So, I am now in my last week of the first trimester. I have to say that this has always been and continues to be my least favorite "Tri" out of all the "Mesters." Here's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly....
The Good:
-The Nausea has left the building!
-Zantac has become my best friend (see above reason as to why).
-I don't seem to have the need to eat everything in sight 24 hours a day.
-The weather has been beautiful, so the family has enjoyed some much needed outdoor time.
-I started working out again and feel GREAT!
-The house is coming back together, as I now have the desire to clean again.
-I actually cooked dinner two nights in a row this week.
The Bad:
-I am currently in the "in-between" stage with clothes...it's like I am in that awkward "Are you pregnant or just fatter?" stage that just causes problems all around and makes getting dressed in the mornings a pain.
-I am also in the stage where, though the pregnancy nausea has subsided (minus an occasional morning dry heave), I have no real indiction/sign that I am pregnant (ex: feeling the baby move). This causes anxiety in that I ask myself several times a day "Am I still pregnant? Do I think the baby is OK? etc." I can't wait for the next few weeks when I start to feel even a flutter and can go "Ok, there you are, Bitty Baby."
And The Ugly:
-My hair! The roots are atrocious...I cannot wait to color it this weekend!
Food Stuff:
-Still cannot really stomach Mexican...ahh, La Fiesta, how I have missed you!
-The egg/toast craving has subsided for now and nothing new has taken its place....kinda boring this week, actually. :-)
And, as always, here's what the internet says:
How your baby's growing: Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce. How your life's changing: This is the last week of your first trimester, and your risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in pregnancy. Next week marks the beginning of your second trimester, a time of relative comfort for many women who see early pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue subside.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Way Back When-esday!
I cannot believe we are already at the end of April....here are some Way Back Wednesday shots from 05 06, 07, and 08!
Date: April 30, 2005
Age: 2+ months
Date: May 2006
Age: 1 year, 2+ months
(This is Allie and Brooklyn at Emily and Luke's baby shower for Zoe!)
Date: April 2007
Age: 2 years, 2+ months (BUT STILL WAY TOO YOUNG FOR BEER!)
Date: April 2008
Date: April 30, 2005
Age: 2+ months
Date: May 2006Age: 1 year, 2+ months
(This is Allie and Brooklyn at Emily and Luke's baby shower for Zoe!)
Date: April 2007Age: 2 years, 2+ months (BUT STILL WAY TOO YOUNG FOR BEER!)
Date: April 2008
Age: 3 year, 2+ months
*Here are the Shout sisters (Zoe, Allie, Allie, and Brooklyn with baby Callie on the way!). See the last post on Easter to see the girls this year! What a difference a year makes!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Easter Update....better late than never
Whew! You would have thought it was Christmas with all the Easter celebrating that went on the weekend of the 9-12th. First, on Thursday, Brooklyn's class had an egg hunt and Easter party in the afternoon. The kids were primed and ready to go!
Then on Friday, Emily and Zoe came over to dye Easter eggs. The girls had a great time and the eggs turned out beautiful.
We moved our Family Easter Celebration to Saturday (since Sunday is so crazy with church on both ends of the day). We had a great afternoon with family and friends (and another egg hunt!).
On Sunday morning, the very tired Easter bunny brought Brooklyn a basket with lots of fun stuff, including chocolate bunny pops that she decided to eat in my bed. :-)
And we went to church...
...two times! This picture below was taken of all the "Shout Sisters" after the Easter Sunday Shout Service. If this new baby is a boy, he will have to deal with not just Brooklyn, but FIVE big sisters (Zoe, Brooklyn, Allie, Allie, and Callie).
Then on Friday, Emily and Zoe came over to dye Easter eggs. The girls had a great time and the eggs turned out beautiful.
We moved our Family Easter Celebration to Saturday (since Sunday is so crazy with church on both ends of the day). We had a great afternoon with family and friends (and another egg hunt!).
On Sunday morning, the very tired Easter bunny brought Brooklyn a basket with lots of fun stuff, including chocolate bunny pops that she decided to eat in my bed. :-)
And we went to church...
