Due Day-December 21st

Well, today is our official due date.....and no baby yet! We went to our Dr. appointment yesterday and I was dilated to a two. Which is progress because the previous week I was at a one. I have to admit, I was wishing I would be a little further along that that, but I'll take what I can get. We talked about scheduling an induction for 41 weeks. Although it's the farthest thing from what I want, we went ahead a scheduled one for the 29th of December at 7am. The reason I scheduled it is because I don't want to get to 42 weeks and them say I have to have a c-section. They cautioned us that an induction could take as long as 3 days to complete. If he hasn't arrived by the 29th, Raj and I will need to talk about what kind of medication we will let them use to induce us. It's not a conversation I ever wanted to have, but will have to decide on it.

Yesterday, I lost my mucus plug. Or at least what I believe was my mucus plug, I was in the shower, cleaning, and there it was...kind of a yellow whitish glob of mucus. I've been having contractions on and off for days now. Some days more painful than others. Saturday night, I thought for sure I was going into labor. The pains lasted for 4 hours and were about every 10 minutes, but once I went to bed, they stopped completely. The back pain was the worst of it. I do not care for that!

I feel like I am ready for him to be born, physically and emotionally. The only thing I'm struggling with is my ability to get the stuff done around the house that I feel needs to be done before his arrival. Raj and I have a long talk last night about him helping me get stuff done. I know it won't be up to my standard, because I have a pretty high standard, but it will be acceptable and I am grateful for his help, and that he is able to be off with me during this time.

It feels good to be off work. I've been off a week now. I don't really think I could have worked during this week. I've been pretty exhausted and spent most of my days in the recliner. Except for Friday, my sisters and mom went to the mall and had pedicures. That was really fun!I had my toes painted blue for a baby boy and the stylist painted a beautiful snowflake with a gem and all on my big toe. Maybe it will help me during labor to have something to look at down there!

Here's hoping he decides on his own to make his big appearance. I sure hope it's soon!

Maternity Leave

Today is my official last day of work...I am so excited to have some time off. The last few weeks have been pretty hard to go to work, just cause I've been so tired, and uncomfortable. It feels good to be leaving, but very strange. I found out from our HR department and from the State, that I have a lot longer than I originally thought I was going to have off. Through the Federal program FMLA I can have 12 weeks of leave. This leave protects my job as well as my benefits no matter if I'm in paid status or not. Then Washington has a seperate program called FLA which covers you for an additional 12 weeks. This program protects your job and will protect your benefits if you are in paid status. If you aren't in paid status then you will have to pay for your health care premiums. I have not fully made my decision if I will take all of the leave...it depends a lot on weather Raj is working full time or not, but it's nice to know that if I want the extra time, I can have it. So I will either be back at the end of February or at the end of April....or perhaps I won't even come back...that's still an option too depending on how things go.

Back Labor???

I've been experiencing quite a lot of back pain. It started around 37 weeks. One night it was so bad, I thought this must be labor and was thinking we might be making a trip to the hospital. The pain went shooting down as far as my knees. I finally went to bed and did some pelvic rocks and it seemed to help. I don't know if he was perhaps lying on a nerve or if it was back labor, but what ever it was, was very painful!

Cradle.....

Grandma and Papa Crawford finished the cradle for baby! It turned out so awesome! Thank you, Thank you!!!!

We have now finished most of the babies room. We put up shelves in the closet and have everything loaded in. We have not bought the crib, but figure we have time to buy that since he won't be in that for a while. Finally feeling like we are ready for him to come!

Week 36...

I am officially 9 months pregnant. One more week and I will be considered full term. They qualifiy full term anywhere between 37 and 40 weeks. What a long time coming this has been. Right when I feel that the baby is finally okay-meaning if he were to be born now he would survive-I start to wonder if I'm ready for him to be born! Kind of a sureal feeling. I am very anxious to meet our son. But still very nervous about the whole process of giving birth and how I will be affected by it. Our bradley classes have done an awesome job on educating us on what to expect for labor and delivery, but I still wonder how I will be affected by it. I'm wondering if my water will break before I start having contractions...if it will break at work...if I will be able to handle the contractions...how quickly I will give birth....lots and lots of questions. Guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Strep B

I was tested last week for Strep B. The results came back yesterday, and I tested positive for it. I was a bit bummed by the diagnosis, but I can't do anything about it, so I'm moving on from it. Basically what it will mean is when I go to deliver I will be given a dose of antibiotics within 4 hours of me delivering and then another one probably after I deliver. If the baby is showing signs of the bacteria, then they will be given a dose of antibitics as well. The antibiotic dose worries me because I didn't want to have to have an IV in during deliver, and I will now have to have one. I need to talk to my Dr. about laboring in the tub to make sure this is still okay. Also I am concerned that if baby is given antibiotics, their gut will be compromised by the loss of good bacteria which could upset their tummy. Because I am allergic to penncillin, and this is typically what they give women for the bacteria, the lab is still working on a sensitivity test to determine what antibiotic will work best for me. Also with this diagnosis, I will have to stay in the hospital longer than we had originally anticipated just so they can watch the baby for signs of the bacteria.

Not so fun stuff....

So the past few weeks, I have been having problems with hemorrhoids. I have never had these before and I never want to have them again! Yuck. What a pain! I had them so bad, I took off 2 days from work so I could rest. My Dr. said I could use an over the counter creme like Preperation H for up to 3 days...but I ended up using it for almost a week. They want you to limit the amount of time you use it because it can thin the skin down there and you don't want it to be thin when delivering. Also she suggested I use pads with which hazel in them, which have really helped. Another remedy I found was to ice the area, or actually rub ice on them....this really helped!

Last Growth Ultrasound....

We had our last growth ultrasound on the 10th of November. From this they guess he is approximately 6.3 lbs. The Dr. says, his weight gain has tapered off a bit, even though he is still considered big. She now thinks he will be anywhere between 8.5-9 lbs. Originally they thought he'd be over 10 lbs. Since it's all an estimate, I'm trying to not concern myself too much with the number...he'll be what he will be!

Here is a profile picture from this ultrasound:

Lots of Aches and Pains

Last Tuesday I began feeling a lot of pains in my lower abdomin. I was concerned that this could be pre-labor. I aske my sisters what they thought. Neither of them knew what it was because it didn't feel like a Braxton Hick contraction. They thought I should call my Dr.'s office...but since I was already scheduled to have a Dr. appt the next morning, I opted to wait and went home and laid down, which helped dramatically. At my Dr.'s appt, she believed the pain I was feeling was my uterus expanding. She said it can be quite painful. But just to make sure she checked to see if I was dialated any. And I am not. She said the cervix is quite soft, which is a good thing, but no dialation yet. She also did a inroom ultrasound on him to check his position. He is still head down! During the ultrasound, she noticed he had already started his practice breathing. This is a very good thing, because if he decided to come early, he is already showing signs that he has lung funciton. Because of this, she said if I go into labor, they will not try and stop it, even though it technically would be pre-term labor.  I was very glad for this.

