Kory and I saw the doctor today. It was our first visit without coming home with ultrasound pictures. I know this probably sounds sad, but I wasn't really disappointed. We didn't need an ultrasound because we could actually hear our baby's heartbeat on the Doppler. This might seem petty to most, but this is a milestone I've been looking forward to for a while. As much as I would have loved to have seen my son or daughter again today, it was really great just hearing his/her heart beating away.
There was a lot of what I thought was interference while trying to listen. The doctor said this was the baby moving. Apparently the Doppler picks up every kind of movement so when the baby moves, it makes noises too. Once I knew what it was, it was pretty cool to listen to also.
We did our quad-screening today. This is bloodwork that screens for Down Syndrome, Trisomy-18, Spina Bifida, and Cystic Fibrosis. Basically the screening will give us our statistical risk of having a baby with one of these conditions. It's not a guarantee, and honestly can have a lot of false positives, but we saw it as a way to prepare just in case. Hopefully we'll get the results back and our risk won't even be worth considering. If it is worth considering at least we'll have the extra time to adjust and learn more.
I wasn't worried about doing the screening as I've been poked for blood draws MANY times before. I quickly learned they needed more blood than I knew. All I can say is thank goodness it was me and not Kory (I think we all remember what happened at his last blood draw). They had to take 7 tubes of bloodwork! This was way more than I've ever done before, but I made it. I also had to do a urine sample, which believe it or not was harder than the blood draw. I had already peed at my appointment so I didn't really have to go when they asked. Instead we had to drive around for an hour or so while I drank water and lemonade until I had to go again. I didn't really expect that to be part of my day!
Our next appointment is March 9 and we'll get to schedule our "big" ultrasound then. It's only a matter of weeks until we find out if Baby Keebs is a boy or girl... get your bets in now!
Monday, February 15, 2010
15 weeks
Insight to the information you've been getting...
I've been following some of the prompts from "The Belly Book," which is a pregnancy journal I had from our second pregnancy. Since the blog is a way to share all of that information with you all on a regular basis, I figured there was no need to buy another book this time around. Plus I like the freedom of adding my own information and extra pictures when ever I want to.
Daddy decided it would be funny to include an extreme close up this week.
Current philosophy regarding cravings: Give the belly what it wants (within reason). I can still eat Nerds any time of day, but my cravings have expanded to pretty much anything sweet. Mom says this definitely means it's a girl. I have been specifically trying to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet this week though. And I do try to keep my sugary cravings in check...most days.
More welcome and/or not-so-welcome changes: My nausea has almost completely gone. I do notice it in the mornings still, but only when I start to cough. My sinuses are still causing me grief, although not nearly as bad now that we sleep with the humidifier on, so I wake up quite congested. This results in the cough-gag.
Most days I have my energy back. Kory is happy about this one. We are starting to get more done around the house. Or at least when it doesn't happen, our only excuse is laziness. We swear we're going to get moving on the nursery...someday!
A strange change I've noticed is that I can see every blue vein on my body (probably not every one, but a whole lot of them!). My belly looks like that of something you'd see in an alien movie. So be very glad that I'm too modest to be one of those moms-to-be who does her belly shots without a shirt on!
Finally, the only other change as of late is itching, uncontrollable itching. My legs will get these intense "itches" that if I don't scratch them soon enough they make my leg twitch! It's very weird. Tolerable and slightly amusing, but weird!
That's it for the week. Baby Keebs, you know the drill by now, keep growing healthy and strong! Momma and Daddy are so excited to feel you move around soon! We love you very much!
I've been following some of the prompts from "The Belly Book," which is a pregnancy journal I had from our second pregnancy. Since the blog is a way to share all of that information with you all on a regular basis, I figured there was no need to buy another book this time around. Plus I like the freedom of adding my own information and extra pictures when ever I want to.
Daddy decided it would be funny to include an extreme close up this week.More welcome and/or not-so-welcome changes: My nausea has almost completely gone. I do notice it in the mornings still, but only when I start to cough. My sinuses are still causing me grief, although not nearly as bad now that we sleep with the humidifier on, so I wake up quite congested. This results in the cough-gag.
Most days I have my energy back. Kory is happy about this one. We are starting to get more done around the house. Or at least when it doesn't happen, our only excuse is laziness. We swear we're going to get moving on the nursery...someday!