...two times! This picture below was taken of all the "Shout Sisters" after the Easter Sunday Shout Service. If this new baby is a boy, he will have to deal with not just Brooklyn, but FIVE big sisters (Zoe, Brooklyn, Allie, Allie, and Callie).
Week 12- Headed out of the first Trimester!
Week 12 started off great, because I ran out of prenatal vitamins and had to wait until Tuesday for a refill. So, I had a brief break in the never-ending nausea. :-)
I had a doctor's appointment Tuesday afternoon where I got to have an ultrascreen (*see note below as to what this is). I did NOT enjoy having to drink 32 ounces of water right before the ultrasound and then having the sweet technician press down on my belly, bladder, and uterus for 45 minutes. However, I did enjoy the entertaining show as my 2 inch baby swam, danced, waved, and stretched for the camera. It was amazing the detail in its little body at such an early age, and I just marveled, once again, at the miracle of life. Results were good- no signs of anything abnormal so far- and I will have more blood work at 16 weeks just to rule out other defects or problems. The baby's heartrate was 165 (very strong) and my blood pressure was 112/60 (yay!). Side note: I weighed myself before and after the screen because of the amount of water I had consumed, and after using the potty TWICE, I lost 2.9 pounds. :-) So, my doc was pleased with my weight gain this trimester (about 4 pounds). I hope to get my ultrasound pics scanned in my computer so I can post them. They are truly incredible. The technician did not feel comfortable giving me an official guess on the sex of the baby this early...however she said she "felt more girl than boy." But, don't go start buying anything pink just yet...we'll find out for sure on June 3rd. :-)
Because of the nausea, my doc also recommended that I start taking Zantac. She thinks that the nausea is triggered by heartburn and reflux. After taking it for two days, I can already tell a difference, so I am hoping this is my ticket to a normal life again. I even feel good enough to exercise tonight after work, so I am hoping this feeling lasts. I am so not ready for "shorts/skirts weather" yet.
Craving this week: Eggs and buttered toast (oh, Lord, just thinking about it now makes me want to pull out the skillet)
(*What Is Ultra-Screen®?Ultra-Screen® is a First-trimester prenatal screening protocol designed to provide patient specific risk for Down Syndrome, trisomy 18 and other chromosomal abnormalities. Ultra-Screen® combines ultrasound measurement of the fluid accumulation behind the neck of the fetus (nuchal translucency) with maternal serum markers and is the earliest and most effective Down Syndrome screen available. How Is Ultra-Screen® Performed? Ultra-Screen® consists of a combination of ultrasound exam and a blood test performed between 11 weeks 1 day, and 13 weeks 6 days of pregnancy. The ultrasound demonstrates a fetal heartbeat and determines gestational age. Then, the amount of fluid accumulation behind the neck of the baby, called nuchal translucency (NT) is measured. The blood sample is analyzed for two chemicals called free Beta human chorionic gonadotropin, and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A(PAPP-A) which are normally found in the blood of all pregnant women. The results of the ultrasound exam will be combined with the results of the blood test to estimate a specific risk for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18.)
And just so you don't have to take my word for it...here's what the internet says is going on:
Your pregnancy: 12 weeks
How your baby's growing:The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. How your life's changing:Your uterus has grown to the point where your healthcare provider can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in your abdomen, just above your pubic bone. You may already be into maternity clothes, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. If you're still fairly small and not yet ready for maternity clothes, you've no doubt noticed that your waist is thickening and that you're more comfortable in loose, less restrictive clothing.You may begin to feel heartburn (also called acid indigestion), a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of your breastbone to your lower throat. Many women get heartburn for the first time during pregnancy, and those who've previously had bouts of heartburn may find that it gets worse. During pregnancy, the placenta produces a lot of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. Particularly when you're lying down, gastric acid can seep back up the pipe, which causes the uncomfortable burning sensation. For many women the problem doesn't begin (or get worse) until later in pregnancy, when your growing uterus starts to push up on your stomach. The discomfort may range from mildly annoying to intense and distracting.