I have also been experiencing quite a bit of pressure in my groin/pelvis area. Some days it makes it very difficult to take a step. I also am having a hard time bending over to pick up things or put my shoes and socks on.

I have definately been putting on weight the last two weeks, a steady 1-2 lbs each week, which I think is taking a toll on my body. I am up to 18 lbs thus far for the pregnancy. I haven't been eating as well as I had in the beginning, and I should really work on that, and since I have lost most of my energy, and am very tired at night, I have been laying around the house quite a bit more which might have added to the weight gain. My Dr. still insists that I am doing very well with my weight gain, so I am very glad for that.

6 Weeks Left....

Thankfully my hemoroids are doing better. They are still there, but not so painful. Work has been pretty stressful the last few days, today we find out the results of a vote for additional funding. Last night I had a glass of wine to help me relax, it was the first bit of alcohol I've had my entire pregnancy, and although I was reluctant to drink it, it did help me calm down. Hopefully the citizens of Clark County vote yes on Prop 1 tonight and so we can continue providing bus service to those who need it.

Baby is still moving around quite a bit, and I am busy trying to get everything ready for him. Nesting has definately settled in. ;)

Week 34....

As the weeks draw closer to my due date, I have been feeling axious. I am axious to stop working, anxious to go through delivery, and most of all axious to meet our son. Sometimes these feelings tip more towards excitement and sometimes towards fear. I am trying deal with these feelings as they come, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed by them. Other times I am able to handle them without any issues.

I am starting to feel like a walking time bomb. Braxton Hicks contractions are in full swing, and happen daily/nightly. I am also dealing with hemorrhoids. Last week they were very painful, and I took 2 days off of work, just to relax and put my feet up. It helped a lot, and although I do not like calling in sick, I know it was best to do it. I believe I will deliver earlyier than my scheduled due date...it's horrible not knowing when it will happen....it's the ultimate patience test! LOL

Bradley Class #5

Last night's class was very beneficial. Both Raj and I really enjoyed it. We learned about 2nd stage labor and then we practiced labor positions for almost an hour. Amber set up stations around the room where we could try out various positions during a contraction. We really liked the positions in the bathroom and the positions with a ball the most. I found out I like to "move" or "sway" when I'm in pain and they said that's good to realize the types of things you do to relax. We are also considering hiring a doula for the labor. Amber's friend and midwife, Pita, has been coming to our class, and Raj and I think we'd like to hire her as our Doula. She is a certified Mid-wife, a doula, and has previously been an EMT. So she's very knowledgable and we feel we can trust her, plus she seems really caring. We haven't decided quite yet, but that's what are thinking.

Baby dropping....

I realized on Sunday that my belly looked alot lower than it had. I asked Raj if he could noticed, and sure enough he said, yep. Monday, I started to feel pain in my anus and after some investigating, turns out I have hemorrhoids. Oh joy! Ironically I have never had them before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. So far they aren't too bad. Since I haven't been constipated and I've been drinking alot of water and eating fiber foods, plus a fiber pill, I believe I got them from him dropping further down and pressure is being applied lower than it had been. I emailed my Dr, to find out what she recommends for them. Basically, use Witch hazel, dont' stand/sit too long at a time, drink lots of water, and eat fiber, only use medication cremes for three days or less. I also researched them, and discovered that icing the area helps, so I've been doing that in the morning and at night. I'm hoping they clear up before I have him....

Baby Shower....

Last weekend, my sisters, Angela and Mandy threw me the best baby shower! I was really nervious to have a shower, because I didn't know if anyone would come, and I don't like being the center of attention...but because of tradition, I went along with it anyways. And I'm so glad I did, because we had such a good time, and Raj and I received some great gifts from our friends and family. I'll post some pictures of the day once I get them from Angela.

Bradley Class 3 & 4

Class 3 we learned about how we tense up and what our partners need to do to help us relax that part of our body. I tend to tense up in my face and shoulders first, but also realized I carry tension in my lower back. We also discussed circumcision. I had always been leaning towards having it done, while Raj was leaning towards not having it done. Our instructor is not a fan of it, and while she tried to give us both sides, she was pretty biased, but she did acknowledge that she is biased in this subject and encouraged us to do our own research on the subject. This has really been the only part in our pregnancy where I had wished we were having a girl for the meer fact that I wouldn't have to make this decision. So in our investigation, we looked online for research into the pro's and cons of this surgery. We also watched some youtube videos of the procedures, and I asked around both my family and friends on what they had done for their sons. Overwhelmingly, everyone I asked had had the procedure done. We finally asked our Dr, her thoughts on it, and she explained that it was elective surgery, and that there really was no medical necessity for it except in rare occations. For me, the tipping of the scale came when I actually saw a surgery being performed on an infant. I was almost in tears watching it being performed. I cannot believe they do not give the child anything for pain. We still have not made our final decision, but both of us are now leaning towards not having the surgery done.

Class number 4, Raj was not able to attend with me, he had to work late, I was kind of bummed by it cause we went over first and second stage of labor, but our instructor said we would go over it more at the next class, so that made me feel better. We learned alot, but even so, I still feel pretty unprepared of the various stages. I'm hoping next class will help it all come together for me. I have made up my mind that I will not have an epidural during the labor. This was a huge decision for me, one that took weeks to decide, but now that I have made my decision, I feel confident in it and feel like I am gaining the confidence to have a natural birth.

Surprise Baby Shower-Work

On Wednesday my co-workers through me a surprise baby shower. We had a lot of fun, had some great food, and got a lot of nice presents. Here are a few pictures from the party. One of the best parts of the shower was Julyla came for it and brought her daughter Allison, or Princess Alice as she's being called. She is so adorable and I loved getting to hold her!

