Week 16

Still feeling nauseated, but not nearly as bad as I have in weeks past. I've found that as long as I get enough sleep and I eat something every two hours I can avoid gagging.

Look how big that thing is getting!!

What a difference two weeks makes...

To demonstrate how much I've popped out recently, here's a picture of me in Lake Tahoe just two weeks ago.

POP goes the belly!

This time last week I had people looking me up and down and commenting that I really didn't look very pregnant. Well, all that's now changed. My belly has popped out! It's usually under control until about lunchtime, then, after I eat it's all down hill. Yesterday a woman at worked told me I'm awfully big for being four months. My what a difference a week makes! Anyway, here's a picture of me before I went to bed the other night. Where did that thing come from?!

Weight Gain

I started my pregnancy at a "normal" weight, so the doctors recommend a weight gain of 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. This is additionally broken down by trimester. A woman of normal pre-pregnancy weight should gain 3-5 pounds during the first trimester, and 1-2 pounds each week in the second and third trimesters. So far, I am right on track. I gained 4 pounds my first trimester and have gained 1 pound each week of my second trimester. I'm feeling pretty good about that! Now, if I can just stay away from the Long John Silver's...

The Weekend

As far as nausea and gagging go, I had a really good weekend. Friday I went to see Grandma in the hospital before coming home. She may have to have valve surgery and they are performing a cath today to see if bypasses will also be necessary. She is really scared, so please say a prayer for her.

After leaving the hospital I met Mike at PF Chang's for a yummy dinner. We then went to Best Buy where I purchased a Playstation 3 for his birthday...his 30th birthday (old man!). We came home and had a nice evening without any nausea on my part. The Zofran is starting to become stronger than my sickness. Nice!

Saturdy I awoke with energy, so I took full advantage. I set up a workout area in the basement. I unpacked maternity clothes that I've received from friends and replaced much of my closet with this more comfy wardrobe. I spent the afternoon on the couch after exerting so much energy, but ventured out for dinner at a new sushi restaurant that evening. I retired early when I felt the nausea approaching.

My first thought when I awoke on Sunday was that I needed to go to the grocery. We haven't been since coming home from Tahoe, and our cupboards are bare. I made a list, but started feeling puny before I could get out of the house. I've come to realize that as long as I eat every 2 hours I am okay during the day. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to the grocery before the 2 hour mark, so the nausea came knocking. I decided to wait until I felt better to go, but it just got worse. Finally around lunchtime Mike and I decided Long John Silver's was our best option - because nothing makes your stomach feel better than batter-dipped fried fish! As soon as I finished eating I realized my terrible mistake. I felt worse, but it was my stepdad's birthday and I had to get over to his party.

I finally forced myself to get ready and I headed to Walgreen's to get a card and gift bag. I ended up sitting in the Walgreen's parking lot for quite awhile with my head hanging out the window, gagging. After getting his present at Dick's, I arrived at the party about 2 hours before it was to end. I had a nice time though. It was good to see his family and catch up.

Ultrasound pics

This was the Bean at our 7, 9 and 12 week ultrasounds.

My wonderful husband

Nothing about me feels normal these days. My body is different, my thoughts are different, I'm tired, I'm more emotional and I don't feel well. I'm sooo over it, and I know Mike must be too. But he has been so incredibly thoughtful and loving, in spite of his boring, ever-changing wife. Twice now he's come home with cards and flowers to surprise me. He takes me to bed as soon as he sees how tired I am, even when it's 8:30 p.m. He won't let me carry things and he's always asking how I'm feeling and making dinner for me (well, he usually did that anyway!). He's been so wonderful to me through all our ups and downs, and tries to keep me laughing even when I've wanted to cry. I know it's not easy to suddenly live with someone who only slightly resembles the person you married, and I just want him to know how much I love and appreciate him for his patience and support. I promise that one day I'll be back to normal!

Insomnia?

On two separate occasions in my life I have experienced insomnia. Both were brought on by stressful events, and each time the sleeplessness lasted about a year. When I was in those periods I was not myself. I was exhausted, moody, jumpy and overdramatic. I've always been afraid it would come back, and this week it appears it may have.

I read that insomnia can occur in the second trimester, so I'm not sure if it's my intense fear of sleeplessness that has brought it on, or if it's a combination of jet lag and the pregnancy that got it started. Whatever the cause, I just hope it's temporary. I purchased a prenatal yoga video last night to do in the evenings to relax. Last night I also used some breathing techniques to help get me to sleep and after about an hour they seemed to work. I understand that babies keep you awake all the time and I need to get used to decreased sleep, but this is very different. It's being exhausted, but your body not allowing you to get the rest you need when the opportunity comes. Hopefully it will pass.

Lake Tahoe

Last week we had a much-needed vacation (and finally, our honeymoon!) in Lake Tahoe, California. We stayed in a cabin in Tahoe City two blocks from the lake and were able to walk to the shops and restaurants each day. Kenny, Mike's childhood friend, got married there last weekend. Mike was the best man. Kenny and Robyn had many activites planned throughout the week. We hiked, swam, ate wonderful meals, gambled (Mike won $750 on slots!), and got a massage to name a few. I also got to nap daily, read, and we were in bed by 11:00 p.m. nearly every night!

The rehearsal and wedding were held at Fairwinds Estate, a beautiful house overlooking the lake. You can see pictures of it at their wedding site, and hopefully soon I'll have pictures of my own to show: http://robynandkenny.weddingwindow.com/index.html

As the week progressed, my "morning sickness" started later and later in the day. I began taking the Zofran only once in the afternoon, to last me through the evening. The night of the wedding I did get very sick, however, and spent a half hour vomiting before it was safe to drive home. But that was the worst. Overall it was a wonderful trip.

Hallelujah!!

We had two doctor's appointments this morning. The first was with my OB office. They did an ultrasound and told me the blood clot is gone!!! The Bean is safe! They said it's impossible to know how close the clot was to the sack when it formed, so there is a small chance there could be a weak spot that could cause my water to break early, but again, it's only a slim chance. The risk of miscarriage from this has passed. Hallelujah!!!

My second appointment was for old lady testing, since I'm geriatric in the OB world. I had an ultrasound performed by a maternal fetal medicine specialist to test the thickness of the skin on the baby's neck. That helps detect Down Syndrome and some other defects. It looked very good. They also did blood work to accompany that, and I'll have the results by Friday.

The second ultrasound was awesome! Amy went with me and we got to watch the baby on the screen for about 25 minutes! It was moving all over the place! It reminded me of a baby in a bouncer, because it kept using the wall of the sack to kick off of, and it was jumping up and down on it. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen. We could clearly see the fingers and toes and I attached one of the pictures where it had its feet crossed over its body. A big revelation from that ultrasound is that I'm further along than we thought. They did many measurements and the average of them said that I'm 12 weeks today. So my new due date is February 19, one day before Missy. Mom and Dad are loving that!

Anyway, thank you for your prayers. The Bean is doing so well and I know it's because of all the love being sent to it already. Thank you.