My Pregnancy Journal

I told Matt the news. I am 3 days late for my period and I knew something was going on. I took the dogs for a walk on the beach and on the way home, stopped at CVS Pharmacy and got a pregnancy test. I got home and had to pee, like always, so I took the test. I sat there and waited by it and before long it said Pregnant. I waited by it for the 3 minutes it said it should take and waited for the Not to come up but it didn't. Then I went and got something to eat and went back to the test to make sure it still said Pregnant and I called Matt, he went to Myrtle Beach to visit a friend. I asked him if he wanted to know the news now or later and he said "Now." "You're going to be a daddy," I said. "Really? Well, you could have waited til I got home." Then he went on to tell me he was excited and happy and I quick got the video camera and took a picture of the test and emailed it to him for proof.

Almost 6 weeks and I am doing fine so far. Haven't really had any symptoms, just a little extra crankiness, fatigue, hungry all the time, and the wonderful sore/enlarging BBs. I've gained some weight already, doctor says it is my bodies way of adjusting to the change but nothing to do with the baby yet. Its also a lot of gas--nice, I know! I am trying to eat a lot better, at least three meals a day and Grandma, I make sure I eat breakfast every day so don't you worry. I've increased my chicken intake but obviously no other meats. I haven't had any cravings quite yet but other people I've been talking to on ivillage message boards that are due in December have had cravings. Maybe its a good thing for me cause I'll lay off the chocolate and candy! Nothing else happening today, its a crappy day outside so we are just going to chill!

I'm getting very anxious for my appointment on Monday. I'm tempted to call the office and find out what to expect. I am hoping for an ultrasound to get the official due date and to hear the heartbeat. Matt won't be able to go with, he is on the rifle range...I am so sad. I wanted to experience this together and aahh, it makes me mad but I have to be understanding, that is what we signed up for. I've been super tired lately. Last night I found myself in bed at 7:30 taking a little "nap." Before I knew it Matt came in and said, "Why don't you just go to bed." How could I argue with that?! I missed my shows again though, damn this pregnancy! I haven't had any sickness yet. Just lots of stomach aches and not feeling so hot. I guess its a good thing though cause I am miserable enough, I don't need to be puking to confirm this miracle! Oh--yeah, yesterday, I had to go home for lunch and change clothes cause what I was wearing was too tight. My bra felt like it was sufocating me and my chubber was hanging out of my shirt! I want a cute pregnant belly, not rolls! Whoever said pregnancy was a joy I think is crazy--at least for now!

Well, I found out yesterday that I will not be getting my ultrasound on Monday. They say because I know the date of my last period, they don't need to do one. I am upset. They will do one between 20-24 weeks to determine the sex--only 12 more weeks to wait....this sucks! I felt like crap this morning....sick to my stomach and tired. I could get off the crapper either, I know TMI but don't you want to know everything during these next 7 months?! That is all, Matt and I are off to dinner, I am craving a sub!

Went and had my first real appointment today. Got there about 7:45. They double-booked the 8:00 appointment so I had to wait a little longer but that was okay cause I was missing work:) I finally got in and had a session with the nurse. We talked about what to expect, what to fear and she answered my questions. We discussed my heart murmur and she decided she wants me to see the cardiologist to have an exam done just to make sure I won't have to have any special meds during labor and to make sure its nothing to be too concerned about. I also opted for a cystic fibrosis screening so later I had to have my blood taken. Then we went for the wonderful pap and breast exam. Before she started the exam, she hooked the doppler up to see if we could hear the heartbeat. We thought we heard it faint but she could hardly tell. She then did the exam and we talked about my tilted uterus and she scheduled me for an ultrasound cause she couldn't exactly tell how big I was cause of the tilt--and to ease me cause I didn't hear the heartbeat. They scheduled it for 1:00 TODAY!! So, I had to wait around from 10-1 to get that done, but it sure was worth the wait. While I waited I had my blood taken and they couldn't find a vein cause they are so small. They ended up having to use a butterfly something or other and take it through my hand and it kind of hurt! I didn't pass out though (I think it was cause they only took 1 vile-but it took 5 minutes to drain that blood into the vile). Then I patiently waited for my ultrasound. About 1:20 they finally called me in. They did a regular on the tummy ultrasound, I thought they were going to stick a probe in me, that is what the nurse said. She finally found the baby and I got to see it. At first it looked like it had its thumb in its mouth--I know, too early, but that is what the blob looked like at first. I was so excited. Then she took the heartbeat and measured it to exact my due-date. The heartbeat was 164 and I am a day ahead, now due December 25th! So that was my excitement for the day and boy, was I ever excited!!!!