The Potluck:

 Some of the gifts:

 Me holding Allison:

Week 30 Ultrasound

We had another ultrasound this week to measure how large baby is. They estimate his weight at 4.7 lbs. Still about a l lb over what they'd like him to be.  A few days later we had our pre-natal appt with our new Dr, Dr. Wright. I really like her, but am sad that Dr. Hicks won't be with us anymore. Dr. Wright talked with us about his weight and wanted us to prepare ourselves for a possible c-section if he's still measureing large when we deliver. I expressed to her that I do not want a c-section and would make a determination on that at the last moment if we were to run into problems during birth. I explained that we want to have a natural child birth with no medications and would like to labor in water. She was very receptive to our wants and signed our form for a water labor. Even though we are going to deliver at SW Washington, and they allow their patients to birth in the water, because we have Kaiser insurance, Kaiser will only let us labor in the tub, we have to get out and birth the baby on the bed. I'm okay with this, but don't like that there are so many restrictions on birthing in general.

Other than that, the Dr. appointment went well. We go again in 4 weeks, and then after that start our 2 week appointments.

Here is a picture from our ultrasound. It's he so adorable!

We are registered...

Last week, we registered for our baby shower. My sister's Mandy and Angela are planning one for me on October 22nd. We registered at Amazon.com, Baby's R Us, and Target. Raj went with me to Baby's R Us...it took us a long time to register, and I was compeltely exhausted after it. But it was alot of fun and I felt good at the decisions we made on the things we need for the baby. I am expecially excited about the stroller we picked out! Also a pretty cool policy they have is anything left on your register that hasn't been purchased, you can buy at a discount of 10% off! Pretty cool!

Bradley Method Classes 1 & 2

We started our Bradley Method classes series last week. I was really anxious to go to the first meeting...just curious what it would be like and wondered if I'd like the instructor and what not. After the class, I felt really good about it. I was surprized at how many couples are in the class...typically there are 5 or so couples, but we have double that! But it's been really cool to get to meet everyone so far, I hope at least with some of the couples we can stay connected after the class.

The first week we learned about relaxation techniques as well as exercises we should be doing and read an article on epidurals that was very informative. The second week, we focused on nutrition. While I was studying our homework on nutrition, I found myself concerned about how much weight I have gained, and wondering if I've increased my blood volume enough. In these classes, they concentrate more on the types of food you are eating, rather than the amount of weight you are gaining. I am totally fine with that, but I haven't gained that much weight, so it concerns me that my blood volume hasn't doubled like it should. The blood volume is important for many reasons, but mainly because it is providing nutrients to your uterus, a muscle that needs to grow considerably during your pregnancy (from 2 oz to 2 lbs). If this doesn't increase you can have problems during delivery with it contracting properly, which could hinder your progress in labor. Also we learned the importance of protein in our diet. I should strive to eat about 100 grams of protein a day. After tracking my food intake, it appears I do a pretty good job of this, but will try and concentrate more on eating protein from now on and less carbs.

I have all but decided I will not be betting a epidural for my labor. I am basing this on a couple of things. I want to experience the natural progression of labor and don't want to hinder it by putting drugs in my body. Also, I don't want to deliver a baby that is drugged up. A small percentage of me is worried about the side effects of the medication on me both temporary and long term. I am not completely confident yet to say I am doing it without an epidural. I am hoping that these classes will help me gain the confidence to say for sure that I will do it naturally, but as of right now, it is my wish to do it naturally.

Shopping...

Last weekend I headed out second hand shopping for some baby things. Raj had to work, and it was raining and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my day! I was going to try and go to some garage sales, but most had been canceled because of the rain, so I decided to hit second hand stores. It's always a fun adventure and you never know what you might find!

First I hit the Good Will in Fisher's Landing. I can always find good stuff there. And this trip didn't disappoint. I found a brand new bouncer seat that vibrates for $20! I was so excited. I also got a couple outfits and a pair of shoes and some baby towels. I then went to Spankies. I found a jack-pot of name-brand clothes there! I probably got 10 to 12 outfits plus a bunch of onsies (Calvin Klein baby)! Next I headed to my old stomping grounds, Once Upon a Child. At this point, I was feeling a bit tired, and when I walked in there and saw all the stuff they had, I felt completely overwhelmed. I looked around a bit...they have a TON of stuff there, and finally decided on a set of baby bibs. After there, I took a quick look at the Value Village on 4th Plain and the Good Will on 4th Plain, but didn't come up with much, just a crib sheet.

I had a great time looking for things for baby. Once I got home, I decided I needed to do an inventory of everything I've received so far for the baby. So I got everything out, and washed and the organized into size/category. Then I made an inventory of everything I had in word. Call me anal...but it felt really good to get it all done!

We have an accrobat inside of me!

Two days ago, I was startled by movements the baby was doing inside of me. It felt like he did a complete flip inside of me! It was completely crazy! I've never seen my belly move like that before. He is definately very active, especially at night and he seems to like to kick or punch down near my bladder...which is not very fun for me! But I do love to feel him move inside....so I'll take it!

I passed!!!

I took the horrible 3 hour glucose test last week, and thankfully I passed it! I was so relieve to get the news. The first hour of the test was the worst and it got better each additional hour. It just suckes that you have to wait in the office for 3 hours 1/2 hours.

How big is baby???

Last Thursday we had another ultrasound to determine how big the baby is. During my monthly prenatal appointment, the Dr. tried to measure me, but couldn't so they sent me for an ultrasound. We found out he is already 2.9 lbs which is about a pound over what he should be. He's in the 95th percentile for weight. Big boy!!! At this rate, they estimate he will be 10 lbs at birth....a bit large for my comfort! They said it could just be genetics....we do tend to have large babies in our family...and I was 9.6, or it could be due to gestational diebetes. So, I had my glucose test done, and it came back high. They want it to be under 131 and mine came back 152. Bummer! So tomorrow I go in for a 3 hour fasting test. I am not looking forward to it, but know it's necessary. Also they did blood work and found out I am borderline anemic. The results weren't off the chart, so they aren't recommending I take anything, besides maybe trying to eat more iron in my diet...but this could explain why I've been so tired.

At my Dr. appt on Monday, I had gained 5 lbs. The Dr. said this was till fine. It puts my total to 10lbs so far for the pregnancy...which I think is good, but she only wants me to gain between 11 and 20 lbs for the whole pregnancy. I have noticed this week especially, I feel like I am wanting to eat all the time...and my heartburn has been really bad. I have also noticed I feel foggy after I eat, and I'm curious to find out if this could be from low blood sugar.

At any rate, whether or not the fasting test comes back high again, I am going to start on a diabetic diet. I think either way it will help me and baby. I do not want to be forced into a c-section and that's exactly what they will do if the baby is still measuring 10 lbs or more once we get closer to his birth.

Weight Gain...