I had a doctor's appointment Tuesday afternoon where I got to have an ultrascreen (*see note below as to what this is). I did NOT enjoy having to drink 32 ounces of water right before the ultrasound and then having the sweet technician press down on my belly, bladder, and uterus for 45 minutes. However, I did enjoy the entertaining show as my 2 inch baby swam, danced, waved, and stretched for the camera. It was amazing the detail in its little body at such an early age, and I just marveled, once again, at the miracle of life. Results were good- no signs of anything abnormal so far- and I will have more blood work at 16 weeks just to rule out other defects or problems. The baby's heartrate was 165 (very strong) and my blood pressure was 112/60 (yay!). Side note: I weighed myself before and after the screen because of the amount of water I had consumed, and after using the potty TWICE, I lost 2.9 pounds. :-) So, my doc was pleased with my weight gain this trimester (about 4 pounds). I hope to get my ultrasound pics scanned in my computer so I can post them. They are truly incredible. The technician did not feel comfortable giving me an official guess on the sex of the baby this early...however she said she "felt more girl than boy." But, don't go start buying anything pink just yet...we'll find out for sure on June 3rd. :-)
Because of the nausea, my doc also recommended that I start taking Zantac. She thinks that the nausea is triggered by heartburn and reflux. After taking it for two days, I can already tell a difference, so I am hoping this is my ticket to a normal life again. I even feel good enough to exercise tonight after work, so I am hoping this feeling lasts. I am so not ready for "shorts/skirts weather" yet.
Craving this week: Eggs and buttered toast (oh, Lord, just thinking about it now makes me want to pull out the skillet)
(*What Is Ultra-Screen®?Ultra-Screen® is a First-trimester prenatal screening protocol designed to provide patient specific risk for Down Syndrome, trisomy 18 and other chromosomal abnormalities. Ultra-Screen® combines ultrasound measurement of the fluid accumulation behind the neck of the fetus (nuchal translucency) with maternal serum markers and is the earliest and most effective Down Syndrome screen available. How Is Ultra-Screen® Performed? Ultra-Screen® consists of a combination of ultrasound exam and a blood test performed between 11 weeks 1 day, and 13 weeks 6 days of pregnancy. The ultrasound demonstrates a fetal heartbeat and determines gestational age. Then, the amount of fluid accumulation behind the neck of the baby, called nuchal translucency (NT) is measured. The blood sample is analyzed for two chemicals called free Beta human chorionic gonadotropin, and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A(PAPP-A) which are normally found in the blood of all pregnant women. The results of the ultrasound exam will be combined with the results of the blood test to estimate a specific risk for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18.)
And just so you don't have to take my word for it...here's what the internet says is going on:
Your pregnancy: 12 weeks
How your baby's growing:The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. How your life's changing:Your uterus has grown to the point where your healthcare provider can now feel the top of it (the fundus) low in your abdomen, just above your pubic bone. You may already be into maternity clothes, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. If you're still fairly small and not yet ready for maternity clothes, you've no doubt noticed that your waist is thickening and that you're more comfortable in loose, less restrictive clothing.You may begin to feel heartburn (also called acid indigestion), a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of your breastbone to your lower throat. Many women get heartburn for the first time during pregnancy, and those who've previously had bouts of heartburn may find that it gets worse. During pregnancy, the placenta produces a lot of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. Particularly when you're lying down, gastric acid can seep back up the pipe, which causes the uncomfortable burning sensation. For many women the problem doesn't begin (or get worse) until later in pregnancy, when your growing uterus starts to push up on your stomach. The discomfort may range from mildly annoying to intense and distracting.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
the family vehicle
We did it....we made that giant leap to "all American family." We bought a mini-van. I'll let you know how it goes.
Week 11...getting closer
I know I'm not getting closer to my due date...but I am getting closer to my first goal: the end of the first trimester (and hopefully the end of this nausea). Week 11 has been rough...I've had some pretty rough days of nausea, especially around the evening- after dinner time. I've been sleeping better, though, and only getting up maybe once a night to potty. :-) Brooklyn showed some real interest in my belly yesterday, pressing her ear up to it and claiming the baby was talking to her. She also decided that if it's a boy, she would name it Shoko and a girl, Nala. These are the dogs on Jon and Kate Plus 8. Needless to say, they are not in the running. According to Wii Fit, I did not gain any weight last week (yay!) but I am afraid to weigh myself this week because Lent ended on Sunday, and I have been pretty excited about eating fried foods again. I also had my first sweet tea tonight (and probably last). The baby wasn't digging it, so we're back to no caffeine again (which is definitely better anyway).
