18 weeks

Weekly update


How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gain/loss:  At my 16 week appt I had gained less than a pound.  Not so sure about that now as I gorged myself most of the time on the cruise...;)

Maternity clothes: Yes. Not thinking people are questioning it anymore.

Stretch marks: Leftover ones from DD...stretch marks are inevitable, I am not scared.

Sleep: Not having a pregnancy pillow was a prob on the cruise, but I slept ok.

Movement: Starting to feel movement a bit more each day.  Especially when I haven't eaten in awhile.

Cravings/Aversions: Any food now...kinda nice.  Aversions:  Eggs are still not high on my list, especially cruise ship plain eggs...:)
Gender: We are green team. Finding out at birth. Been having weird feelings it is a boy, but after hearing about Doug's grandma's dream, it is probably a girl...:)

Symptoms: Not many actually, had some major hand bloating one day on vacation when we were walking around sightseeing.
What I miss: Not a whole lot of anything actually.

What I look forward to:  Getting back to everyday life and work...ran out of time off so the paychecks are looking icky. 
Moods: Eh, nervous...about everything. Health of the baby, work, bills, etc.

Milestones: 18 weeks is a great milestone...;)

Medical Concerns: The subchorionic hemorrage.

Weekly Wisdom: Being pregnant on a cruise ship...the clumsiness came out!  Always remember band aids and neosporin...LOL
Best moment this week: Seeing many places that I haven't seen before...vacation was great!
Worst moment this week:  NONE!!!
 
And a few pics from the cruise:
 

D and DD hanging out on our balcony on the cruise ship...Love having a balcony, not sure when we can cruise again though because of the baby...unless we drop the kids off and have an "adult" cruise....hummm...

Found a conch shell graveyard in Grand Turk...Loved it!   

And the prego belly...and my white feet.  Couldn't get a nice tan as I hate laying out, but the feet did end up getting burned a bit...LOL

16 weeks...5.5 months to go!

Weekly update


How far along: 16 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: We will find out tomorrow!  Guessing around 5lbs, but I have no clue.
Maternity clothes: Yes. Although the t-shirts/sweaters still look quite huge on me.

Stretch marks: Leftover ones from DD...stretch marks are inevitable, I am not scared.

Sleep: Sleeping ok.

Movement: Starting to feel movement a bit more each day. 
Cravings/Aversions: Salty stuff. Aversions: Well, fruit juice gives me some crazy heartburn, so I imagine I will not be craving that any time soon.

Gender: We are green team. Finding out at birth. Been having weird feelings it is a boy, but after hearing about Doug's grandma's dream, it is probably a girl...:)

Symptoms: Heartburn and constipation have started!!!  And now I am feeling "full" and feeling the stretching going on.

What I miss: Not a whoile lot of anything actually.

What I look forward to: Our 10 day vacation.  Won't be blogging for a bit after this weekend...
Moods: Eh, nervous...about everything. Health of the baby, work, bills, etc.

Milestones: This week?  Hummm...making it to my next appointment without anymore crazy bleeding!
Medical Concerns: The subchorionic hemorrage.
Weekly Wisdom: Chili is good, until the heartburn hits when I am sleeping.

Best moment this week: Uh, well, DD called my baby belly fat...not really a best moment, but she is noticing the changes...
Worst moment this week: Haven't had a bad moment this week...:)

Fruit...

I love logging in and seeing the size of Charlie!  It would scare me a bit if this was my first child though...uh, comparing the baby to fruit, and then thinking it has to come out!  I know we are working up to a watermelon here and I am completely ok with it.  The little avocado has been doing somersaults lately.  Been waiting too long to feel this again, so happy that I am getting the chance!

7+ inches of snow in Minnesota...so glad to be going on a vacation next weekend for 10 days...going to Miami, then a 7 day cruise to the Caribbean.  Should be our last vacation for awhile...:)   

Coming to terms with...

Something I have thought about for quite awhile is that infertility is not cured by pregnancy. I frequent many blogs dealing with infertility and pregnancy after infertility, one of the infertility blogs stated that if you have ever been pregnant or had a child you are not infertile. Really? That boiled my blood. Something else that I saw on a infertility blog that suprised me is that there are many people out there (my OB included) that believed that since I have a child I could not be infertile. Hummm....yea, no. I am definitely infertile.


As many people know, we struggled to become pregnant with Chloe (heck, many don't know that I guess). I was told I would never get pregnant when I was 19, then at 23 after trying for 2 years we were told a fertility doc would be the only way and there weren't any of those docs overseas). After giving up until we could be stationed back in the US, we found out we were pregnant over 3 years later. After giving birth I was told to get on the pill, I didn't because we wanted another child. The docs kept saying we needed to get on the pill or I would get pregnant again right away (yea, that was what I was going for!), and I sit and laugh at those docs...how wrong they were. That is when the bitterness started to set in. Bitter towards the doctors, bitter towards my body, bitter towards pregnant women, bitter towards women that took less than a year to get pregnant, and just plain bitter. Infertility definitely changed me.

