21 weeks

With Rhett and Ry being out of school and J being off work, everyone accompanied me to the dr. office today. We got there 5 min early to a very busy and full waiting room. And it went pretty slow. We finally got called back and got my weight taken. I gained 2 lbs and my dr. was glad. He said he was starting to worry about all the weight I've lost this pregnancy. Then off to the little waiting room where I got my blood pressure taken 118/66...so far so good!
It took awhile for my dr. to make it to my room. When he opened the door, he just laughed and was surprised how all 5 of us fit in the tiny room, and how the kiddos were so quiet. He led us all back to the ultrasound room, set up a box for the girls to stand on, then rubbed the jelly on my belly. Ry was so concerned I was being hurt, but I assured her I was fine.
When he checked on the baby the first things that popped up were a super strong heartbeat and then immediately to the legs. We then kept trying to check to see if we could see a good bum shot, but little stinker decided to be shy. However, at one glimpse, it still looked about 95% girl. She did start to move all around so we saw her feet, legs, arms, hands, back, and head. My friends got me some really cute things for our girl and of course we are excited for a healthy baby...boy or girl!
The appointment went well, baby looks great, all my testing was negative, and I gained a little weight so my dr. was super happy and said I am not due for my next appointment until the end of Jan. Hoping for another great and healthy 4 weeks....

A weird pic of baby, but she's on her side. If you look closely, you can see she's looking away from the camera with a shot of her ear, cheek, and spinal cord.

17 Weeks

I finally had my appointment. Because of Thanksgiving I waited an extra week so I was checked at 17 weeks instead of 16. This time Rhett and Ry were in school and J was at work, so it was just me and Kenna. Since it was good weather and the traffic was light we got there 10 min early.
When we were called back, I got my weight checked first and I lost another pound...told ya, super sick this time! (Luckily I got more Phenergen to help out. It's been the only thing that seems to help) Then I had my blood pressure checked...122/80, very good! Next I had my blood drawn to check for Spinal Bifida, Down Syndrome, etc. Kenna didn't like the nurse poking me. She kept saying "No thank you, No thank you!"
I decided to find out the sex of the baby so we got an ultrasound. When my Dr took me into the room, he got a wooden stool for Kenna to stand on. She was very focused on what was going on. Then he put the jelly on my belly and Kenna asked, "What's that?" I told her it was jelly. So of course she thought it meant to eat so she took her hand to spread it around and try to eat it. Super funny. Then I asked her where the baby was. She points to my boob and says, "It's right there mommy." I laughed and said, "Those aren't babies." My Dr laughed so hard and said he's heard of many references, but never babies!
So my Dr started to check and what do we find but a much bigger baby since last time. If fact, my due date got moved up a couple days. We continued checking and the baby was so active...and very immodest! None of my kids have ever been that cooperative. We got to see the spinal cord, eye sockets, legs, head, a very healthy-looking heart, and....lines. So far it means about 90% GIRL!!! We will have another ultrasound next month and hopefully get a sure positive, but for now it's a girl.
We kind of thought it would be another girl because we are so used to them. But I don't mind cause I have cute girls. I just feel bad for Rhett cause I know he really wanted a brother. Just glad J takes time to have boys-days with him.
So it was a good day with very good news. I was sooo glad to see such a healthy baby kicking and moving all around. It sure eases the nerves. And Kenna was so cute and so interested in all that went on, it made the appointment fun!




















Rhett and me before his baptism...18 Weeks along

Another 4 Weeks

I cannot believe how fast these last 4 weeks have flown by. We went to our 12 week appt yesterday. Since Ry's preschool was cancelled for the day and J had the day off, they decided to join me. We got there right on time, just as our Dr was leaving to check on some patients next door at the hospital. Surprisingly, we didn't wait long.
As we all crammed into the little exam room, I was getting anxious again. I had been having bad feelings that we might have lost the baby with the spotting I had this last month. And this last week I have been so sick...which I sadly have passed to the girls. I thought it might be strep throat again (I got this last year, the exact same week) but luckily it wasn't since I can't really take anything that would help take the strep away. I found out its just a bad cold and cough. I am just hoping that since I am not working, I can keep getting rest and it will pass. The only good news is I'm down 5 pounds with all the sickness and nausea from this last month.
After I got my vitals taken-all normal (and Ry was so in awe watching my nurse take them. She said "Mom, it's just like when I'm your Dr at home.") my Dr came in with the ultrasound machine. I was in shock at how behaved the girls were in this little room. My Dr had me lay down, J held Kenna, then my Dr set Ry at the end of my bed. We all nestled in together to watch the monitor of the baby. I had never seen the girls so stuck to a little tv. We were able to watch the baby move all around (though of course I can't feel it yet) and we saw the wonderful flicker of the heart beat.
I was so relieved!!! We are so excited to have another bambino. Ry keeps saying she wants another sister who she has named Kerra. She talks to "her" everyday and rubs "her". Its really cute, but I do not have an indication of what we are having yet.
So with the happy news and one flu shot later, we had set out to accomplish our list of things to get done. Target to return some things, DMV to renew J's license (which he forgot his paperwork so we had to go all the way home and back), Sara Lee bread store, Costco for shampoo, and Home Depot for furnace filters. I didn't want to be gone long cause us girls needed to be resting, but since J couldn't drive on an expired license, we had no choice. So needless to say, I was so grateful to get back home after such a long day. All in all, I was very glad to get our errands done. But most of all, so happy our baby is doing so well!