Well, the weight gain has officially set in. I appear to be gaining 1 lb a week pretty consistantly for the past 3 weeks. While I realize this is healthy....I still can't get it in my head that it's okay. I just hope it stays at 1 lb a week and doesn't go any higher than that!

Somethings I've noticed that are harder to do than before are putting on my shoes and socks, and rolling over in bed...especially if I have a full bladder! LOL

I have also noticed my belly button starting to feel smaller when I clean it. It hasn't popped out yet, but I'm thinking it probably will by the end of my pregnancy.

Name choices....

Well, we thought we were pretty sure about Alex for his name...but recently we have been looking into other options. We have been calling him Alex since we found out the sex, and some days it fits and other days it doesn't. Quite honestly, I don't think any name will feel right until we see our little guy. So right now we are looking at Indian names. We thought it might be nice to incorporate Raj's heritage into his name. Ironically, one of the names we like just happens to be a name similar to one of the name choices Raj's family was going to name Raj. Raj wasn't officially named until he was 18 years old, they had always called him Raj, but wanted an amerian sounding name for his official name. At one point, they were going to name him Rajravi to incorpororate Raj. However, he ended up with the name Charles Rajnaud Parsons. He has disliked this name, for the mear fact that people get confused with it. His legal name is totally different from what people call him. At anyrate, we are looking into changing is name officially. Back to my point- We really like the name Ravi, so we are adding that as an option to the list.

Kick, Kick, Kick....

Baby is all about kicks the last few weeks. It feels as if Raj should be able to feel him by now since they feel so strong, but he still can't. Dr. said it will probably be a few more weeks before Raj will be able to feel them on the outside (bummer). Baby likes to spend his time on my right side, which is not very comfortable, or down low near my bladder...which is also not very comfortable. And the last few nights I've noticed he has been pretty active at night...which keeps me up...and makes me tired in the morning. Oh well....it still feels awesome to feel him move around. :)

Dr. Appt-Week 22

I had my last Dr. appt last Monday. Thankfully my Dr. was back from vacation, but unfortunately we found out she is also pregnant...and due at the end of October...so I will need to find another Dr. for my remaining two months of pregnancy. She will be available come post pregnancy for which I was very glad, since I really like her. We heard the heart beat and she measured my belly to see how far along I was measuring. She said I was measuring larger than I should, which didn't surprize her. Apparently most women who start their pregnancy over weight tend to measure larger. So to accurately track his growth progress we will have an ultrasound every 4 weeks. I am kind of excited to get to see him every 4 weeks, and hoping his growth is normal. He was fine at the last ultrasound, so I'm not too worried. Ironically, my mother said she always measured father along than what she should even though her weight has never been over what it should be.

At my next appt, I will have to do the fasting glucose test again to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes. Like last time, when I had this done, I am nervous for this. I do not want to have this problem. My sister Mandy was diagnoised with this about a month ago. She's had to change her whole diet, which she said, has actually been very helpful and she's even lost a few pounds in her 3rd trimester.

And then a week after I have that test, I will have to go in for my RH- shot. I've heard these really hurt....so not really looking forward to doing it...but it's necessary, so we'll do it.

Aches and Pains....

So far, I think i've been pretty lucky with this pregnancy. I had morning sickness, but nothing severe. Now that I am almost 6 months, and you can definately tell I am pregnant, I've started to have various aches and pains. It started a few weeks ago with swelling in my feet and hands. I've since been a bit more careful about how much salt I've been having and elevating my feet at work occationally and when I get home from work.

Also, I've been having a quite a bit of back pain. It's either in my lower back, or upper back. Raj has been helping with giving me back rubs, which helps quite a bit. I really notice it when I've been walking around alot like when we were at the Fair. I was in alot of pain and had to stop and take breaks and have Raj rub my back...it helped for a while, but after a few hours, it didn't matter what we did. We finally left, I was exhausted, but it was still alot of fun.

The other issue I've been having is heart burn. Some days are worse than others. It seems to hit me when I am hungry and have nothing in my stomach, and also after I've eaten...it's worse at night...tums are my friend right now!!

Other than that, I am feeling really well, and actually like being pregnant and feeling Alex inside of me!

Week 20

Well, I am officially halfway through my pregnancy. Although some weeks have dragged on, for the most part it has gone by pretty fast. So I guess I can start counting down to your arrival! 139 days approximately until we meet you!

This week I have seen my weight start to go up. I gained 2 lbs this last week. I think it was mainly water, because my feet have been swelling the past few days, and today I was down one pound. So right now I weigh 273.6 and my belly is measuring 50".

And I am finally starting to look pregnant instead of just having a fat tummy, which is quite a bit nicer for my ego! LOL

It's a Boy!!!

We found out on Monday that we are expecting a boy! I totally knew the whole time it was a boy. When the tech first said, I think there's a penis right there, it was no surpirse to me. I would of been totally surprised if she would of said it was a girl. Even though she thought it was a boy, I didn't fully believe it till she got a good picture of it....which she finally did...and then it started to sink in. This little think i've been carrying around with me for the last almost 5 months is going to be my son!

During the ultrasound the baby was on my right side the whole time facing up and breach. He also had his legs crossed in an indian style. Raj kept commenting on how he was practicing his yoga positions already. He was also sucking his thumb, which made me a little nervous, because I sucked my thumb and had to have years of braces...but the tech said, babies who suck in the womb usually attach better to the breast, so I'll consider that good news for now. When the tech said, I'm gonna need him to turn over so I can get his spine, so I may need you to go for a walk, all of the sudden, he walked right around my stomach and flipped over! What a good boy!!!

So far, the baby looked healthy. I was very relieved because my friend Julyla just received horrible news that her little girl is very ill. She is 15 weeks ahead of me. They found out her baby Allison has downs, had a heart defect, and had fluid built up in her body. She is a very sick girl, and we are all hoping for a miracle baby! I was also relieved to know that the baby is a healthy weight. He is weighing in around 10 oz which is exactly what he should be at this stage. I was so relieved because I have only gained 1 lb however the morning of the ultrasound when I weighed, I had lost another 2 lbs. Thankfully the baby is taking everything it needs from what I eat and leaving me with the left overs!

As far as a name, we still like the name Alex. So for right now we are trying it out to see if it sticks.

18 Weeks Photo

Look how fat my belly has gotten!!! LOL

Week 17 Appointment

Yesterday we had a prenatal appointment. Unfortunately our regular Doctor wasn't available so we had to meet with another Doctor. Luckily for us, the new Doctor, Dr. Wright was really nice and we will use her again if Dr. Hicks is unavailable in the future. We are scheduled to have our ultrasound next Monday. We are so very excited to find out the sex and to see another picture of the baby. Also at this appointment I finally had gained 1 lb according to the Dr's scale. My scale at home still says the same 272.2.

