Week 21 Update

Little Alex is almost a pound and about the length of a carrot...

Daddy actually felt him kick this morning!  It's way earlier than when he could feel Brie kick.  Alex was active this morning so I put Kenny's hand on the spot where he was thumping.  I felt a few, but didn't say anything in case Kenny couldn't feel them.  Then Kenny goes "was that one?" and I happily told him yes.  He felt another and said he even saw my stomach move a bit. I'm glad I can share this with him so early.  When the kicks get even bigger I'll introduce Gabrielle to them.

I'm feeling okay otherwise.  Nothing different happening.  Still uncomfortable sleeping, but I can get up off of the floor by myself still!  That's something...

Week 20 - Drumroll Please...

We're having a banana!  The baby's about this long, and a little under a pound. But seriously, folks...

See?  Told ya'.  We had the ultrasound today!  She toggled between 2D and 4D, it was freaky and cool at the same time.  We got pics (which I have to scan and upload) and we even got the entire thing on DVD.  My, how things have changed in three years!

They did pick up an EIF...

Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) is a small bright spot seen in the baby’s heart on an ultrasound exam. This is thought to represent mineralization, or small deposits of calcium, in the muscle of the heart. EIFs are found in about 3-5% of normal pregnancies and cause no health problems.


EIFs themselves have no impact on health or heart function. Often the EIF is gone by the third trimester. If there are no problems or chromosome abnormalities, EIFs are considered normal changes, or variants.

We've been told it's nothing to worry about, so we're not worrying.  Everything else is just fine.  I can't believe I'm already halfway through!  In 8 weeks I get to have my Glucose test...YUMMY!

Week 19 Update

This week's fruit of choice is the heirloom tomato.  Flutterbug is about 8oz. or so now.  I'm feeling him/her all the time now.  Yesterday was pretty quiet with only a few thumps, but today was much better.  I know it's way to soon to be keeping track of kick counts, but I still like to know my little Flutter is thumping around in there.

Still emotional over random crap* and I have gas cramps so horrible that they wake me up at night.  Kenny has already started his "Pregger Momma" routine...he wakes me up early to give me two Extra Strength Tylenol, then runs a morning bath.  To be honest, it's pretty awesome, seeing as how my lower back is hurting when I wake up in the morning now.

I don't feel like I'm that big (the home scale is measuring me at 215, but the doc's office is higher than that one.  I like mine).  Either way it used to measure 219, so I think Oscar has caused me to lose a few pounds.  I am noticing that I can't stand for as long as I usually could before I start getting achy and tired.  Ah, the joys of motherhood...

From here on out it's just developing all of the systems and putting on weight in there.  I'm so excited about the ultrasound on Tuesday!

*Yeah, the boy made me cry, but I was able to laugh about it later.  Now whenever he does something I threaten to cry and blog about him.  That joke will probably get old soon, but for now it's funny!

Week 18 Update - So *expletive deleted* Emotional

My Flutterbug is the size of a bell pepper and weighs about 5 ounces. I know he's getting bigger because I feel movement all the time now.  Yes, I'm saying "he" because that's what I think I'm having.  I won't be sure until the 15th.  If it's a girl, I'll just have to apologize for calling her a boy all these weeks.  Flutterbug seems more like "Thumper" now because of the way the movement feels.

Week 18 has also brought on the moodiness.  For example, I drop Gabrielle off at school and she cries and begs for me not to leave her.  So what do I do?  I leave her there.  I know that in a few minutes the tears will be gone and she will be her happy and charming self.  As soon as I get in the car, I start balling as much as she was.  "I've abandoned my baby when she needed me" and other such feelings of parental inadequacy flood over me.  I know it's the hormones talking and that it's par for the course, but it doesn't make it any easier.

This morning was worse.  Kenny came home from work and Brie is snotty (AGAIN...thanks school!*) so he brings her in the room with me so he can go and start the shower.  The steam helps loosen up the gunk.  Well, as soon as she sees me she starts in with the usual "NO MOMMY!  NO MOMMY!" and doesn't want to have anything to do with me.  I'm usually pretty used to the fact that my only child hates me when Daddy is around, but this morning the thought of "Ufck it...whatever" pops in my head and I turn over on my other side.  I realize that I have to get up soon anyway, so I start reading my book while they're in the bathroom.

