Life.........

How is one supposed to live in -20 degree weather? The dog and I had icicles on our eyelids last night at the end of our walk. I spent half of the time she was chasing the Frisbee hiding behind a tree to block the wind. I'm certainly not sending my pregnant wife out in that. She definitely needs to be soaking in a warm tub soothing her aching back. Life is so fair...........

On another note we have been so busy this week. Last week we were grumbling about not having anything to do (besides housework and projects) that we moped around all weekend feeling sorry for ourselves. By Monday we had plans nearly every night and felt like we couldn't get a minute to catch our breath. Life is so interesting........

Furthermore, I am amazed at the physical changes (and no I don't have any belly shots to share of her) that S has gone through in the last 4 weeks. At Christmas time I was thinking she was looking pregnant now there is no denying it. I feel Tot kick just about once a day and S is now waking up due to a good ole one two from our tough little son! Life is so amazing............

Finally, S is truly a rockstar. Not just due to creating a life within her body but for her resilience. She hasn't really had the best week at work but also sees that is isn't the worst. On Tuesday the work felt crushing to her, on Wednesday she was talking about the positives regarding the situation, and now she is charging away to be the best at what she is doing. It really doesn't surprise me one bit that she is determined to make the best of it and come out on top. She is definitely driven and when it comes to work, if she is the best she doesn't feel like she is giving enough. This isn't to say that she works 80 hours a week, that is not S. She works more than required but makes family a priority. The things she does though that most of us struggle to figure out how to do, is to work hard, fast, and with accuracy saving herself loads of time! Just don't make small talk with her while she is working! ;) S makes all the things I mentioned above worthwile, possible, and true!

Life..............

Heartbeats, breastfeeding, and velcro shoes

Today we hear the Tot's heartbeat again. We head to the MW today for a check up, some "teaching" (we kinda hate that they always say they are going to do some teaching), and likely an "exam". It is the first time we have been back since we took our trip to the medical world for the ultrasound. I don't the MW was a big fan of us doing that but who cares! It is our health care and pregnancy after all. They talk a big game about make it all about your pregnancy and you guide the services so that is what we did! :)

On another note, I will be telling the MW today that I am interested in inducing lactation. I'm not sure what kind of regimen that will consist of but I have decided it is the best choice for me, the Tot, and S. I'm actually kind of excited about it. I started to tell people at work so that when I start pumping at work (which could be in a few months) they don't think I'm crazy. I find (as many of us that live "alternative lifestyles" do) that allowing people space to let the things in my life that challenge the norm sink in, they have a better reaction. Ug, the things we do for the "straights"! :)

Last thing, S wants me to share with you all that sometimes people that wear black velcro shoes creep me out. There, now you all can have time to let that sink in and hopefully you will still respect me and my feelings. :)


Happy Monday!

A-maz-ing

WOW! What a feeling to look at your baby for the first time. Tot is adorable! We saw the heartbeat, 167 bpm. We saw feet! We saw arms! We saw a nose! Oh, my god you can’t even being to explain the emotional wonderment that happens when you see your child for the first time. Thank god we did this.

Everything is measuring normal and wonderful. The 4-D was way cool because that was when Tot decided to start moving around and pushing off the side of the uterus! AMAZING!!!!!! Here are some of the pics. Enjoy, we did!


What a beautiful profile!



4-D lounging with arms tucked behind the head!!!!!!



Booty, feet and toes!!!!



Tot waves hello!

Enough Already

That is it. Look here hormones ease up on my wife already.

Man, this tot must be doing some major growing and developing. It must be forming a genius brain or something. S has been hit with the yucks hard this week. Here I am absent due to my overly ego maniac board members, leaving her to fend for herself. She even had to walk to my office yesterday because I was stuck on the phone and she needed the car to get food. I mean NEEDED food!!!! Then she had to deal with me and my overly sensitive, frustrated, and quick tempered self that exists after having my energy and brain sucked dry by dentists. Poor baby.

I love you tot, but give your mom a break already!!!!

As for remedies tried for this nausea, here is the list and I may have missed a few, we've tried it all. Peppermint tea and hard candy, ginger flavored anything makes her feel like she is going to barf, lemon favored hard candy, crackers, preggo pops, sea bands, naps, eating every time she starts to feel sick, raspberry tea and suckers, belly bars, and so on and so on.