First Movements....

Last week, Thursday to be exact, I felt the baby move for the first time! Thursday was the start of week 15. At first I felt it on my left side at the start of my lunch. Then it switched to the center. Once I finally realized what it was, I was very excited! Now I feel the baby all the time. It feels sort of like a small pinch to me. Usually I feel it just before I eat and after I eat. It's a pretty sureal feeling. I can't wait until Raj is able to feel the baby move!

Pregnancy Picture-Week 14

I haven't taken many pictures of me pregnant so far, but here's one from last week. Raj and I took a trip to Newport Oregon. We had a lovely time relaxing and exploring the city. Raj took a picture of me on the beach with Ollie and you can kind of see my belly showing.

Gender decision....

We have finally made the decision to find out the sex of our baby. Raj ultimately left it up to me to decide. I went back and forth with it, but finally decided I couldn't wait...I am too much of a planner! Now that we've decided, the day can't come soon enough! We are scheduled for an Ultrasound July 25th. Hopefully everthing will look good during the ultrasound and that we are able to tell the sex!

15 Weeks!

Today marks 15 weeks into my pregnancy. You are about the size of an orange now! I can't believe how fast you are growing! Within the last 4 days, my stomach has grown an inch! It's just all of the sudden protruding out! The nausiousness and most of the tiredness has gone away. A new symptom I've been dealing with is gagging on foods or gagging when I brush my tongue in the morning. Not very fun!

I have stayed the same weight for the last several weeks. I am at 273lbs, my stomache is measuring at 59 inches and my hips are at 57 inches. Last night Raj and I went and brough new bra's for me. I can't believe it, but I had to buy at 44 DD...wow! Hopefully they don't get any bigger than this!

I am experiencing pain in my groin area. It seems to hit me when I am tired, or when I have to have a bowel movement. I also feel it when I go from sitting to standing. Sometimes it is very painful. I think I will ask my doctor if she knows what it is from.

Other than that, I am feeling pretty good. :)

First Trimester: Done!!!

Today marks the end of our First Trimester! Hopefully this means I will start to feel better soon. Actually, I have already begun to notice a change. I've only been nauseous a few days this week, as compared to the past several weeks where it's been an ongoing daily occurance. Thankfully, no throwing up yet! I sure hope I passed the bullet on that one!

I have been having a hard time sleeping lately. Mainly because I am getting up sometimes twice a night to the bathroom. It is very frusturating. Also, I am beginning to show. To some it might just look like a fat tummy, but since I've lost 9 lbs...I know it's not fat! LOL Today for the firs time, I had a co-worker remark how pretty I looked. She said I was glowing. :) Made me feel good, cause this morning I had bags under my eyes from a lack of sleep.

Last weekend your mom became a college graduate! We drove to LaGrande Thursday night to take part in all of the festivities...Friday night was the awards ceremony (I graduated with Cum Laude status) and Saturday was commencement ceromony. My parents also drove over to watch me graduate. We had a great weekend and thankfully nice weather for the outside ceremony. I still haven't gotten used to the fact that I am not on a break and I am actually done with school! I have so many things I want to accomplish! Now I just have to regain my energy so I can get them all done!

2nd Dr. Appt

Today we had our 2nd Dr. Appt. Dr. Hicks checked the heartbeat, but it was too hard to find, so she used the Ultrasound to see the heart beat. Everything looked good. We also made our appt for our Ultrasound. In this one, we will make sure the heart is developed and check the sex of the baby. Can't wait to see it again!

Blood Work Results...

Last week, while I was sick, I had to go in and complete all of my first trimester blood work, including a 1 hr glucose test, and a few genetic tests. I am so thankful for great insurance! We didn't have to pay anything for all the blood work!

Here are the tests that were performed. All some back fine!

Antibody Screen- Negative
CBC WO DIFF
Urinalysis
Blood Type O
RH Type Negative
Thyroid TSH
Glucose 1hr
Syphillis

The genetic test are still coming back, but so far everything looks good. The downsyndrome chance was 1 out of 809. They offered us another ultrasound test that measures the thickness of the back of the neck to get a more accurate number, but I think I'm fine with number we got. 

Week 11....

Well, we are at week 11. I have been so sick....but not from morning sickness, I have bronchitis. It started last Wednesday. I finally went to the Doctor on Monday because I continued to feel worse. After a quick exam, he diagnosed me with bronchitis, gave me some antibiotics, and put me off work for a week. I thought, no way will I need a week to recover...boy was I wrong! Being pregnant and sick, is horrible. I have been so exhausted. Today is Friday, and I am finally feeling a bit more like myself.....but still being cautious and trying to not do too much. The antibiotics I was given, have really been upsetting my stomach. I was given a Z-pack. Raj said it's a known side effect...but since I am allergic to other antibiotics, and you have to be careful about the baby, I've stuck with them. Today is my last pill...Thank God!

Today I also decided to start washing the baby gift/clothes we've received so far. I figured if I wash them as I get them, it will be a lot less work to do at the end.

It's hard to believe I am almost out of my 1st trimester. For the most part, my morning sickness has ended...every once in a while I feel ill, but not like I had. Very thankful for that! And I am happy to announce, so far no puking! yay. I really hate to puke! I've noticed my stomach has been protruding out more this past week. My waste is at 49 and my hips at 56.5. My weight is at 272....yes I'm still loosing.

I have one last project to do before I graduate, it's due on Monday...so this is my official last weekend of doing school work. I am so excited to be finally done! I just have to muster up the motivation to complete it! I can do it...I've come this far...not gonna mess it up now! LOL. Next Thursday night, Raj and I are heading to La Grande for my graduation ceremony. Saturday's the big day. I also found out I am graduating with honors. I was so excited to find this out! All that hard work paid off!

Our First Baby Gift

We have had quite a busy last week. Raj had to attend one last week of school and then this weekend he graduated! Your dad became a Dr! We are so proud of him!

We received our first baby gift this week from Rachel and Cece. Raj went to school with them. We got the cutest outfit that says, My daddy Rocks! and a package of receiving blankets and a fluffy blanket. They are so cute!

Ultrasound-8 Weeks

We had our ultrasound today. It was really amazing to hear the heart beat! The tech got some great pictures. We couldn't believe how clear they were compared to the one that we saw at our first appointment!

We also made it public on Facebook today. Wow, we've received a ton of congrats and well wishes!!!! It feels good to have everyone finally know.