While they're in there everything is happy dandy, but now I'm officially cranky.  They come out and Kenny tells me to take my time coming downstairs, so I wait about half an hour.

He has to work tonight so when I come down, he goes up to bed.  Of course this upsets Brie to no end and she starts crying as he goes upstairs.  She comes into the family room where I extend my arms to comfort her and what does she do?  Through her tears she screams "NO!!!!!" at me.  My waterworks immediately start to flow.  When she realizes I'm crying, she asks me what's wrong and I say "You were mean to me".  She wipes away my tears and tells me "all better".  She then climbs up on the couch with me and wraps my arms around her.  I clasp my hands together and if I unclasp them she says "close it mommy!  close it".  It's a thing we do...

All is right in my world again, but I really hate feeling like this.  I know it's only temporary and the end completely justifies the means, but I still hate it.

*I know that germs come along with the territory, but she seems to be getting a cold every other week!  I sure hope she has a stronger immune system than I did when I was young.  I was more sick than I was well.

Week 17 Update

Yes, I know the week is almost over and I need to "turnip" the volume on posting regularly.

My baby is the size of a turnip.  Get it?  Punny...

This was Thanksgiving week and my IBS has been working overtime.  I didn't get to pig out on all of the wonderful food we had, which is a blessing in disguise, I guess.  I was also in the ER Thanksgiving night with my asthma.  Other than those things it's been an okay week.  I'm feeling move movement now.  It's gone from flutters to tiny little thumps.  In two weeks we'll find out if this is a little girl flutterbug or a little boy flutterbug.  I'm thinking boy, so we'll see.

Week 16 Update

We had our prenatal appointment today and everything looks just fine.  Our little flutterbug is about this big now...

Yep, that's an avocado.  Flutter should be about 3.5oz too right about now.  The heart rate was strong at 155bpm.  I had to get blood drawn 'cause apparently that had  been overlooked until today.  The phlebotomist was GREAT!  She got me on the first stick and I didn't feel a thing.  She was super sweet too...definitely one of my better experiences.

We go back in a month for our regular checkup and our anatomy ultrasound.  We'll find out the sex before Christmas!  Talk about a great present.

The doc also told me I could use benzoyl peroxide products to help with the acne.  DEFINITELY good news.  Now I just have to make it to the store to buy some.

Week 15 - The Apple of My Eye

S/he is about 4 ounces now too, I believe.  It's been pretty quiet on the uterine front.  Well, with the exception of THESE...

See?!?!?  I am NOT being an overly dramatic, hormonal pregnant lady...these things are outta control!  This sympton can disappear immediately, tenkyouveddymuch!

I'm excited about my appointment Tuesday.  I'll get to hear my little flutterbug once again and probably schedule my 2nd trimester ultrasound.  I'm so excited to get a pic of my baby that actually looks like a baby!

Astronomy, Anyone?

I can trace the Little Dipper from the pimples on my face.  That is all.

This baby is soooo getting grounded when he/she comes out!

Week 14 Update...

Yeah, I know there's only a few more days left in week 14, but I've been a little busy.  My munchkin is the size of a lemon, and needless to say I'm becoming quite "bitter" with all of the gas pains and acne.  I can only take so much Gas-X in one day and I swear I've got the complexion of a 13 year old!!  You'd figure the body would be used to the hormones by now...guess that's just wishful thinking.

Everything else is good.  Appointment is in two weeks and I'm going to ask when we get our 2nd trimester ultrasound.  I'm anxious to find out what the sex is.  Either saving all of these girl clothes was the right move, or I'm about to become RICH selling them for $1 per outfit.  Yes, this child REALLY has that many outfits...many of which are duplicates (or in some cases, triplicates).

I wish I had something a bit more exciting to report, but alas...nothing.*  I think I feel the baby fluttering around from time to time, but since the gas has been so bad who really knows?

*Dammit!  Did I really just say that?  Last time I complained about not having anything to report, I got hit with massive IBS drama.  Oh well, it's out in the universe now.  Let's see if it'll be kind to me...