Well, let Wednesday be the day that I've weighed more than I've ever weighed before. I got on the scale and topped 127. I guess its good though cause that means we are healthy--although I feel quite plump. It'll be interesting to see what the scale at the doctors office says in 2 weeks--they are probably going to tell me to take it easy on the food cause I'm gaining too much weight....but how can I? I'm always starving and the hunger pains aren't normal, they need to be cured or I feel like I am going to die. Oh well, the bigger I get, the more there is of me for Matt to love:)

This morning I was worried because I think that my stomach should be showing more than it is. I woke up and was like, wow, where did my baby go? I just looked different to myself, not pregnant anymore. I was in a panic pretty much the whole day emailing my mom and trying to get others opinions from the website I visit every day. I know everyone is different at the times that they show but is it really normal to deflate overnight? Well, if you look at my picture on the 2nd Trimester page at 13 weeks, tonight I am ballooned up again. It must be my bloatedness that gets me pregnant looking. I am excited to show and not just look plump. Everyone says don't worry, you'll show soon enough and you'll be sorry when you do but now, I just feel plain fat and it sucks! But, I am belly fat again so I am okay for now. My 14 week appointment is on Monday, I'll be sure to update and put the heartbeat on, hopefully they can find one and nothing is wrong:(

Had the wonderful 14 week appointment. It went very well. The doc measured the fundal height and we listened to the heartbeat. He/she wasn't very active but it was there at least. The heart beat 146, was in the 160s last time. She said it would speed up again once "it" was active, "it" was just chillin today. Matt and I have decided on a girls name but I don't want to tell anyone. Boys names we are still disagreeing about, we'll take suggestions but let them be 21th century. I have to go in next week for the AFP screening. They will take my blood and then I wait a week to get the results--it tests for downsyndrom, trisomy 18 and some other genetic defects. I had to have another urine sample taken, I am having to pee 2 minutes after I go and its quite annoying. I am hoping they find something wrong with me and they can treat it, otherwise it is going to be a VERY LONG trip home next month! I will be seen next in 6 more weeks which brings it to the 9th of August. Then around the 23rd of August I will have my ultrasound done for sex determination. I am so excited but that is 8 weeks away yet! I should be able to feel the baby start to move around soon. Its weird cause where she heard the heartbeat, 2 times last week my stomach got hard for a minute and I told Matt I thought the baby was doing somersaults. I am so excited for this all to start. That is all for now.

For the past week, I've had to pee every 10 minutes and right after I go, I have to go again. That 10 minutes is all the longer I can hold it and its driving me crazy! Maybe its just a stage where my uterus is pushing on my bladder and when it moves up, it will stop--oh I hope so cause I feel like I'm not getting enough to drink now cause if I was, I'd never get off the toilet!!! And--are they gas bubbles in there or is the baby trying to talk to me? I guess I should start to feel things soon but I can't tell the difference cause gas is always bubbling around in there!!

Matt and I went shopping on Saturday and I bought my first bunch of maternity clothes. I wanted to spend some money so we went to an oulet mall. I knew it was a little early to be buying these clothes but I wanted to get ready for when I really popped. I bought some cute shirts, you can't even tell they are maternity. They forgot to give me 2 that I wanted that looked maternity, they were just v-neck t's though--oh well, I can get them offline. I met some new people yesterday and they said I didn't even look pregnant--wow, thats pretty impressive seeing as though I think I am super plump!