8 Weeks....

We have reached 8 weeks! Our little baby is the size of a raspberry! Hard to image how much it's grown in just a short time! When I mearsured this week, I was down to 276.4 lbs and my waste measured 49" and my hips stayed the same at 57". I have been feeling very sick, and very tired....thankfully no throwing up yet! Yesterday was a good day, and I felt fine all day...it was a rare occation, but very nice for a change!

Telling Work...

Yesterday, I told work that we are expecting a baby in December. I can't beieve how exstatic everyone was! It is great to have so much support from everyone. I was very nervous to tell people at work. I think part of me is still worried about miscarrying, and that worry, makes me not want to share our news, but I realize that I will need support no matter what happens. And I have to stop thinking about all the bad things that could go wrong, and concentrate on the good!

Here are all the well wishe's so far we've received from work:

Congratulations. Being a parent is the hardest and absolutely best thing I have ever done. You will be a wonderful mother.

Congratulations, you’ll be a fantastic mother and the both of you will be great parents.

How wonderful! Congratulations to both of you.

Congratulations!

No wonder you looked like you were beaming  - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!  I AM SOOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU

2011 is turning into quite the year for you – WOW       I’m just really excited – good thing I’m over here or I’d be hugging on you!!

Wow Deena, what wonderful news!!  Congratulations to you and Raj!!

Congratulation!  Wow, two new Passenger Service Reps in one year!  I am happy for you!

Wow, that's a surprise!!  This is great news for 2011!!  I'm very happy for you. Lots of new babies this year for work and your family. 3 in one year for the family.

Congratulations to both of you

Ok  -   now I’m crying, I’m such a sap when it comes to babies!!

Congratulations and Best Wishes.  This is very exciting.  How is Oliver handling the news? 

Another baby! Congratulations Deena !

Oh my goodness, I’m so excited for you!  Congratulations!  Is this why you weren’t feeling well?  I sort of wondered.

YAY!!! I am so excited for you!!!

Along with these, I've had lots of hugs from others expressing their well wishes as well!

*The 2nd baby that some of the comments refer to are regarding another co-worker, Julyla, who is also pregnant and due in September. We have affectionately been labeled, Momma 1 and Momma 2!

A Tiny Little Heart Beat

Yesterday was our first prenatal appointment. I was nervous for it, just because I wasn't sure what all was going to happen. I really love my Dr., Dr. Hicks. She is awesome. She did the vaginal ultrasound first. It was such a great experience being able to see the tiny little heart beat on that screen. I can't believe it was beating so fast! Unfortunately, due to a rather old machine, the Dr. was not able to get a good picture of the baby, or get it measured to determine a due date. Because of this, we are going on Friday to Salmon Creek to get a real ultrasound done. I'm very excited to see the baby again. After the ultrasound, I will complete the blood work tests that need to be done.

I was a little concerned that there was a problem with the baby, but the dr, reassured me that the baby was fine, it was just the machine that was having problems. I felt a lot better after she said that!

After the vaginal ultrasound, she procedded with the pap test and breast exam. I think it's horrible that they do a breast exam when your breasts are so tender. I was in so much pain last night because of it. They feel like they are bruised! After this, the Dr, went over alot of information. We decided to do some genetic testing, along with the other blood work I need done. I am also going to do a glucose test with my blood work. Typically you wait to do that until about 20 weeks, but because I am over weight, she wants to do it ahead of time, just to make sure everything is okay. We are also rechecking my thyroid because I have a family history of thyroid disease.

We were given a huge packet of information, which Raj and I went over last night. It also contained a dvd that we watched, and it was actually really helpful. We need to fill out our registration for the hospital next, and schedule a hospital walk through. There are also a few classes we are thinking of taking.

Last night, I was so exhausted. I'm not sure if it was because I worked earlier, or just because it was an emotional day, but I seriously ached last night. Unfortunately, I didn't sleep well last night, so today I woke up just as tired. I'm hoping I can take a small nap at lunch and that it will revitalize me.

Also, yesterday we mailed out our pregnancy announcements. I'm expecting to be getting some excited calls either today or tomorrow!

It's Out Of The Bag....Kind Of...

Well, this weekend, for Mother's Day, we told our parents that we are pregnant. We were both a little nervous and excited.

We told Raj's family on Saturday. We had his grandmother, who is blind, open the booties. She couldn't tell what they were, but his mom knew right away and gasped. I finally told her they were baby booties. She looked puzzled, and said, what am I going to do with these...So I said, well, I think that means you are going to be a great-grandmother. She then got it, and was really excited. Everyone was very excited and shocked.

We told my family on Sunday. My mom was busy talking about my Grandmother, while she was opening up the gift. All of the sudden she stopped when she opened it, and said, You're Pregnant??? Then my dad's ear's perked up and he said, What, She's pregnant. And I said, Yes. They were both very excited!

7 Weeks...

Today we are officially at 7 weeks...only 33 more to go! LOL The last week, I have really been feeling like I am pregnant...thankfully no throwing up yet, but very nauseous. I've been drinking a lot of ginger-ale and actually my "sea bands" have been really helping. I've been having some issues with food...onions are a big one and then just randomly food will start making me gag. Raj doesn't quite understand, but either do I really. There are a few particular smells that are have been bothering me. One is the smell of the dryer going...smells like dirty socks or feet. Yuck. And then last night, raj was steaming green beans, and they smelled horrible. Also the smell of coffee sets me off.

I measured today, I've been trying to measure each week, and I've grown inch in my stomach (48), hips are still the same (57). I had weighed myself during the week, and it appeared like i had gained 3 lbs, but today I was back down to my same weight, (276) so I'm not sure if it's just water weight or the fact that I haven't been eating as much because I've been nauseous...I'm not sure, but I'm glad I'm staying within a weight range. I am very nervous of gaining too much weight as I am already over weight to begin with.

I have been very tired this week, opting to take naps when I get home, and occasionally taking a small one in the car during lunch. I've noticed a small amount of swelling in my feet, so I am keeping them elevated when I get home for about 10 minutes. And we are still walking most nights.

Look What I Got For Free.....

Last night on our walk we went by a house in the neighborhood that had a few free items placed outside. Just our luck, one item was a stroller and the other item was a table saw. Something for both of us! Here is a picture of the stroller. It's in pretty good condition, and will work when the baby is a bit older, but who can beat free!

Being Tired Sucks...