A Little Late - 6 Week Ultrasound

Here's the pic from my ultrasound debacle a few weeks back.  I thought I was almost 8 weeks, but I was only measuring about 6.5.  Isn't my baby the cutest you've ever seen??

Okay, so maybe my baby is just that shadowy space on the right in the corner but I still think he or she is beautiful.  I should be having my second one in December for sizing and testing and stuff.  The pic should be much better.  With Brie's people who said they could never tell what an ultrasound was supposed to be could make her out in the pic!

13 Weeks

My little one has reached the size of a medium shrimp and weighs almost an ounce...

Today was a really bad day for me and my IBS.   I really hope it calms down soon.  Everything else is fine...pretty quiet with nothing to report.  Three more weeks until my next prenatal appointment.  I'm starting to show, too...maybe I'll be brave enough to take monthly profile pics.

Body By Rand McNally...

So I'm upstairs getting ready for bed, you know...wrapping the hair, taking out the contacts, putting on the pj's...the usual.  I know pregnancy does a lot to your body and the circulatory system starts working overtime...but good GAWD!  My chest looks like a road map!  There are blue veins everywhere!  I know this must've happened the first time around, but DANG!  I really do feel like I'm experiencing this stuff for the first time!

12 Weeks Today

Yep, our little munchkin is growing steadily...it's about the size of a lime. We had our second prenatal appointment today and we got to hear the heartbeat!  It was strong and steady at 150BPM.  Kenny says it's a boy.  He was right the last time, so I guess we'll have to wait a little while longer and see.  The doc says my uterus is still pretty small, but everything is doing fine. 

I'm feeling all right, I guess.  I had a really bad headache last night and ended up in bed around 5pm...didn't even watch the game.

I weighed in at 214lbs.  10lbs during thie 1st trimester isn't a whole lot (I hope).  I'm really trying to keep my weight loss in check this pregnancy.

A Little Worried

I'm 11 weeks now.  I was 11 weeks when I started spotting with Gabrielle.  She's absolutely perfect and nothing was wrong, but the spotting constantly made for a stressful pregnancy.   I know every pregnancy is different and I may never spot during this one, but the thought is still there...

11 Weeks Today

So the little munchkin is the size of a fig now...

That's still pretty small. I read that his or her feet could fit on my fingernail.  SO TINY!  I'm feeling much, much better.  I even have more energy, even though I fell asleep on the couch while Kenny was fixing dinner.  Man, this Snuggie is no joke!  It's nice and toasty.

Our 2nd prenatal appointment is one week from today.  I'll have a longer post then, I suspect.  Heartbeat time!!

Week 10

I'm feeling much better these days.  I still get pretty tired, but my nausea has subsided greatly.  This week my baby is about the size of a kumquat.  How big is that, you're asking?

Yep, still pretty dang small.  I'm just glad I don't feel like complete crap all of the time anymore.  I'm still wearing pre-pregger clothes (well, most of 'em), so that's something!  Nothing else to report on the baby front, really.

Well, Week 9 is here...

...and I feel like crap.  It's my warped version of morning sickness.  I rarely feel as if I'm going to throw up, but I constantly "feel bad".  I'm tired and achy all \of the time, and it's not really nausea, I just "feel bad".  I wish I could explain it better than that, but I can't.

Nothing else is going on.  Baby is growing right on schedule.  I'm looking forward to the next appointment.  I'll be 12 weeks, so they'll definitely check the heartbeat with the Doppler.  I can't wait to hear it!

8 Weeks Today

We had our first prenatal appointment today.  So far, so good.  No news is good news this early in the game.  I still have some nausea from time to time and I'm getting over a cold courtesy of Fuzzy Fro, but otherwise things are running smoothly.

Be Careful What You Wish For...

I whined and complained about how I didn’t “feel anything” and how “nothing was really going on”. Note to self…keep my big, pregnant mouth shut!



The nausea wave has rolled in. I had major dry heaves a couple of nights ago, so much that my throat was raw. I never wanted to just throw up and get it over with so badly in my LIFE! It comes and goes, but I never feel like I’m going to actually throw up. That’s a good thing, I guess. I could be in the bathroom every few minutes praying to the porcelain god.