Things have been going alright other than the fact that my allergies have been really bad lately, my right eye is twitching and won't stop and I have the worst heartburn ever. We are leaving on Tuesday evening to go home for a week--I can't wait to be off of work! I'm getting very anxious to buy nursery furniture, I think we might invest in that in the next month or so and then August 23rd we get to find out the sex so we'll shop for decor soon after we find out. 5 weeks to go yet, that is so far away but I'm trying to hang in there.

"Wow, you don't even look pregnant," "You look so good..." Those were some of the things I heard this weekend when I was home. Its nice to look good but I'd like to look pregnant cause I look at myself and go Whoa--look at that belly!! I'm glad some people noticed though! I had my first craving on the drive to WI--it was for pancakes, I thought that was quite strange. I called the appt. lady when we got home today, ultrasound is scheduled for August 23rd, 1:00, I can't wait! I picked up my dress for Jamie's wedding in 10 weeks, if I gain much more weight in my tummy area, the dress isn't going to fit--oh no!

I think the baby had hiccups today. As I was sitting at work, I felt this suctioning below my belly button. It happened for about 2 minutes and would suction every couple of seconds. I've asked some people what this might be and they say probably hiccups. Wow, I am so excited. I figured that might be what it was, or the baby really kicking but thought it might be too early for those kind of kicks already. I just sat there and smiled the whole time it was happening. I am so excited, this whole fat thing is a little fun!!!

Appointment today was short, nurse seemed like she was in a hurry to me. I hope I don't have her for delivery. The heartbeat was in the 140s today which has slowed down from the past couple times--maybe that is a good sign, Matt will get his boy? Next appointment they are going to do the glucose test--fun fun!! I go back on September 13th. I also have to have a heart echo scheduled to see if the baby is doing anything to my heart--just a precaution I guess. The intense pain I've been feeling in my ribs is due to the fact that they are actually bowing out to make room for everything being pushed up. She said it may continue throughout the rest of the pregnancy--great cause it hurts really bad!!

I had to give in and wear my first maternity outfit today. My jeans were getting so tight and I was getting sick of having to loop the rubberband for the button and haivng my legs feel chafed every time I pulled them up and down to go to the bathroom--and that is quite a few times an hour! So, Matt and I went to Old Navy last night and picked me up some maternity pants-2 pairs and 5 shirts. The pants are actually very comfortable except they don't stay up in the back so my butt hangs out all day. I hope I can find some more pants, maybe I'll order some off the internet because their maternity section was kind of slim.

And so it goes....McKenna is her. After much poking and prodding and twisting and turning and fighting, we are having a girl. The tech had a hard time finding the sex, she was breech with the butt up on the stomach wall but she found the hamburger bun. When she got the picture of the face, you could see her skull very clearly and her hand was up by her mouth and she was sucking her thumb! That was great, I loved that part! She weighed in at 9 oz. and her heartbeat was 137. I think that weight is a little low but maybe not, what do I know?! Now we have the big decision on the middle name....I'm sure Matt will love her even though he didn't get his little boy. He says no more though, one is enough--guess he'll have to deal with it!!

So is it heartburn or acid reflux? Whatever it is, it is killing me!! Last night I couldn't sleep, it made me throw up it was so bad! Tums and Mylanta don't work, I think I need to go to the doctor to cure whatever this is cause it is so painful! But, on the bright side, Including today I only have 18 more days of work. I am excited about that. I think we will be leaving here the evening of the 29th and arrive in Wausau on the 30th and then depart Wausau on the 18th or something like that. A little long for us to be in Wausau doing absolutely nothing but oh well. Other than that, nothing else going on. My stomach is expanding daily and I need to update my photos, Saturday I will have Matt take another....