I am quickly learning that I cannot do what I think I can do. This hit me while we were cleaning out our garage on Sunday. I can't lift anything heavy for starters, which made me feel really bad for Raj because he had to lift all the heavy stuff by himself, but also, I had to take breaks all the time. By 8pm, I was so exhausted, I had to go inside and put my feet up while Raj finished bringing everything inside. It's very frustrating not to be able to help. I felt so exhausted, my entire body hurt and I still feel tired today.

Another symptom I am feeling right now is cold. I am constantly cold, and cant' seem to warm up. I just want to put a warm pack on me, or take a really hot shower...but since I've been told that is bad for the baby, I have resulted to layers...lots of layers! Yesterday it was 70 degrees outside, and I put on my long underwear! LOL

My New Pants Came!!

I absolutely LOVE my new maternity pants! I don't want to ever take them off. They are so comfortable and just what I needed for work. Now I think I need to buy some jean maternity pants for the weekend! I got my pants Motherhood. They were $29 each. Well worth it!

One another note, today I started feeling pretty crappy around 3 in the afternoon. It just hit me all of the sudden. I finally got a sprite and that seemed to help. Wow. It's crazy how quickly it comes on!

Quiesiness

Just one day shy of 6 weeks, and the quiesiness I had hoped would pass me by is staring right in my face. I was fine this morning while I was getting ready for work, but as soon as I started driving to work, I started feeling it. Now that I'm at work, it's gotten worse. I'm drinking water and a ginger ale, hopeing it will pass, but so far it hasn't. Julyla suggested I eat some crackers...I really dont' feel like eating anything, but I've heard an empty stomach is worse for this...so I'll probably have to eat something soon.

Here we go.....

First Baby Purchase....

This weekend we bought our first baby item. They are actually a gift for our mothers when we tell them we are expecting. We got them at Walmart. They are the cuttest littlest baby booties ever! I love them.

First Craving...

Sunday morning...around 4am...I woke up wanting suger cookies with white frosting. I couldn't get it out of my mind. Raj really didn't want to make them for me...but he finally did. They were so delicious! Thanks hun!! Love you!

Baby Names...

Raj and I have not decided if we are going to find out the sex of our baby, so until then, we are keeping things gender neutral. Which means we need to come up with a boy and a girl name. Last night we started discussing baby names. Raj has always liked Alex for a boy, and I have always liked Lilly for a girl. Luckly we both like these names. Now for a middle name. Here are some we've come up with.

Boy:

Alex Javier
Alex James
Alex Eugene
Alex Thomas

Girl:

Lilly Mae
Lilly Grace
Lilly Marie
Lillie Kate
Lilly Jane
Lilly Rae

The First Feeling of Sickness Due to a Smell...

This morning, one of my co-workers made coffee in our office. The smell wofted over to my cubicle, and I thought I was going to throw up. I started drinking my water, and then I remembered I had some lotion in my drawer, so I quickly got that out and started smelling that. It seemed to help a little. I finally ate a cracker and drank more water and that finally did the trick. I hope she doesn't make coffee every morning!

I Love My New Sleeping Bra!

Last night we went to JC Penny's and I got a sleeping bra. It was so comfortable last night...I didn't want to take it off this morning. It was so nice to finally sleep and not wake up in pain ever time I moved. Also, last night I was having some cramping. It started when I got home from work, and lasted most of the evening. I tried putting a rice pack on it, but I was too worried about the heat from it, so I took that off. Eventually I fell asleep, and woke up without any pain. I wonder how long the cramping lasts?

Want List: Baby Seat/High Chair

With how small our house is, I worry about how much stuff a baby needs and where we will put all this stuff. We'd like to get items that do double duty and will last for several growing stages as well as hopefully fold up. This should cut down on the amount of money we are spending as well as the amout of clutter in our house! I've been researching baby seats and high chairs. Traditional high chairs seem so large. I'm not sure we could even fit one in our kitchen, so I've been thinking maybe a seat would be better to feed the baby in.

Here are some I've found:

 I like this one because it goes from infant through toddler. I found at Amazon and is made by Fisher-Price.

I've heard great things about Bumbo chairs, and you can get the table attachment which would make feeding the baby a lot easier.

                                 

And this baby chair fastens to a regular adult chair and transports easily. It also comes with a toy attachment for baby's entertainment. I found this one at Amazon and is made by Fisher-Price.

As far as traditional high chairs go, my mom has this one. Ikea makes it. I like it cause it's very small and practical.





Want List: Bath Tub

A long time ago, I stumbled upon a baby bathtub that I thought was genious. It completely folds up and can be used in small sinks. It's called a Puj Tub. I just love it!



Then today I stumbled upon this bath tub. It's called a Primo Euro Tub and is sold over at Diapers.com

First Two People Know...

Last night I told Julyla and Beth that we were expecting. They were shocked and excited! It was so nice to tell them...I've been waiting all week to tell them and it's been driving me crazy not saying anything. It was good to ask them questions and just talk about it. This morning both of them told me it had finally settled in and that they were sooooo excited! I can't wait to tell our family's now....only a month longer before we spill the beans!

Another Weird Dream....

So last night, I had a horrible time staying asleep. My boobs hurt, and according to Raj, my asthma was actign up. But that is probably because I was around cats last night. Also, I was really hot last night so I kept tossing and turning. Anyways, my dream last night, I was at a bar with some friends and I got hungry. Instead of ordering something from the bar, I decided to eat my cell phone. The back of my phone was a pizza...and it was so good! Everyone thought I was weird, but it tasted good. After I had eaten half of it, I then contemplated how I was now going to use my phone since I'd just eaten most of it.....

Want List: Bedding

Raj and I have been contemplating if we should find out the sex of the baby. We won't make a determination until our scheduled ultrasound, but if we do decide to wait, I think we will go with a green and brown nursery. I've seen a couple I like so far.

These three were found at Baby SuperMall:

and this one was found at Carousel Designs:

Want List: Moby Wrap

Periodically I will post things I want to get for the new baby. I stumbled upon this today. It's called a Moby Wrap. My sister used this with her little ones and it really helped with cranky babies. Around $40....seems like a great deal!

A Really Strange Dream...And Am I Really Pregnant????

Today I woke up feeling anxious. I had dreampt that we were on vacation and a tsunami hit. Recently several cities in Japan was devestated by a huge earthquake and subsequent tsunami. In my dream, there were three total tsumami's that hit and each time they hit, we were in the water trying to paddle through the huge waves. It was like we were on a roller coaster in the water and I kept grabbing dead bodies. At times it seemed like they were holding onto me and trying and drag me down. I woke up at 6am and couldn't fall asleep. While I was lying there, I started to wonder if I was actually pregnant. So, I decided to take another pregnancy test. Well, it too was positive...so I guess that means I really am pregnant. I guess the only real way to tell is by a blood test, but I feel much more confident now that I've taken two and both were positive!