I say infertility is not cured by pregnancy because I know firsthand how quickly this baby can be taken from me and how many drugs and how much time it will take to get me to this point again. There is this fear that I feel all the time. The fear of loss. The fear of something happening and I would have another little one in heaven. The fear of this not working again after this one is born. I cherish every moment of this pregnancy but I am tired of feeling that fear. I am at the point where I am starting to feel the little miracle move around and it settles my nerves, yet the fear is still there...

I have found it is hard for me to trust that everything will work out, but I know I can't change anything so I guess I need to just let things be...

15 weeks!

Weekly update


How far along: 15 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: A few pounds...but I don't weigh myself either, so I guess I will find out in 8 days at my next appointment!
Maternity clothes: Yes. Although the t-shirts/sweaters still look quite huge on me.

Stretch marks: Leftover ones from DD...stretch marks are inevitable, I am not scared.

Sleep: Sleeping ok.

Movement: Definitely felt movement this past week.  Pretty cool to feel it this much earlier this time around.
Cravings/Aversions: Salty stuff.  Aversions: Well, fruit juice gives me some crazy heartburn, so I imagine I will not be craving that any time soon. 
Gender: We are green team. Finding out at birth. Been having weird feelings it is a boy, but after hearing about Doug's grandma's dream, it is probably a girl...:)

Symptoms: Heartburn and constipation have started!!!

What I miss: Not a whoile lot of anything actually.
What I look forward to: Filling out my maternity clothes...oh, and a 7 day cruise to the Caribbean in 13 more days!  We planned this trip while we were in the middle of down regulating for this last cycle, we needed a break from it all, and since I got pregnant we knew it would be our last trip (cruise) for quite awhile...going to San Juan, PR; Bahamas, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk...can't wait to come home with a tan!

Moods: Eh, nervous...about everything.  Health of the baby, work, bills, etc.
Milestones: Uh...getting the results from the 1st tri screening, looks like Cletus (Charlie whatever) is looking good 1 in about 500 chance for down's syndrome and 1 in about 800 chance for trisomy 13/18. 
Medical Concerns: The subchorionic hemorrage. Still having spotting, every few days I listen for a heartbeat to make myself feel a bit better about it all.

Weekly Wisdom: Garnish knives are insanely sharp. 
Best moment this week: Feeling movement, having people notice that I am pregnant.
Worst moment this week: Almost cutting about half an inch of my thumb off when using a garnish knife.  Never used that knife before (was too lazy to get the clean ones out of the dishwasher...LOL) and I am thankful that my fingernail was there...although it went about 1/4 inch into my nail and the skin underneath...needless to say it is wrapped in many bandages as to not snag the nail...that hurts...:)

180 days...

Craziness.  It seems so far away right now.  So many things could happen.  I am wondering if my OB will end up being as cool as I want him to be, he has called me right back when I have had problems so that is really nice. 

Anyway...not much else going on.  Just baking a baby.  And hoping for the best.

Yay for the AKC...:)

My dog's breed is finally getting recognized...pretty exciting.  Well, kinda.  http://content.usatoday.com/communities/pawprintpost/post/2010/06/dog-photos-of-the-3-new-breeds-accepted-by-akc/1

We will miss her...she is getting up there in years for a large breed, she'll be 8 next month.  I should take some great pics of her this weekend in the fallen leaves...:)

14 Weeks

Weekly update

How far along: 14 weeks.

Total weight gain/loss:  A few pounds...literally.

Maternity clothes: Yes. Although the t-shirts still look quite huge on me. 

Stretch marks: Leftover ones from DD. Really noticed them today...I keep forgetting to use the lotion and oils...LOL...the stretch marks are inevitable, I am not scared.

Sleep: Sleeping ok.

Movement: I swear I have felt it already.  Not all the time, but a few thumps here and there.

Cravings/Aversions: Pickles and olives.  Aversions:  meat.  Chicken and pork are ok though.

Gender: We are green team. Finding out at birth. Been having weird feelings it is a boy, but after hearing about Doug's grandma's dream, it is probably a girl...:)

Symptoms: Heartburn and the constipation has started!!!

What I miss: Laying on my tummy to sleep...LOL

What I look forward to: Filling out my maternity clothes.

Moods: Eh, nervous.  It is amazing how different each pregnancy is.  With DD I had no issues at all, but with this one I have been bleeding/spotting for the last 2-3 weeks....and I haven't gained much weight (started out a bit bigger though.

Milestones: Stopped taking the progesterone supps 3x a day.  I didn't quit it cold turkey as I was nervous, so I cut back and a few days ago I stopped it completely.  Also cut back on the Metformin, the OB said I could stop taking it but I cut my dose in half, as I didn't want to quit that cold turkey either.

Medical Concerns: The subchorionic hemorrage. Still having spotting, every few days I listen for a heartbeat to make myself feel a bit better about it all.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't eat a bunch of Halloween candy and expect no heartburn.

Best moment this week: Feeling a few thumps in my uterus....LOL and seeing a definite bump starting. 

Worst moment this week: Constipation.  LOL.  Need more fiber and roughage I guess.  Oh, and realizing the maternity pants I was wearing were causing cramping, had to change to the trusty jeans that go over the belly (wearing with a belly band or they fal down LOL).