Here's what babycenter.com says is going on:
How your baby's growing:Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.
How your life's changing:If you're like most women, you're feeling a bit more energetic now and your nausea may be starting to wane. Unfortunately, you may also be suffering from constipation (caused by hormonal changes, which can slow digestion) and heartburn (hormones again, relaxing the valve between your stomach and esophagus). Just remember, all this discomfort is for a good cause.Don't worry if nausea has made it impossible for you to eat a wide variety of healthy foods or if you haven't put on much weight yet (most women gain just 2 to 5 pounds during the first trimester). Your appetite will likely return soon, and you'll start to gain about a pound a week.
Here's what babycenter.com says is going on:
How your baby's growing:Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.
How your life's changing:If you're like most women, you're feeling a bit more energetic now and your nausea may be starting to wane. Unfortunately, you may also be suffering from constipation (caused by hormonal changes, which can slow digestion) and heartburn (hormones again, relaxing the valve between your stomach and esophagus). Just remember, all this discomfort is for a good cause.Don't worry if nausea has made it impossible for you to eat a wide variety of healthy foods or if you haven't put on much weight yet (most women gain just 2 to 5 pounds during the first trimester). Your appetite will likely return soon, and you'll start to gain about a pound a week.
Way Back When-esday!
It's been a while, but here is this week's edition of Way Back When-esday!
Year: 2005
Age: About 7 weeks old
*This was Brooklyn's first day of school....I don't know why SHE is biting her nails, I was the one who was a nervous wreck!
Year: 2006
Age: Almost 14 months
*This was her first "real" egg hunt on Easter Sunday (April 16, 2006)
Year: 2007
Age: 2 years, 1 1/2 months
*She thought she was hot stuff wearing Mommy's t-shirt.
Year: 2008
Age: 3 years, 1 1/2 months
*This was about the time we had our house on the market so everything was cleaned off and put away all the time (ahhh, those were the days!). Brooklyn ate her breakfast at the kitchen counter....cereal out of the bag- no bowl.
Year: 2005
Age: About 7 weeks old
*This was Brooklyn's first day of school....I don't know why SHE is biting her nails, I was the one who was a nervous wreck!
Year: 2006
Age: Almost 14 months
*This was her first "real" egg hunt on Easter Sunday (April 16, 2006)
Year: 2007
Age: 2 years, 1 1/2 months
*She thought she was hot stuff wearing Mommy's t-shirt.
Year: 2008
Age: 3 years, 1 1/2 months
*This was about the time we had our house on the market so everything was cleaned off and put away all the time (ahhh, those were the days!). Brooklyn ate her breakfast at the kitchen counter....cereal out of the bag- no bowl.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Week 10 and other craziness...
The week has been crazy, as most weeks tend to be lately. It started out nice when Carolina won the National Championship Game on Monday night, and then Brooklyn insisted in wearing her Carolina t-shirt to school Tuesday morning.
I also forgot to post this picture from last week when Brooklyn went to the doctor's office with us. Who cares about a baby brother or sister? She was just excited that she got hot fudge on her ice cream this time!
Here's what BabyCenter.com says is going on at Week 10:
I also forgot to post this picture from last week when Brooklyn went to the doctor's office with us. Who cares about a baby brother or sister? She was just excited that she got hot fudge on her ice cream this time!
Here's what BabyCenter.com says is going on at Week 10:Your pregnancy: 10 weeks
How your baby's growing:Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
How your baby's growing:Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
And here's what I say is going on:
*Still nauseous all day, everyday.
*I feel like I am getting larger by the day (and by the meal).
*Received a Wii fit for my birthday, so I hope to stay pretty healthy over the next 30 weeks.
*No specific cravings this week- just want FOOD!
*Crazy dreams revolving around the Twilight books.
*Pregnancy mush brain moment of the week: Completely forgot about a staff meeting Tuesday morning until they called my office and asked if I was planning on attending.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
100th Post...again
Blogger has once again taken on a life of its own. My 100th post has been placed down below in early March (since that's when I started writing it), but here is a link to take you there. :-)
My 100th Post....and Some Great News!
My 100th Post....and Some Great News!
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