When to Spill the Beans....

It has been so hard for me to not say anything to anyone that we are expecting. I've wanted this for so long and want to share our good news with everyone. However, we have decided to wait to tell our families until Mother's Day, which is May 8th...the day before our first appointment. Unfortunately we won't have our first picture, but we've come up with a cute way to tell them without it. We think we are going to tell our parents by wrapping up a pair of baby booties for their Mother's Day presents, and then when they open them, we will tell them that we are expecting! However for my sisters, I want to come up with a clever pregnancy announcement and put the ultrasounds picture in it. I'm thinking something like this-  I found at littleangelannouncements.com

I am planning on telling my two friends from work tomorrow. It's been really hard for me to not say anything to them. The reason I am telling them before our families is for one, Julyla is pregnant and I have a lot of questions I want to ask her, and two, Beth is my Wednesday night Tip Top partner and if I'm not drinking beer...she's gonna know something's up. Tomorrow we are getting together for dinner and a movie and I'm going to tell them then. I can't wait to see the look on their faces!

1st Doctor Appointment Scheduled

Yesterday I emailed my doctor, however I got a response back that she would be out of the office for 3 weeks, thankfully a nurse from the OB department called me and helped me schedule my first appointment. She also gave me lots of instructions on things I should and shouldn't be doing and helped me determine the due date.

She said the only pain medication I can take is Tylenol, in moderation. As far as my Flonase goes, I should only use it if I am having a big allergy attack and if I get a migraine, I should contact my primary doctor to let her know and she can probably prescribe something for it that won't harm the baby.

For the first appointment she said they usually like to wait until you are 8 to 10 weeks along. She asked for the date of the first day of my last period, which I told her was March 16th. She then figured out I am almost 5 weeks along...5 weeks....WOW....I thought I was only 3 weeks! LOL She also told me my estimated due date-December 21, 2011. Hard to believe we have a date for our baby to be born. We scheduled an appointment with Dr. Hicks up at Salmon Creek for May 9th. We can't wait to get our first picture!

As you can probably imagine, I am still finding it hard to believe that I am actually pregnant, probably because I am not sick and no one can see my tummy growing. Although this morning I had a bit of queasiness, which was not pleasant! And as far as my tummy goes, I can definitely tell it's changing. It seems like I cannot suck my stomach in anymore, just small things like that. And Raj said it feels harder. I am still having a bit of cramping in my tummy, but thankfully the nurse said that a small amount of cramping is perfectly normal. phew!

Yesterday, Raj and I went to Motherhood, a maternity store, to see about getting some work pants. My current pants fit, but they are already feeling tight on my stomach, and I'd prefer to be comfortable. And because I just got my clothing allowance for the year, I went ahead and ordered two pairs of pants and one pair of capri's. They are so comfortable! I can't wait till they come in the mail. Also, since I am having a lot of soreness in my breasts, especially at night, I think I will go and get a bra that I can sleep in. The book I am reading suggested women wear one to help with sagging and also with comfort, so I'll try it.

We're Pregnant!

Well, that was easier than I had anticipated! I had in my head that it would probably take us months to conceive, but we actually got a surprise this month....we are pregnant! We had decided that we would wait to start trying till June, but with it being April...we are just a bit early. ;-)

Wednesday would have been the 28th day in my cycle and I expected I would start that day, but when nothing happened, I thought well as long as I start by Friday, I'm still okay. Friday came around and still nothing. I braced Raj with the news that I had not started yet and to prepare himself that we might need to buy a pregnancy test this weekend. He said...WHAT? Then he looked at the calendar...and said, yeah...I guess we will have to. I woke up Saturday and still felt like I had small cramps so I was sure I was going to start. I swear, I went to the bathroom all day, fully expecting to start, but nothing. All day, I kept going back and forth in my head...I'm pregnant, no I'm not, Yes I am.....and so on. I was really worried about getting my hopes up and then finding out I wasn't. We finally bought a test at the store, but determined we would wait till Sunday morning to test.

It was difficult for me to fall asleep that night. Raj and I talked about the possibility of me being pregnant. We went back and forth about when we thought we had conceived and talked about things we were worried or anxious about. We think we are 3 weeks. I finally fell asleep.

The next morning, I got up finally around 8:30am and took the test. I was so nervous. But as soon as I flipped the stick over, I saw it...two pink lines...I was pregnant! I quickly took a picture of it and then went back into our bedroom. Surprisingly, Raj was awake and had a smile on his face...he said well...I couldn't help but smile. I said we're gonna have a baby! We kissed and enjoyed the moment.

I asked Raj if he was excited and he said he was. I was so glad to hear those words. He asked me if I was less nervous, and I said, yes. I feel really good. We decided to go out to breakfast to celebrate our good news. After breakfast, we went to the book store and bought the book, What to Expect When You Are Expecting. I had always heard it was a great book to get, and since we have so many questions I thought it would be good to get a book to help answer them. I've already read 5 chapters in it!

I still can't believe I am actually pregnant. I have been waiting for this day for over 4 years. It feels good, but strange at the same time. It's hard to comprehend how much our lives are about to change. I told Raj, I wonder when I'll actually feel pregnant....he said, I think you already do. And it was then that I started to realize small symptoms I've been experiencing. Last week my boobs were so sore...worse than they have ever felt with a period. And after work, I actually took a nap, because I was so exhausted. I think the cramping I've been feeling...which I thought originally was menstrual cramps...was actually the sperm/egg traveling down my fallopian tubes and attaching to my uterus. I also feel a small bit of queasiness and have heartburn and have been burping a ton!

Raj went over all of the current medications I take, and we decided on the ones I can take...prenatal and fish oil...all the rest are off limits. We also talked about caffeine, and I've decided I will avoid it during the pregnancy. We are in the process of deciding on a diet for the pregnancy. I want to eat as healthy as I can for myself and the baby. I also don't want to gain a lot of weight. I'm already over weight as it is, and extra weight will just complicate things. We have decided to keep an exercise plan, we went on a walk today, and plan on doing some swimming.

Today has been one long day, I am very tired, and very excited. I want to tell everyone the good news, but I think I will hold off for a few weeks...possibly until the first ultrasound. So tonight I am going to email my doctor with the good news, and hopefully I can get in this week to get my first appointment.

Also, I have been teasing Raj he is pregnant too...so no beer for him either! He isn't buying it yet. LOL