Me and Kenna on Halloween...13 Weeks along

Success

I went to my first ob check for the baby on Wednesday, the 28th. Since it was so early in the morning, Justin stayed home to get the kids off to school and I went by myself. During the drive over I was feeling very anxious and nervous. I had some spotting the week before and some serious cramping and pain...and Tylenol just didn't help at all.
I arrived 1 minute early and had the waiting room all to myself. Just sitting and staring at the fish tank. I finally got called back to get my weight, blood pressure, and temperature. So far everything was great! I had to fill out a couple new forms and then off for a urine sample. When I got back to my room my sweet Dr. Hall of 9 years came in. He hugged and congratulated me and once again made me feel very at ease. He asked me some basic questions and then said we needed to get an ultrasound. The moment was here....
As I laid back on the bed, he put the warm jelly on my belly and started to look for the baby. He had to press so hard to find anything. Then he said, "We need to do a vaginal scope to be sure." I was really freaking out. After I got changed, he came back in with my nurse of 3 years and started to look again. At first he just kept looking around and not saying anything which really started to worry me. I kept asking him, "Whats wrong? Is the baby ok?" Then he finally said, "Yep! Just as I suspected!" Everything looked great except another cyst had ruptured and that explained why he saw so much fluid around my uterus. (And explains why I was in so much pain) Then he said I had another big one on my ovary and we'll just have to keep an eye on it. Then we got to the good news of finding baby's heartbeat (just one) and getting a pic of the baby-just plopped there. You could see the head, arms, and legs so clearly and measuring a little over 8 weeks along. Alot shorter than we had originally thought. Our due date now is May 12, 2012. I was super relieved everything looked good. They even gave me a really cute diaper tote bag with samples and info papers inside.

So my 12 week appt. isn't for another month. In the meantime, he said I can keep exercising but I have to do it low intensity to prevent any more spotting. Also keep trying to eat good foods while keeping some of it down. Good thing he prescribed me more phenergen to help with that.
I am so excited for another baby to add to our family. I finally told all the kids and Rylee was super excited. She even started talking close to my mouth. I asked her what she was doing and she said shes talking to the baby! I told her the baby can hear her from my tummy but it was cute she thought she needed to talk to the baby thru my mouth :) We also sent out birthday invites to the family to announce our new pregnancy. Its very cheesy but we wanted to do something. I am just hoping for this nauseousness to go away soon so I can have my energy back!

It Is Worth It

Well, I gotta say I can't ever remember being this sick or tired. I am constantly nauseous, very weak stomach, and if I am able to eat anything I usually throw most of it up. I am not sure if you are more sick the more times you are preggers, but it sure seems that way. Its been hard to give into the cravings just to know it will go to waste. But its super good at the time.
And the sleeping...I feel so different. I usually can live off 4 or 5 hours sleep. Not anymore. I have to get at least 8 hours and a nap. If I don't, I drag all day long. Its so unlike me but I guess its nice I have been lucky enough to stick with that schedule.
Though its very hard at times and I don't think I'll make it, I push through because I know the very best gift is at the end of all this. It really is worth everything to be able to hold a new, sweet, little one. Now if my appointment would just hurry up and get here. I cannot wait to tell people, especially my family. I have been able to keep the secret from everyone except my hubby, Rhett, my very close 4 friends (who I am with all the time and would get suspicious with all my sickness), and Mandee. We are pretty close and she is preggers too. I love to be able to talk with someone else about my experiences. So I guess the next update will be in a couple days after my appointment. I am praying for great and healthy news....

B-B-Q on Labor Day...4 Weeks along

Finally!

Well I know it may seem dumb to some people, but to us it was a long road. We had been trying for 9 months, though I dont think we ever really stopped "trying." Well usually I get heartburn with every pregnancy, the only time I ever get heartburn, and I know I am pregnant. Well this time was not the case. My period was 2 days late, and my last one the previous month was only a couple days long. Not only that but for those of you who know me really well, know I am never tired. In fact I had to take Melatonin every night just to sleep. So knowing that about my cycles and in fact that for 2 weeks I had been sooo tired I was going to bed by 11pm, which is crazy for me, I was starting to wonder.
So on Saturday August 27th, before I took the kids to the zoo, I took a pregnancy test. It was probably my 12th test, at least, I have taken in the last 9 months. I waited the 3 minutes but I didn't expect too much. Yet there it was. 2 lines....I was honestly dumbfounded. I literally just sat down holding it, not really believing I was really preggers.
This has never happened to me before. I guess its because when me and Justin talked about having more kids we chose to just have one more. So I guess in the back of my mind, I was thinking about how this is my last pregnancy, its really the last time I get to feel my baby kick inside me. I know this is probably silly, but on the other hand, I am so ecstatic it finally happened. So I am keeping it quiet until I can finally decide when it's the right time to tell people. Though we'll see how long I can go.... it's such a big secret! But a super happy one!!!