I think I'm just going to have to pamper her till this latest version of the yucks passes.

10 weeks: updated

That is it! We are taking the dive. We have the call in to get the ultrasound. We are sick of not ever seeing anything and not having any proof (other than a tired wife) that there is a baby. Our MW is not really the biggest fan of the idea of an ultrasound but then again, she didn't have the bad dreams I had last night about the baby being lost. She also did try to get pregnant for two years! Well, she isn't really all that negative Nelly about the ultrasound but we are all the demanding Donna about getting it now! SHOW ME THE TOT!

On the other note, S mentioned in the last post that the MW gave us some new things to consider and that she was leaving it up to me to post about. I'm still working on figuring out my own perspective on it and will share soon.


UPDATE:
We have an appointment for an ultrasound on Oct. 24.

Where did it all go?

So our morning started out with a little bit of a scare. S has had a few pretty good days as far as symptoms go. Yesterday, we passed the 8-week mark. Today starts week 9 (don't quote me on this because I can't seem to wrap my head around what week we are in or what week we are).

S woke up this morning realizing that for the first time in a week she hasn't had to get up in the middle of the night to eat to keep nausea at bay. Alarmed by the sudden decrease in symptoms she started to analyze all remaining and previous symptoms. Here is the low-down:

Breasts:
Then - Painfully sensitive
Now - Slightly tender

Nausea:
Then - Constant
Now - Only every 60-90 min with dramatic decrease in intensity>

Fatigue:
Then - Like hitting a brick wall
Now - A little tired

Appetite:
Then - Nothing sounds good
Now - Can stomach just about everything (aside from what I am eating)

This sent S into a bit of a panic (especially after Dr. Google said a decrease in morning symptoms could be a sign of miscarriage), which in turn sent me into a little tizzy. I called the NPs office, as we don't really have an OB or Midwife (the MBC is closed till 1 pm on Thursdays). The triage nurse's response to me giving the list of changes was priceless.

Nurse: "That is great!”
Me: "Um, I said she HAD morning sickness and symptoms and now they are disappearing."
Nurse: "Yeah, that is good. Her body is getting used to being pregnant."
Me: " but we are only 8 weeks."
Nurse: "Yeah, some people see improvement during weeks 8 and 10. She will have some more bad days though."
Me: "So we should stop freaking out?"
Nurse: "Yes, we only worry if she has cramping and/or bleeding."
Me: "Phew, I'll call her now and tell her."

I call S and tell her the above story. She cries out of relief.

So there you have it, our first major panic about the pregnancy.

What this has done though is convince us to keep our original appointment with the OB for Oct. 5. Since the MBC seems to be closed and/or not able to make our first appointment we would like to see our other option. Not that this means we will not stay with the MBC (we assume they become more accessible after the first appointment considering they will likely give us a contact number for after hour concerns). So there you have it, we may go back to medical. The good thing is we may be able to see the NP and office staff while we are at the OB's office (same office really). We haven't seen them since we got pregnant. We may even be able to see the tot on Oct. 5 (see we aren't anti-ultrasound).

First appointment

Today is our first appointment with the Midwife. Now, most of you get an ultrasound during this appointment but not us. The MBC where we are (fingers crossed that there is no need to go medical) giving birth provides all of our pre-natal check ups as well. They do not do ultrasounds. They can order them though so we plan to ask for one around 20 weeks to see what we are having. Otherwise, blood work and "touchy feely" medical input for us only.

Why, go so non-medical? Well, since we had to be so medical for the last 2 years we are looking forward to fewer invasive procedures. This all considering everything is looking "normal" and proceeding, as it "should". We are not against the other forms of giving birth, pre-natal care, or whatever steps others need to take to ensure their pursuit to the same final goal as ours ends with a healthy baby (or two for some of you)!

So, here we go to our first appointment tonight. What happens at this appointment? I don't have a clue, probably many many many questions and "get to know ya" conversations. I am not even sure they will do any blood work. The first appointment is supposed to be 2 hours but we had to split it into two days because we needed an after 5 pm appointment.

Here we go, well at 6 pm!