I’m still tired all of the time, but that (and the nausea, hopefully) should only last a few more weeks. Since they moved my date back, I’m only seven weeks now instead of eight.


All in all, everything’s good.

A Stressfull Ultrasound...or How I Wanted To Commit Assault on a Medical Professional

Yesterday was both long and eventful, so I’ll begin at the beginning…



My ultrasound appointment was at 7:30am. We arrived and checked in. I waited for a few minutes before being called back. We went in to the ultrasound room and was asked “So why are we doing your ultrasound today?”. I responded “I’m pregnant. It’s my first trimester ultrasound.” She started to write ‘pregnancy’ on the paper and stopped halfway. She then asked if I was having any pain or cramping, to which I told her no. She stopped writing and looked at me as if to say “then why are you even here?”. I gave Kenny the wide-eyed “Oh I do NOT like this woman” look and he nodded in agreement.


I lay down on the table and she squirted the COLD jelly on the wand. My doctor’s office heats their jelly…unfortunately my insurance sucks and won’t let them do this for me…see earlier post. Strike one. She starts to look around and says “your bladder’s not full enough. You need to go back and wait for 15-20 minutes”. Can you tell I don’t like this *expletive deleted* already??


We go back in the waiting room and she comes back to get us. We go back into the room; I lay back on the bed…and more cold jelly. She says “your paperwork says you have irregular periods…”. I thought she said regular and said “yes”. I thought for a second and said “wait, did you say ‘regular’ or ‘irregular’?”. She said ‘irregular’ and I told her that other than my last period, they were regular. The conversation just went downhill from there…

Me: So, can you tell me what it is you’re seeing there?
Tech: Nope
Me: Are you serious?
Tech: Yep
Me: (under my breath)* This is some bullshit.


She then asks if I’ve ever had a vaginal ultrasound, which I have. She said “we’re gonna need to do that then”. At this point I’m HIGHLY irritated, so I said “knock yourself out. Why do you need to do that?” She replies “um, so I can SEE better…”.


Instantly I wanted to knock this *expletive deleted* in the mouth. She told me to go empty my bladder and come back so we could continue. I jumped off the table and went into the bathroom, where I proceeded to ball my eyes out. All I wanted to do was see my baby…see a shadow, a heart beating, SOMETHING. She wasn’t going to give me anything. I had all of Brie’s sonograms at the doctor’s office, and they were all so sweet, telling me exactly what they were seeing and what was going on. I was NOT going to have the same experience and couldn’t stop crying about it.


*Apparently I didn’t say that under my breath, because as I’m in the bathroom I hear Kenny’s Angry Black Man™ voice come out. I can’t really make out what’s being said, but he is NOT happy. When I’m done I go back into the room, and guess what? Miss Rude Technician 2009’s attitude has completely done a 180°. She explains that she’s not a qualified doctor so she can’t tell me if there are any problems, but she’d be more than happy to show me whatever she can. She also apologized for the questions, but told me they were a necessary history for the radiologist who will be reviewing the pictures. She was also very sorry that she caused me any distress.


Needless to say I got to see my little munchkin’s heart beating. It was one of the best things in the world! I’m measuring with a due date of May 4th instead of April 23rd, so either I knew I was pregnant IMMEDIATELY this time, or I’m going to have another small baby. Either way it will be just fine!

Fast forward to the ride home. I started feeling uncomfortable. No real pain, but definitely not “right”. I called the doctor’s office and they told me to come in at 1:05, just to be sure. Turns out I have a massive bladder infection, so that’s why I was feeling the cramping after the ultrasound. I have to drink lots of water and cranberry juice and take my antibiotics. Other than that, everything is swell!

Hey, Here's An Idea...

How about you pay careful attention to what you’re doing so you don’t disappoint a mother-to-be who thinks she’s going to see her unborn child for the first time???

When my appointment was scheduled, they didn’t pay attention to what insurance I had. Aetna HMO doesn’t allow them to do ultrasounds in-office, so I have to go to another facility. The soonest this facility had was 2:45 today, which throws off both my and Kenny’s day. I told them it would have to wait until next week, but after we left the office Kenny saw the disappointment in my face and said to reschedule it for tomorrow. They’re going to call me today to see when they can get me scheduled.