Oh, I'm so beat. I just set up the crib--that was a pain in itself. It took me almost 2 hours to assemble, and I am good at that kind of stuff! It looks nice, now we just need to move all of the computer stuff into the other room so we can make room for the crib--right now its just in the middle of the room cause there is no wall space for it. The dresser that we use for the computer stuff matches the crib quite well so I may just get one other dresser, otherwise I will still end up buying a set--although I've found some cheap stuff that is brand new at the store across from my work. I bought the cheapest mattress as well, I didn't know what to get, I don't even know what kind of mattress to get for myself so McKenna is just getting what we bought her for now!! In other news, my belly is growing every day and my 2 small maternity shirts are almost becoming too short....they show the waist band in my pants. My appointment is on Monday, wish me luck I pass the GDB test.

The doctor said everything looks good and she is very glad to hear I am having no problems and have had no problems. She said the baby was in the 32% of weight, anywhere between 10% and 90% is normal. She is a little small I guess but that may change. She thinks I will deliver between 6 & 7 pounds. I had my GDB test, they didn't call so I am assuming I passed. I also scheduled my breastfeeding class and labor and delivery. Nothing else too spectacular though:)

I think I am having a gymnast! I can feel her kicking on both sides at the same time when I lay on either one of my sides. And gosh, she doesn't stop once she starts. Last night she was moving non-stop for over an hour, I was trying to sleep and she just kept turning and kicking and punching and rolling and doing whatever else in there she has room to do. Matt still doesn't undestand the condition of a pregnant woman--he thinks that I am superwoman! Last night he wanted me to help him lift his bike into the back of his truck if it needed lifting. He thinks that cause I'm not 8 months along, I should still be able to do whatever I always have been able to do. Moms, yell at him!! Even my neighbor was like, don't lift that, you're pregnant! Matt has no clue......and I'm starting to get scared!

I am still getting comments on "you are due when" "you are so small" "you can't even tell you are pregnant." That makes me feel great cause I know Matt doesn't want a super fat wife! He's been comparing other pregnant women lately, he'll see one and just look at her. I keep telling him I'm not that big and he should be thankful for that and he is like "I know!" Men, I tell ya! I got my dress for Jamie's wedding....it fits but its not the most comfortable thing that I am going to fit into. Its still another week away, I hope that I don't expand too much or its really not going to fit! Hurricane Jeanne is supposed to hit us sometime on Tuesday, I really hope that doesn't screw up our travel plans for leaving on Wednesday!!!

My weight gain is starting to slow down-whoo who!! I just stepped on the scale and I have gained exactly 20 pounds. I would usually weigh myself in the early morning before I ate breakfast and I started at 122.5. Now, if you can add, you can see that I am now 142.5! It is the same as my last appointment but I had clothes on so that adds about 2 pounds. So, I figure I'm now gaining a pound a week which will put me at a total weight gain of 33 pounds--ouch, so much for only 20 or 25 pounds!

Tomorrow is my dad's birthday--Happy Birthday Dad! I think we finally decided on a middle name last night. I told Matt we needed to decided and a little while later, he was like "how bout Kailyn?" I was like "where did you get that from?" He said he just thought of it....although it must have been in his mind from somewhere cause that was one of my picks a while ago. So, now I just need help with the spelling. I think I am leaning more toward Kailyn but I also like Kaylin. HELP!!!

Well, the trip up to WI was very long and boring! I had to pee about every 2 hours and I drank about 1 cup of water the whole 2 days we traveled so I must have had an extra stash somewhere! Jamie's wedding was on Saturday and oh boy was I hurtin! My tailbone hurt me so much I could hardly stand it. I think from all the traveling it just got so irriated, I felt really bad cause we left at like 10:30 from the dance. I just had to go and lay down cause I was in so much pain so Jay, I'm sorry I had to leave so early, I hope you understand! I actually fit into my dress though AND it was too big. We had to pin it in the back to make it stay up and double-side tape it to my chest. If I wouldn't have done either, I would have had some embarrassing moments!!!

I can't believe I only have 11 weeks left, that is crazy. Where did this pregnancy go? She is moving less as time goes by. She is the most active at night now. I can feel her head right between my ribs and when I lay on my side, I can feel a foot poking through. It is so wonderful. I am quite anxious though, I wish these 11 weeks would just be over. One of my cyber girls had her baby about a week ago and she is tiny already, I couldn't believe how flat her stomach was already, I so am hoping for that!!

