14 Week Check In

So even if last week wasn't "official"... NOW I am officially officially officially in the second trimester.  And that's official.  This week is my last week at my job as a secretary... next week I start my new job as a Registered Nurse.  I am so very excited!!

How Big Is Baby?

• Lemon this week... over 3 inches and an ounce and a half!!

Baby’s Development

• Baby is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

 


How Big Is Mommy?

•  Slooooowly starting to poke out now!  Although my work clothes still fit just fine, I have taken a liking to wearing maternity jeans when I am not at work... not necessarily because I need to... but because they might very well be the most comfortable pair of jeans I own.  I had no idea what I was missing out on, but now I know I may never go back!

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  I had a few days last week where I felt pretty sort of almost ok... but now the nausea is back full force.  I am back on the Zofran and the OB has me taking it every 4 hours for a few days... just to get things back under control.  Sometimes it amazes me that people do this whole pregnancy thing more than once.
• Emotionally:  A strange mix of frustration and excitement.  I thought last week I was just jumping the gun with my expectations about my symptoms fading... and surely this week things would be better.  After all the second trimester is nicknamed the "honeymoon trimester"... so I am supposed to feel good, right?  I'm starting to get nervous that I might just be one of those unlucky ladies who has "morning" sickness throughout the entire pregnancy.  Please oh please oh please don't let that be me!!  Other than that... I am feeling very confident in this pregnancy and more excited with each passing day!

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• Not much at all this week.  I feel like I am starting to grow a little bump, but no one else can see it yet.

 Love/Hate:

• Love:  Maternity jeans.  Seriously.  Where have these been all my life?  I know back in the day, maternity clothes were notoriously hideous and people couldn't wait to get out of them, but they really have come a long way and I can't wait to get into them!  Super comfortable and cute!
• Hate:  That I can't say no to Chipotle.  I know it's delicious... but I also know that it burns really really bad when I throw it up later... yet still, I can't help myself.

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Last day at my secretary job on Friday.  My coworkers are doing a luncheon for me and I am praying I can hold it together and not gag or puke during the lunch.  Only a handful of select people at work know and I would like to keep it that way.  :)

13 Week Check In

Some books/websites say 13 weeks, some say 13 weeks 3 days, some say 14 weeks... I'm celebrating TODAY!!!  Yay for entering the second trimester!!!  Commence happy dance!!

How Big Is Baby?

• A fuzzy little peach in there!

Baby’s Development

• Baby is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)

 

 How Big Is Mommy?

•  Still just a tiny little bit of "blump", but my belly is starting to feel a little more firm... so maybe my bump is coming in after all...

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  Well.... I decided that today would be the magic day that my nausea would completely stop, cease, halt, disappear forever.  I made up my mind that today was going to be my first puke-free day since Thanksgiving.  Umm... fail.  Apparently I cannot order my body to do such things.  And so the saga continues...
• Emotionally:  Thrilled that I am in my second trimester!!  I feel WAY more pregnant than I did yesterday (totally rational, right?)... but seriously... it's exciting.

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• The NT scan went beautifully.  Our little baby actually looks like a... well... baby now!!  We could see it's little arms and legs waving around and were able to get some great pictures.  We won't have any official results until after my second round of blood work is processed (4 more weeks), but the tech said the measurements looked excellent so we are super happy.
• We also told some of our Aunts, Uncles and close friends after the NT scan.  Joy shared is joy doubled... and this baby has already created a lot of joy and hope.

 Love/Hate:

• Love:  Ultrasounds.  Even though I *know* there is a baby in there... seeing the little one wiggling around on the screen takes my breath away every time.  What an amazing piece of technology.... and what a gift to be able to see our little munchkin like that.
• Hate:  Reglan.  The Zofran just didn't seem to be cutting it any more, so the OB offered to let me try Reglan.  Umm... good thing I had a 4 day weekend, because I couldn't even find the energy to pry myself off of my couch.  Even if it is only taking the edge off at this point, I am sticking with Zofran.

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Next appointment won't be for another 4 weeks... and next ultrasound won't be for another 8 weeks!!  Seems like sooooo far away!!  I think, in the meantime, I will be ordering a doppler to use at home.  Hearing our baby's heartbeat is such a wonderful sound (and huge sigh of relief when I am having a stressful day or worrying about the what-ifs)... and I think will be a wise investment.  :)

My First "OMG I am totally pregnant" moment...

For those of you that have not been following my whiney morning sickness saga, let me just tell you that I am a puking machine.  I have had ridiculous m/s and have been vomitting multiple times a day (even on Zofran) for about the last 6 weeks or so.  bleh.  At the OB's suggestion, I have been eating nothing but bagels, dry cereal, pretzels, toast, etc.  The few times that I tried something other than dry carbs, I regretted it... and half the time I even regretted the "safe" foods.  Normally, I LOVE food... so this whole eating minuscule amounts of cardboard crap is making me a crazy person.

So.... yesterday, I couldn't take it anymore.  I wanted a Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks and I wanted it bad.  Nothing was stopping me.  My husband reminded me that this was a bad idea, then just shook his head and took me to Starbucks after work where I began my ridiculous naughty food/drink binge.  When I got home, I proceeded to eat about 1/2 dozen pickles.  Then drank a boat load of ice water (I also have not had plain water in over a month... I miss it!!) then stuffed my face with a bowl full of mac-n-cheese.