A strange change I've noticed is that I can see every blue vein on my body (probably not every one, but a whole lot of them!). My belly looks like that of something you'd see in an alien movie. So be very glad that I'm too modest to be one of those moms-to-be who does her belly shots without a shirt on!
Finally, the only other change as of late is itching, uncontrollable itching. My legs will get these intense "itches" that if I don't scratch them soon enough they make my leg twitch! It's very weird. Tolerable and slightly amusing, but weird!
That's it for the week. Baby Keebs, you know the drill by now, keep growing healthy and strong! Momma and Daddy are so excited to feel you move around soon! We love you very much!
Monday, February 8, 2010
14 weeks
This was a week of firsts...
First "fluttering": Tuesday, February 2
I was sitting in the recliner watching a show on the laptop when I felt what I describe as a bubble move up the middle of my belly and then popped. It was very cool and exciting, but at first I didn't really think that it could be the baby at this point. Aunt Meg insists that this was most likely the baby. She says a lot of women feel it this early but think like I do and refuse to believe it's the baby. I don't refuse at all. I can't wait to feel it again and it's very exciting when Kory comes home and asks if I've felt our baby today. Hopefully soon I'll be able to answer "yes" a little more consistently!
First maternity shopping trip: Saturday, February 6
Kory and I went shopping for a few specific items...dress pants because I have a couple business trips coming up and no dress clothes that fit anymore. We also were looking for a dress for those trips and Kory's cousin's wedding the first weekend of March. While we were very successful in the pants department, the dress shopping will have to continue. As nervous as I was about going shopping (just one of my irrational fears), it was very exciting. I can't wait until I need to shop for tops and and actual outfits!
Other notes: We celebrated Aunt Kass' birthday and the Superbowl this weekend. For keepsakes' sake Baby Keebs, the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts. Your daddy and I weren't really rooting for a team, just enjoying time with family and all the junk food.
Keep growing and stay strong Baby Keebs! We love you very much!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Week 13
Total weight gained: 1 pound
Current craving: Nerds... either regular Nerds or the Nerd jelly beans. Either work wonders! I suppose milk could also go on this list since we go through about 2 gallons a week now.
Aversions: Chili and apparently cleaning. Our house is a wreck!
Latest symptom: Getting up to pee in the middle of the night and a very congested head
Others notes: We haven't seen any ultrasound pictures of Baby Keebs in about 2 weeks now. I'm starting to go through withdraw. And I still have 2 weeks to go! I don't know how women do it when they do have the special privileges our doctor has given us!
We went and celebrated Aunt Dana's 30th birthday this weekend. She and Aunt Erin were very excited to see the beginnings of my "bump." Aunt Meg and Namaw (as Lukey calls Grandma) were also very excited to see that I have succumbed to the comforts of maternity jeans. Thank goodness I have great sisters (thanks Meg and Steph!) who let me borrow theirs so I wouldn't have to buy my own so soon! Maybe next week we'll take our first shopping trip...we'll see.
We love you Baby Keebs! Keep growing healthy and strong!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Look at our Baby's Face!
So as they say, better late than never.
Here is the update of our most recent doctor's appointment, like I promised. Everything is going well and we got to see a lot of pictures of Baby Keebs. Since they are the fun part, I'll skip right to them.
We got a really excellent profile shot. The doctor said not too many people get such a clear profile view at 12 weeks, so we're pretty excited. You can see the nose and lips, which both the doctor and nurse said were mine. I think he/she has Kory's nose. Kory thinks he/she has a nose, which made me laugh.
This is Kory's favorite view, other than the profile. He swears this is a picture of his son. I'll let you all make your own decisions. To be official, the doctor has not said what Baby Keebs is yet, but keeps telling us that we haven't seen anything to tell us one way or another.
Here's a traditional ultrasound view of the full body. Keep on growing Baby Keebs!
Baby Keebs is waving to his/her momma and daddy in this shot. See you this summer!
I promise the weekly posts of belly shots and stuff are still coming. I'll try to put the first one up tonight, but definitely before we hit the 14 week mark!
Until then, we love you very very VERY much Baby Keebs! Keep growing strong and healthy so we can meet you this summer!
Here is the update of our most recent doctor's appointment, like I promised. Everything is going well and we got to see a lot of pictures of Baby Keebs. Since they are the fun part, I'll skip right to them.
We got a really excellent profile shot. The doctor said not too many people get such a clear profile view at 12 weeks, so we're pretty excited. You can see the nose and lips, which both the doctor and nurse said were mine. I think he/she has Kory's nose. Kory thinks he/she has a nose, which made me laugh.
