.  I was very much looking forward to seeing our doctor and hopefully getting to see our baby.  I wasn't sure if she was going to give us an ultrasound or not...I just knew I needed to have some kind of test to show me that we were on the right track.  Thankfully, she did give us an ultrasound without me having to ask.  And the best part about it...SHE SAW A HEARTBEAT!  It didn't take her very long to find a heartbeat and she seemed so excited to see one.  Instantly calmed my nerves.  She also said the baby was developing right on track.  When we went in, I was at exactly 8 weeks.  The baby measured 7 weeks and 6 days.  Perfect.  Absolutely. Perfect. 
I know I'll continue to be nervous until the 11th or 12th week.  Ah heck...who am I kidding.  I'll be nervous until the little munchkin decides to make their debut into the world.  I do think though once we hear the heart beat...I start to show...and I start to feel the little one move, it will really hit me that we're going to have a baby.  I won't have these doubts creeping up into my head at random points throughout the day.  In a matter of months, we'll be welcoming our own little miracle into the world.  I want that day to come...but I'm looking forward to being forced to wait patiently and enjoy this season.  I don't know what will come of it, but I do know that it will be something new and exciting everyday.

Right now, even though I'm still nervous and cautiously excited about having a baby...I'm so incredibly thankful that we've been able to get pregnant again and reach this one milestone.  I'm so thankful for the support and love we've received already from the few people that know about Baby V.  (S)he's been such a blessing in our life already...and I am so thankful for that.