Well, we are home and it feels so nice to sleep in my own bed. Don't get me wrong, I love going back to WI but its so nice to be at my home! I finished McKenna's room today, put up the wall border and all of the wall hangings. I'm getting bigger by the day. I noticed I have my line now--my line you ask? Its that dark line that goes from the pubic bone to the belly button and its so cute:) My sister said she noticed it when she saw my belly but I first really noticed it today. I have my next appointment on Friday, I'll let you know how that goes after it.

I'm so tired today and don't want to do anything except sleep, except I can't sleep for some reason! I have a cold and it gets worse at night so I can't breath through my nose and whenever I wake up, my mouth is super super dry and hurts because I then can't produce saliva for like a minute. Oh, I love this! I haven't been in regular clothes for a whole day since we've been back in NC. It feels so nice to be in lounge pants and a t-shirt or sweatshirt though. I feel bad though cause I know I'm being a slob and poor Matty has to look at me like this every day--oh well, it will all be over with soon!

This update is for Amber:) Things are going alright, I am feeling more and more "fat" every day. I can't wait to get back to my normal size. I feel so disqusting its unbelievable. I hate to have Matt look at me cause I just feel so gross. I know, I know, I'm pregnant but do I have to be pregnant everywhere? My weight gain has slowed down....I have gained 1 pound in 2 weeks which is super good for me so I guess things are looking up a little bit. I think that she may have dropped, I don't feel her up in my ribs anymore, and it is so much more comfortable. I guess I won't know forsure if she has until my appointment next Friday but here's hoping--that may mean she may be here sooner--yippy!!

I had my 35 week appt. today and discussed a lot of things. I told her how I've been feeling the past week or so and that I've started getting very frequent braxton hicks contractions and that my lower stomach feels like I am getting my period (kind of crampy/icky feeling). She said, good that is what I am supposed to be feeling, it means I am getting ready. I've been having BH like crazy today and she said that after today, they won't stop it if I go into labor. Although having a 38-40 week baby is much better than having a 35 week baby--I very much agree. Then she said that at my next appt. we can discuss her rupturing my membranes--yey!!! That will make me at 37 weeks when I go in....but, then she said, we'll "discuss" it because you haven't had your labor and delivery class yet, we might want to wait til after that class. My next appt. is on the 7th and the L&D class is on the 11th, so if we discuss it on the 7th, she can do it the following week!!!! YEY, I might just have this little thing out before Christmas and that makes me SO HAPPY!!!! Also said that she is still head down so that is good. No other news other than that--and its all good!!

I HATE MILITARY DOCTORS!!! One says one thing, another says another and it really pisses me off!! I had my 37 week appt. yesterday and unfortunately had to see a different provider than I have seen the last couple times. I told her that with the other provider, we were going to discuss striping the membranes and I was hoping to do that Friday. She said they don't do that until 39 weeks--well, the other lady told me 38 weeks. Then she went on to tell me this whole speal why they don't do it til 39 weeks and bla bla, so that pissed me off to start off with. Then she wasn't going to do an internal which pissed me off more cause they should do them every week after 36 weeks--she said they don't start them until 39 weeks--whatever lady! So, she did one cause I wanted her to. I am 1 cm. dialated, 25% effaced and the baby is in stage -2 or something like that. So, needless to say, I have a way to go. Then she checked my fundal height (the height from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus) and she said it hadn't changed any from my 34 week appt. so she wanted to see me back in 1 week, not 2. Hello dumbass, I am 37 weeks along, I should be seen every week (you should start being seen every week at 36 weeks). My appt. schedule has not been how it should--starting at 32 weeks I should have started every 2 weeks but that didn't happen either. So, she wants me back next Monday to see if my fundal height changes. If it doesn't, it could mean low amniotic fluid, but the baby seems to be a good weight (she says about 6 lbs) so everything may be fine, they just want to check to make sure. They don't tell you anything! She didn't tell me that I was going to bleed from the internal--am I just supposed to know that it is going to look like I got my period? Should I freak out about this? THEY ARE JUST SO STUPID! Guess that is what you get for free health care! So, I guess this baby won't be here within the next 2 weeks unless she decides to come on her own. Hopefully next Friday (the 17th I think) they will be able to strip the membranes so I can have her early--this weight is killing me, I mean wait is killing me:)

