A Little Update

I had a wonderful doctor's appointment yesterday. I was able to see our baby and watch the heart flickering on the screen. The heart rate was 174 and it appears that the baby is around 7 weeks and 5 days (today) which is a little behind what they originally thought. So, they updated the due date to April 4th. There was a cyst I was worried about but the doctor says all is well with that. The type of cyst that is is actually supports the pregnancy and almost always never causes any issues. Yay for a great appointment! I go back at 12 weeks for all the lovely blood work and insurance stuff. The doctor will take a listen to the heartbeat then as well. Moving right along!

After work, Daddy J went home to cut the grass and J-Man and I took some time to play. We started playing cars but after he wrecked with my car and slammed my fingers between two cars, I had enough! So, out came the sidewalk chalk and hopscotch it was.

I love spending time with this little man! We had a great evening. 

Week Eight

Today makes eight weeks. Babycenter.com says:

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

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I have another ultrasound appointment tomorrow. They are going to check the cyst out that they found on my ovary and also try to measure Baby's heartbeat. Baby was way too small to measure last time. I really hope that everything is okay with the cyst and that it is not getting bigger. However, I am more excited to see our little one. Growing. With it's special little heart flicker.

I plan to start my pregnancy progression photos today. Crossing my fingers that I remember. I did look back to find that I started with J-Man's at 7 weeks, so I have to get on the ball!

Woohooo, another week down!



Week Seven

With the baby on the way, I have already started deciding that I have to make sure that what I did/do for J-Man, I have to do with this one as well. Now, remembering what I did for J-Man is going to be the problem. Thinking about my normal forgetfulness on top of mommy-nesia, on top of a pregnant brain, I am just doomed in trying to remember everything I did when I was pregnant with J-Man. Let alone that it was five years ago. However, I do remember providing weekly updates on my blog from babycenter.com. I love to see what is happening each week. I also am amazed at what is going on inside my body - especially so early! So, without further ado...

Week Seven

The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.

*disclaimer: the gender noted is directly from the article. we are not assuming the gender of our baby and will be excited with a boy or girl.

Reflections

We are nearing the end of summer. While we don't have the hustle and bustle of preparing for Kindergarten this year, things seem to still be changing. Maybe I am only feeling this way because it was only 64 degrees this morning when we left the house. Oh, how I am longing for autumn. My favorite season of the year. Such beauty on this earth with just the mere sight of color in our once green leaves. I know this cooler weather is only for a moment because surely next week, summer temperatures will be back. However, it does allow me to sit back and reflect. We need that sometimes.

Not only will leaves be changing, but I will be changing as well. A new life is growing inside of me and I am learning every day that every pregnancy is truly different. I wasn't sick with J-Man and I haven't really been sick with this baby, but the nausea is definitely more prevalent. I feel it mostly in the morning and it eases off when I have breakfast but doesn't completely go away until lunch time. It isn't enough to make me sick, but often times it is just plain bothersome. I don't like the uneasy feelings it offers. Crossing my fingers that it moves along, quickly.

I have to say, my thought processes are much different this time. Having a pregnancy after the loss of one does keep me on edge. I have been very excited to share our news, but a lingering thought continues to rise in the back of my brain - will we make it this time? I am holding tight to the thought that we will have a new little one at the begining of next year. However, there are times when it is a struggle to get passed my emotions. Hormones? Still part of the grief process? Probably a little bit of both.

It has been joyous living this process with a four year old. Just this week, it has seem to sink in for him. He outed the news to the day care workers yesterday and made sure to tell them I was seven weeks. He saw our first ultrasound picture on the table the other day. He brought it to me, upside down, and asked if it was a picture of a tornado. Honestly, it does look like one, but I turned it right side up and explained to him what he was seeing. He smiled and rubbed my belly. Last night before bed, he kissed the baby good night and told it to have sweet dreams. In those "hallmark" moments, you have to just sit back and smile. Then, huge belly laughs come when he explains to someone that he will not be changing the baby's diapers because they stink (while waving his hand in front of his face and scrunching his face the best he can).

This process is new to us (obviously) - having two children. However, I am ready to go for the ride. I am ready to watch my five year old learn in wonder and amazement. I am ready to watch them grow together and be each others best friends. With the good, the bad, and the ugly, I am ready to take this next chapter in stride. Savor each and every moment.

Another Round, Please?!

Yes, I’d love another round of a pillow, freezing cold sheets, a blanket, and a fan.

Ha! You thought I was going to say another round of the cold stuff. Nope, fooled ya!

The sheer excitement of being pregnant is wearing a little thin. Don’t get me wrong, I am so excited to have the opportunity to be “mom” again, but the symptoms are sinking in. Nausea? Nope. Constant urination? Not really. Constipation? Not yet. So, “What then?” you ask? Sleepiness. Constant need of some shut eye. To the point of not really wanting to do anything. at. all. Other than sleep.

I daydream about laying in my bed falling asleep.

This desire is really kind of terrible, especially while trying to work. I did get up and walk around the office yesterday to get the juices flowing again. Today, it is too close to quittin’ time. I am going to go for the long haul, if I can. It is so quiet here today. You would think it was a holiday.

I guess I will remain positive knowing that all this work growing ears, eyes, and a nose will definitely make one tired... I mean God rested too! At least I am able to get out of the bed AND brush my teeth without hurling over the toilet every day. Crossing fingers it will stay that way!