Baby Update

We had an appointment last Tuesday and as they say, no news is good news. The first appointment is typically exciting and informative (ultrasound, comprehensive physical and blood work, etc.) but the next two or three appointments can be, well, uneventful. We were in and out in under 30 minutes, and that includes waiting room time, and taking time to ask Dr. M several questions.

I had not expected to be, but I was vaccinated for the regular flu at this visit. Immunity takes about two weeks post inoculation, so within another few days I hope to be better prepared to face the flu season which is already rearing its ugly head here in Texas. Zac reported that prescriptions for tamiflu are already coming through the pharmacy - a sign that the flu bug is biting. I also plan to get the swine flu vax once it becomes available later in October. Pregnant women are in a special risk category for this illness, and I don't want to risk picking it up, thus endangering myself or my family.

Otherwise, the appointment consisted of the usual: tinkling in a cup, getting on the scale, checking my blood pressure, and answering basic questions by the doctor about how I'm feeling. The highlight: finding baby's heartbeat on doppler. The heart rate was 155bpm and I have to say it's about the most amazing thing to hear. In these earlier weeks, before feeling baby, it's so nice to have that confirmation of well-being. It also is just a marvel to ponder that this little life is growing in there without my really being aware of it, physically.

I'm still awaiting baby to make his/her presence known soon. I'll be 14 weeks this Saturday, and that's just a three week difference from when I first noticed Henry moving at 17 weeks. I look for flutters to start any day now.

We made our appointments for the next regular check up and our next ultrasound. We'll see the doctor again on October 6th and will get another look at baby on October 27th. Look for an exciting post shortly thereafter - we'll be announcing the impending arrival of our SON or DAUGHTER!! So excited!

I am feeling better overall, thankfully. Still get a nauseous episode, but no more all-day yuckies. Heartburn is still daily, but I don't expect that to get better before it gets much worse, and for now the meds are still controlling it fairly well. I spent the first trimester baffled at my energy level; when pregnant with Henry, I was SO wiped out for the first few months, but have really not felt that drain until just the past week or so. Strange timing, but it would have been stranger to have really escaped it altogether. When you consider that my body is literally manufacturing another human being, it's all too understandable that I'd be dragging a little. It helps when I get to bed at a decent time - still working on that.

That's all for now - stay tuned.

A new little pea in the pod!!

Yep - we're expecting again! If you hadn't guessed - or already heard - the "life changing event" I mentioned in a previous post is referring to learning of a new pregnancy. The newest little House will make his/her debut in March of 2010, God willing.

And, if you recall, that post mentioned how this life changing event has really consumed me over the past month. That couldn't be further from the truth. Between not feeling well most of the day and spending what little time I have online reading up on my pregnancy and baby info (like I don't still have it all memorized from being pregnant just a short time ago), I've completely neglected my blogs. I truly want to use this blog to sort of chronicle or journal about this pregnancy, so I need to step it up. I'm already 8 weeks in!

To answer some of the questions you might have...

* yes, we were trying; no, we really didn't expect it to happen so fast
* Henry and the baby will be 21 months apart if baby goes full term
* we don't have any gut feelings about what this baby is; Daddy thinks maybe girl but is mostly just basing that on how different this pregnancy is so far physically
* we will be over the moon about either boy or girl - can think of really good reasons to want either
* my first appointment is tomorrow, Aug. 13; we're having a sonogram also
* we've found that I am progesterone deficient again this time, so I'm taking supplements again
* we haven't really talked names yet; I doubt we will until we know the sex
* we should be able to know the sex sometime in late October

So far, I'm finding that I am having a hard time physically. This pregnancy is just different from my last. I'd say the prevailing symptom of early pregnancy last time was fatigue and mild heartburn (which progressed to violent heartburn as the months went on). I did experience some nausea, but I don't remember it being this miserable. I do also have heartburn - the last couple of days being really noticeable - but the most misery-inducing symptom for me this time is all-day nausea.

I am not typically a person who vomits. Very few times ever in my memory, with the worst case being a stomach flu in college. No matter how sick I feel, I never throw up, so I never get even a moment's relief. I'm not necessarily wishing I were vomiting, but I can't help but think I might feel better after doing so, even for a few minutes. It makes food taste funny, and makes my appetite and appeal for foods very volatile. Some days I'm hungry, others I'm not. Some days I can eat anything, but most days very little sounds good enough to eat. It hits really hard in late afternoon and evening, making it hard to cook supper a lot of nights. There have been several frozen pizza meals because it's all I can stomach. The icing on the cake is constant bloat/gas/general upset in the digestive system. Is it September yet???

Despite all this, we are very excited and very happy to be adding to our family. Stay tuned for updates!!