Well, today was the day that I thought I'd have this little one but no signs as of right now and the day is 1/2 way over--damn! I had my 38 week appt. yesterday. The nurse was concerned because McKenna hadn't been very active lately and her heart rate was a little low (124) and as she felt around, she thought I might be low on amniotic fluid. So, I had to have a non-stress test done. They gave me a quick ultrasound--not for my viewing pleasure, for their testing pleasure. They measured the fluid sacs to make sure they were in the normal range and then hooked me up to some monitors to monitor baby movement, her heartbeat and my contractions. She wasn't moving around at first and her heart rate was a little low and dropped below 120 (which is the low end of good). They had to startle her with this little device that kind of vibrated and made this buzzing sound-oh, did she ever like that! She punched as soon as the nurse placed it on me. Then she finally started to move around and her heart rate increased--she was just tired. As I was being monitored, the nurse asked me if I could feel the contractions I was having and of course I could. They weren't painful at all but I knew I was having them. I asked her how far apart they were cause when I time them, I time about 10-12 minutes apart. She told me about every 4-6 minutes I was having them--yippy!! Hopefully it won't be too much longer. Oh and I was still 1 cm. dialated but she said a loose 1 cm. And I am now 75% effaced and she has dropped to -1 stage which means she is almost engaged and ready for her entry! I am going to go for a nice walk today even though it is chilly out. I want to get things moving and hopefully this will work. Next appt. is next Wednesday, lets pray I don't make it til then!

Well, I have lost 2 pounds since Monday the 6th--which makes me believe my metabolism is speeding up and this baby may be ready to come--well duh, I'm only like a week away! My hands are super swollen today, I can't get my rings off and this is the first time this whole pregnancy I haven't been able to get them off. I am going to go for a nice long walk again today--I think the last two days I've taken the dogs about a mile, today I am going to try for 1.8 I think--all the way around the huge block we live around. Hopefully I will be able to make it, otherwise I'll have to call Matt to come and pick us up:) Pray for our baby to come in the next couple days--PLEASE!! I don't want to be stuck in the hospital on Christmas!!!!

Oh so frustrating! I don't think this baby is ever going to come out!!!! I've tried walking every day and that isn't helping--I swear, pretty soon I am going to try caster oil-ick, I hope she comes before I resort to that cause that would be nasty!! I stepped on the scale this morning and was like whewwhoo, another pound but then I decided I should step on again cause I was kind of leaned against the toilet and dang the bad luck! I'm still weighing in 33 pounds lighter than when I started--ick! And now I am wondering if she is fully engaged cause when I pee, I still feel pressure, I just can't go anymore.

Baby are you coming? Last night contractions started around 7:05 and were 7 minutes apart. They lasted all night and during the middle of the night started to get more intense and were between 5-8 minutes apart. This morning (its now 7:51) I've only had a couple though--dang the bad luck. TMI in this next sentence so be careful. I am having some bloody discharge today which I think is a good thing. Am I going to end up spending Christmas in the hospital?! Oh yeah, and I need to add that I am down to 153.5!!!!

All day yesterday I was having contractions but they were very spuradic. At around 8:00 last night, they came about every 8 minutes. Sometimes they were 10 minutes, other times they were 6 or 7 minutes apart. And, they hurt like heck! I tried sleeping but Matt couldn't sleep, he is getting restless I think. So, he got up and putzed around and I layed in bed in pain. He came back in bed and I was still hurting so I went on the couch and from there, never slept. Its kind of hard to sleep when every 8 minutes you have this bursting pain your stomache! So, that is the news for today. Hopefully there will be a new baby Toldness today or tomorrow!!