Obviously, my salted caramel mocha, pickles, mac-n-cheese binge was unwise and I spent a good 30 minutes praying to my dear friend, the porcelain goddess.  In the middle of  the good old heave-ho, I started thinking about what I was going to eat when I was finished.  When I realized that I was puking and simultaneously planning my next food binge, I started laughing.  I was laughing uncontrollably... so hard I was crying. 

At some point, my husband walked into the bathroom to see what all the commotion was and finds me curled up around the toilet, laughing hysterically and crying and heaving.  He asked if I was ok and the only thing I could mutter was "Can I please have some sherbet?"

I am quite certain he thinks I am certifiable at this point.

12 Week Check In

I have had my eye on the 12 week mark since the day I got a positive pregnancy test.  I have been anxiously awaiting this day for a while because at this point, if all is progressing well, the risk of miscarriage drops significantly.  That and it's pretty darn exciting to be 12 weeks pregnant.  :)

How Big Is Baby?

• A plum, a plum!  Over 2 inches and almost half an ounce!  Grow, baby, grow!

 

Baby’s Development

• As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.

How Big Is Mommy?

•  Lucy is helping me try to find my baby bump.  Where is it?!  Not so much there yet... but it will be soon.

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  I have reached a point over the past few days where I have decided that since I a most likely going to throw up anyway... I am just going to eat what I want and deal with the consequences (vs eating cardboard and still feeling crappy).  Last week I enjoyed a Burrito Bowl from Chipotle (twice... note to self, spicy food is probably not smart... it burns on the way back up... yeah).  Today I got a little out of control with my food binge... I made a separate post about it that you may enjoy.  But at this point, I just can't continue to eat Cheerios and pretzel sticks... I am miserable!!  So.... real food it iis... then praying to the porcelain  goddess it is.  What was that "Happy to feel crappy" nonsense again?  Ugh... come on second trimester... bring me some relief soon!
• Emotionally:  Pretty good, despite how I feel physically.  I have a lot more time on my hands now without school and have found a few FB pages that I enjoy posting on.  I think my humor and ability to poke fun at myself will get me through the tough parts of this pregnancy.  Just.Keep.Laughing.

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• Still nothing new.... but Kevin's birthday is tomorrow then our appointment and NT scan is on Friday!!  Very excited!

 Love/Hate:

• Love:  Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha or Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate... and before you jump on the "OMG are you allowed to drink coffee?!?!?" bus... the answer is yes, in moderation.
• Hate:  That I can't keep down mac-n-cheese.  Anyone who knows me knows that I have an abnormal obsession with all things mac-n-cheese.  I actually have a whole entire cookboook of mac-n-cheese recipes.  I love the stuff... home made, at restaurants, experimental flavors (DH made me a Philly Cheese Steak Mac-N-Cheese that was to die for) and even the cheap boxed crap.  I love it.  And right now, I can't have it.  :(

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• NT scan on Friday!!  Woot woot!!  The plan is to then go to Dinosaur BBQ to celebrate Kevin's late birthday (and seeing our baby again) if all goes well.  I'm sure I will regret Dino... but I don't care.  I am excited about seeing our little munchkin and about the possibility of real food!

11 Week Check In

Welcome 2012... the year Kevin and I will become parents. 

How Big Is Baby?
 

• A lime!  Seems huge compared to the poppy seed that it was when we started.  A whopping quarter of an ounce and over an inch and a half.

 

Baby’s Development

• Baby currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

How Big Is Mommy?

• This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call "blump"... it's not really my baby bump yet... it's more of a bump caused by bloat.  However, I am kind of excited to see some sort of progress as I had been losing weight previously due to my lovely "morning" sickness.

How Am I feeling?

• Physically:  The Zofran that the OB prescribed is starting to work a little bit better.  I am still not drinking any water (I miss water), but rather Coke, Gatorade and Pedialyte... and still eating only dry bland carbs like Cheerios, pretzel sticks, bagels toast, plain pasta, etc.  I miss real food... but this too shall pass.
• Emotionally:  Some days I just feel like I am starting to get worn down... and I know that my stellar nutrition (ha!) is to blame.  Other days, I check out my "How Big Is Baby?" app on my phone and just stare in amazement... I feel like time is flying, yet dragging all at once.  I actually caught myself rubbing and talking to my belly (not that there is a huge belly there yet, but still) the other night... and this morning I woke up with my hand on my tummy... maybe I do have some mommy instincts after all.  :)

Any new developments, milestones?  Anything new?

• Aside from a brand new year... nothing new here!

 Love/Hate:

• Love:  Plain pasta with a little bit of butter and garlic salt.  It actually *seems* like real food... and still counts as a plain, dry, boring carb... which means that sometimes I can actually keep it down.
• Hate:  Grocery shopping.  At this point in my pregnancy, this is more torturous than shopping for expensive clothes that I can't afford or wear.  I want it all.... but the smell of pretty much anything makes me run for the toilet.

Any upcoming developments, milestones?  What's next?

• Just looking forward to Kevin's birthday coming up next week, then to our next appointment the day after.  Can't wait to see our little baby again!