I just knew I was gonna see my little one today. Now I have a nagging headache on the right side, kind of behind my eye. It’s amazing how one little event can mess up your whole outlook on a day.

I Hate the Internet!

I just read this on Wikipedia...

Women who have no pregnancy nausea are more likely to miscarry or to bear children with birth defects.

Luckily this isn't my first rodeo, or that statement would Freak me OUT.  I didn't have any morning sickness with Gabrielle and other than being a little underweight, she's healthy and happy.  I don't have any morning sickness now either.  They really should put disclaimers on that sort of crap.  Not everyone has common sense, you know!

No News Is Good News...I Guess

I’m in that stage again where I don’t really feel like anything is going on. I don’t have any morning sickness, so it makes me feel like nothing is happening. I know that my body is feverishly creating life, I just don’t feel like I’m a part of it yet. I went through the same thing when I was pregnant with Gabrielle. Don’t get me wrong, not having any morning sickness is a GREAT thing…especially working full-time, I just don’t feel like I’m a part of things yet. That’ll change in the coming weeks, I know.

Still Tired...

Six weeks and still no other symptoms other than being tired all of the time.  I guess I should count my blessings...I didn't have any morning sickness with Brie either.  Here's hopin'!

Week 5 or...DAMN I'm Tired!!

Well, I’ve notified lots of people about the happy news. Our first ultrasound will be on the 8th and our first full prenatal appointment will be on the 22nd. I can’t believe I’m going to be a mother of two!!



I’ve been so unbelievably tired! I remember being tired with Brie, but not dead-on-my-feet tired this early! Hell, I didn’t even find out until six weeks with her! I know that each pregnancy is different. I’ll have to figure out a way to manage since she doesn’t go to bed until 8:30. The first pregnancy when I was tired, I just took a nap! Now I have to be all “responsible” and look out for my daughter’s “safety” and mess. How am I supposed to manage that!


No food cravings or aversions yet. There wasn’t any food I couldn’t take with Brie (which is probably why I gained a whopping 58lbs.), but I did want cheeseburgers all of the time. I guess there’s plenty of time for that though.


Oscar (my IBS) has kicked into overdrive though, so I have to be careful. They told me it would either get much better or much worse. So far with this little one it seems to be the latter.


A nickname hasn’t come to me yet, either. With Brie she was automatically “the pumpkin” but I haven’t had one come to me yet. I’ll know it when I know it, I guess.

So It Begins...AGAIN

Yep, you see correctly! The baby making machine has kicked into high gear once again! I knew I was pregnant. Don't ask me how...I just did. Last time I took a test and it was negative, but I still didn't believe it. I didn't feel it was right, you know?

Same thing this time around. I took a test last week that came out negative. I honestly couldn't remember "the first day of my last period", so I thought maybe I was off by a bit. I bought a test 2-pack and figured I could always use the second test later. I took it...it was negative. I still didn't "feel" that it was right.

Still no cycle today (and I thought for SURE it would come today...I made the conscious decision to wear white pants!). I felt a little weird on the drive over to my Mom's, so I decided that I would take the second test when I got home. Sure enough, Mother's Intuition(TM) was right on the mark.

I think I'm getting the hang of this blogging thing over at A Buncha Randomness, but I wanted to give this special delivery his or her own fourm. ONCE AGAIN, I find out hours before I'm able to tell Kenny about it. The first time I confirmed during my lunch hour at work and had to wait until the end of the day. This time he's at work and I have to wait for him to come home on his break. HOPEFULLY he can come home tonight...I hope they're not too busy.


So, I'm saving this post until Kenny comes home and I can show him the test myself. I'll come back, update and post once that's done. The excitement is KILLING me!!

Hours Later...

Kenny came home and I gave him the good news.  He's thrilled, but he seems very subdued.  He says it hasn't "hit him yet".  I on the other hand am VERY excited.  We both have tons of thoughts going through our heads.  Let the new Journey of Baby Jordan, Part Deux begin!!