This is Kory's favorite view, other than the profile. He swears this is a picture of his son. I'll let you all make your own decisions. To be official, the doctor has not said what Baby Keebs is yet, but keeps telling us that we haven't seen anything to tell us one way or another.
Here's a traditional ultrasound view of the full body. Keep on growing Baby Keebs!
Baby Keebs is waving to his/her momma and daddy in this shot. See you this summer!I promise the weekly posts of belly shots and stuff are still coming. I'll try to put the first one up tonight, but definitely before we hit the 14 week mark!
Until then, we love you very very VERY much Baby Keebs! Keep growing strong and healthy so we can meet you this summer!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Officially on a new path...at least for us
It's official. We are in the second trimester!
Each week always seems to take forever while we're in it, but when I look back I see that time really is flying by. Now that we're experiencing the joys of pregnancy that we didn't get to do the first two times, we've decided we're going to use this blog to really track our travels through this journey. Each week you'll get an update on how we're feeling, what I look like, and if we have any doctor's appointments you'll get those updates too.
We started the weekly belly pictures at 10 weeks, but since I haven't posted any yet, I'll share three tonight to get everyone caught up.
11 weeks
12 weeks
So I'm sure you'll notice the belly is starting to expand. I've had to purchase a Bella Band (it's like a tube top, but it goes around your waist to hold your jeans up when you have to leave them unbuttoned...like me!) and use it anytime I wear anything other than sweats.
Kory affectionately calls my expanding belly my little "pooch," but I'm sure he secretly likes it. Or at least he better!
I guess that's all for tonight. Tomorrow I'll start the weekly posts and I'll include the latest pictures of Baby Keebs that we got at our 12-week appointment. We have our first profile shot of our little guy or girl and it's very exciting! I'll post all that fun stuff tomorrow too.
So for now, we love you very much, Baby Keebs, and we can't wait to meet you! We've waited a long time for you and we are enjoying every second of our time with you. Love you!
Each week always seems to take forever while we're in it, but when I look back I see that time really is flying by. Now that we're experiencing the joys of pregnancy that we didn't get to do the first two times, we've decided we're going to use this blog to really track our travels through this journey. Each week you'll get an update on how we're feeling, what I look like, and if we have any doctor's appointments you'll get those updates too.
We started the weekly belly pictures at 10 weeks, but since I haven't posted any yet, I'll share three tonight to get everyone caught up.
10 weeks
11 weeks
12 weeks
So I'm sure you'll notice the belly is starting to expand. I've had to purchase a Bella Band (it's like a tube top, but it goes around your waist to hold your jeans up when you have to leave them unbuttoned...like me!) and use it anytime I wear anything other than sweats.
Kory affectionately calls my expanding belly my little "pooch," but I'm sure he secretly likes it. Or at least he better!
I guess that's all for tonight. Tomorrow I'll start the weekly posts and I'll include the latest pictures of Baby Keebs that we got at our 12-week appointment. We have our first profile shot of our little guy or girl and it's very exciting! I'll post all that fun stuff tomorrow too.
So for now, we love you very much, Baby Keebs, and we can't wait to meet you! We've waited a long time for you and we are enjoying every second of our time with you. Love you!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Our Miracle’s First Pictures
We have officially made it further than we’ve ever made it before! I am a little more than 10 weeks pregnant. The double digit number came up very fast now that I think about it. It seemed to take forever during the weeks because we were nervous and excited and still didn’t really know what to expect. But now that we’re here, it seems like just yesterday I was telling Kory the good news.
This pregnancy has been unlike either of our others. I’ve been nauseas quite a bit, though I haven’t thrown up yet. Still no cravings, other than a strange need for Nerds on a semi-regular basis. For those of you worried about my blood sugar, you can relax. I am able to limit myself…for now.
Our doctor appointments have been the most exciting. We’ve been able to get a picture at all of our appointments and it is absolutely amazing to see how much our son or daughter is growing every 2 weeks! Take a look at what I mean:
6 weeks
8 weeks
10 weeks
We still have our worries, like any expecting parent would, I’m sure, but it is a little reassuring knowing we’ve made it this far. We’re very excited for what the future has in store for us, and we’ll keep sharing our stories as we go.
So keep growing healthy and strong, Baby Keebs, and fight hard to stay here with us. We are so excited to meet you! We love you very, very, VERY much!
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