18 Weeks!

Almost half way done! Keep growing, Abbey!

How far along? 18 Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Still down overall and showing no signs of catching up. My appetite blows lately. Ben gets on me about eating enough, but as long as Abbey is growing, I think she is fine. He (jokingly) said he was ready for late night Wendy's runs, raging cravings and buffets when we found out we were pregnant and, so far, it has not been like that at all! Poor guy!
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. Love them all.
Sleep: Loving it! Sleeping 8 hours a night and sneaking in a 2-3 hour nap every day.
Best moment this week: Feeling movement more often :)
Movement: It's getting so much stronger! It used to be little taps and bumps, but now they are getting stronger and more consistent. Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant until I get a good kick in the bladder (which I can't get enough of!).
Food cravings: Hot dogs! So gross, but I want them at least 2 nights a week. It's hard to find nitrate free hot dogs, so I don't get my fix as often as I want.
Gender: GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Dr. Pepper (still)!
What I am looking forward to: Our US on October 7.
Weekly Wisdom: Love every minute of your pregnancy. I am so excited for February to get here, but remind myself to enjoy every day of this pregnancy while our Abbey is still on the inside.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel. I know this has been the same pretty much every week, but it's stiiiiiiiill how I feel)
And having my first fight with Target over our registry (it's STILL not showing online! STILL!)



What is Abbey up to this week?

Abbey has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing.

And the 18 Week belly, for your viewing pleasure:

I think it looks smaller than last week, but everyone at work keeps talking about how cute the bump is, so who knows.

Hugs&Kisses

I have a bone to pick with all you mothers....

WHY was I never warned about the poop vac? I have been warned about crapping all over the delivery table, but having all my poo sucked out by a shop vac prior to delivery?! WHY was I never told?

My younger brother, also the World's Most All-Knowing OB expert, informed me of this last week. He swears it is gospel truth. They use it for every delivery, every time. His girlfriend's OB informed them of this medical machine at their appointment last week (keep in mind, this is the same OB who claims US measurements are exact).

So, blog world, thanks for nothing.




Hahaha! I'm totally kidding. Well, not about the poop vac. After using several mom friends as my own personal WebMD, I confirmed what I though-totally false. No one, to date, has yet to hear of this alleged poop vac. I love you all dearly and thought you might benefit from a good laugh!

Abbey and I are doing well, we have had a busy weekend of nesting (which my house appreciated). Our next US appt is October 7, but surely I will find something to update about before then.

Hugs&Kisses

17w4d

17 Weeks

Three posts in three days? This is like a record or something.

How far along? 17Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Down another 2. And because I'm not gaining weight, I have to have the gestational diabetes screening early. Lameass PCOS puts me at a higher risk for GD anyway and the fact that I'm not gaining weight is concerning to my OB, so early screening it is (gaining too much weight is also a soft sign of GD- I can't win).
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. Love them all. Especially my slim cut Old Navy jeans. LOVE them.
Sleep: Loving it! Sleeping 8 hours a night and sneaking in a 2-3 hour nap every day.
Best moment this week: Feeling movement more often :)
Movement: Crazy baby, especially when I sit down after moving around or walking a lot.
Food cravings: Apples. Apple ANYTHING. I went through a dozen BIG apples last week, not to mention all the juice AND applesauce! I love them.- Still loving apples this week!
Gender: GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Dr. Pepper!
What I am looking forward to: Our US on October 7.
Weekly Wisdom: The more you ignore ignorant advice/opinions from people who talk out their butt holes, the happier you are.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel. I know this has been the same pretty much every week, but it's stiiiiiiiill how I feel)
And-WE REGISTERED!

What is Baby Abbey up to?

Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and her little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

And the 17 week belly :)




Hugs&Kisses

17 Weeks


PS- We seem to be moving closer to a Valentine's Baby after every appt! I haven't changed my dates here yet because they go along with my ovulation date as opposed to how big Abbey is growing. Growth US's are really just an estimate anyway.

One Year

This will not be my most eloquent post ever (not that any of them ever are).

It's been a year since we lost Buddha.

I think about where we were this time last year and how much has changed and how much stronger and closer Ben and I are as a couple and how so, so blessed we are to be having Abbey.

Now I feel like I see everything full circle. This time last year my heart was in a million pieces and I honestly thought my life would never be okay again. Over time, little pieces came back together and reformed this stronger, more compassionate, sympathetic heart and it's just got this one tiny piece that's gone now. It just took time. It still is going to take time. But it has gotten better and it has gotten easier and acceptance has made the whole thing easier to swallow.

I see God's plan come full circle for us and how life moves on even when it seems like it will never get better. It's almost like we have the best of both worlds-an amazing son who watches over us and will protect his sister and a wonderful daughter who is doing back flips and warming my heart right now.


We miss you, Buddha.


Hugs&Kisses

16w6d

Pass the Salt....

Yesterday I felt terrible. Awful. I was nauseated, weak, really dizzy, almost disoriented. I had no appetite all week really and had been blaming it on the pregnancy and laid down with Ben for a while.

I felt even worse.

Then I started puking around 11AM. Hard. So hard it made poor Ben turn ghost white. So I took a phenergan and laid back down. The phenergan got me about 3 hours of sleep before I got up and decided it was a good idea to take a shower (don't ask why-I have no idea why). I yelled for Ben who had to come help me, a 25 year old, fully competent woman, get out of the shower, dry off and get back in my PJs.

He took me right back to bed, we listened to Baby on the doppler to make sure she was doing alright (can I just say again how much I love that thing!) and I promptly feel back asleep until about 6:30. I woke up drenched in sweat. Ben threw the thermometer in my mouth and lo and behold- I had a fever (100.04).

I took a Tylenol while he called my OB who told me to go straight to the ER. In a matter of minutes I convinced myself I had Swine Flu. Ben helped me get ready and off to the ER we went (again). Can I just say that before this pregnancy, I haven't been to the ER three times in my LIFE? NEVER. I never get sick. I never need medical attention. I avoid medical facilities at all costs.

So we get to the ER. Ben knows everyone working in the ER last night, so I go straight back to a room. They do the standard-weight (dropping still), blood pressure (lower than usual, but keep in mind I tend to run low anyway) blood work, pee in a cup, listen to Baby on the doppler, blah blah blah. The funnest part? The flu screening. I hope you could read that last sentence through all the sarcasm. That. Sucked. What they do is take two tiny wire bristle brushes that look like miniature baby bottle cleaners (these things were more narrow than a Q-Tip) and shove them allllllllll the way up your nose until you are sure they are poking your brain. And then-they leave them there for 60 seconds. You want to scream, cry and sneeze all at once, but you can't because if you do, you have to start over. So I closed my eyes, gripped Ben's hand with everything that I had (Sorry, hun!) and just breathed. It was awful and I feel for you if you ever have to have one.

Then we wait for results.

Thankfully, I remembered my laptop, so I cruised the internet, talked to my LJ ladies, considered updating the blog (but didn't) and watched TV with Ben. It took about an hour and my results were back in.

Thank GOD (seriously) I don't have the flu. I was feeling so terrible because my body had NO sodium present in my blood. None. The only sodium reserves I had left were deposits in my bones and organs. The lack of sodium left me nauseated, tired, weak and light headed. And, on top of that, I have a UTI (which apparently is super common during pregnancy). I have had UTI's before and they always come with textbook symptoms. I had no symptoms this time. Luckily we caught it super early, so a quick dose of antibiotics will clear it all up.

I am on bed rest today and will probably return to work tomorrow. I still feel like a dog, but the Dr in the ER said it could take a few days on a high sodium diet to get me feeling somewhat normal again. The only problem with the high sodium diet is the fact that I have NO appetite. Eating bland things doesn't sound fun, so eating salty things isn't exactly on my list of fun things to do today. I've really tried though.

So there you have it. I swear I am growing a Drama Queen. Thankfully though, Baby Abbey looks great, she isn't under any stress and I would take feeling 9984983984 times worse than this if it means she gets here safely. She is my number one concern at this moment and will remain my number one concern for the rest of my life. I just want her happy and healthy, whatever it costs me is fine.

Hugs&Kisses

16w5d

I Can Not Keep a Secret....

Abigail Marie

Coming February 2010

Hugs&Kisses

16w2d

Week 16

And on time for once! Go me!

How far along? 16Weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: No clue. My rings are falling off now when I wash my hands (quite the opposite problem I thought I'd have during pregnancy) and I haven't been on a scale in over a week, so I have no clue...I'd have to assume I'm still down from my pre-pg-y weight.
Maternity clothes? Maternity pants every day. Regular shirts with the occasional maternity shirt thrown in. Love them all. Especially my slim cut Old Navy jeans. LOVE them.
Sleep: Loving it! Sleeping 8 hours a night and sneaking in a 2-3 hour nap every day (I'll pretend I didn't take a 5 hour nap yesterday)
Best moment this week: Making it through another week. We are getting so close to the half way mark!
Movement: Crazy baby, especially when I sit down after moving around or walking a lot.
Food cravings: Apples. Apple ANYTHING. I went through a dozen BIG appples last week, not to mention all the juice AND applesauce! I love them.
Gender: We know (85-90% sure) but aren't telling yet! Only the grandparents know, but don't ask them. They are sworn to secrecy!
Labor Signs: No, thank you.
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: Dr. Pepper!
What I am looking forward to: My appt next week!
Weekly Wisdom: Do what makes you, your husband and your baby happy. Forget about those who have nothing nice to say.
Milestones: Right now, every day is a milestone. I am more pregnant than I have ever been, so everyday is a huge deal. Our goal is 40 weeks, 37 at the earliest, so every day is one day closer to our goal. (Same as all the other weeks, but still how I feel)




What is Baby up to?

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in Baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

And a Belly Pic for those interested!

Just for comparison's sake:

9 Weeks

Just a little bloat!

13 Weeks

A rare blog pic of yours truly! Please excuse my crazy hair!

16 Weeks!

I literally popped out over the weekend. That bump was NOT there last week!

Hugs&Kisses

16 Weeks

168 days to go!