Looking better

I went back to the doctor today to follow up on my blood pressure. So, the nurse started to take my blood pressure and then she said, no, let's find the heart beat first. My first thought was, not such a good idea since that tends to stress me out a bit, but not much I could really do. So, after a good 5 minutes of searching, she found the heart beat and that sounded great. So, I guess that lowered the stress level. She then took my blood pressure and it was 112/72. Much better than the 140ish/70 is was at the last appointment. So, then the NP comes in and actually sits down to talk to me, imagine that. She said everything is looking good with the bp and asked me if I was keeping a log of my bp and told her I did for the 1st week after I started the medicine, but it was really staying in the 125ish/70ish range so I stopped. She said she checked my urine for protein and that was negative, so all is well. I go back in 2 weeks for my 16 week check up and then in 4 weeks, we have the big ultrasound. Whoo-hoo. I can't believe it's almost time to find out if it's a boy or girl. My co-worker just found out she is having a girl and the other co-worker that's almost due any day is having a girl, so we figured we have to have the boy! But, seriously, I can't wait to see so I can start picking out the bedding and clothes. I will never have allowance again because it will all be spent on baby stuff. So much fun!

BP monitoring and baby stuff

Nothing too eventful over the past week. I started taking the blood pressure medication and I really can't tell a difference in the numbers I am getting on the blood pressure cuff. Cutting the salt from my diet has been a lot harder though. When we got groceries last week, we were checking labels more carefully, but eating out is what kills me. But, I am trying to do better. Plus, I started doing yoga tonight and trying to walk more so hopefully those will all help. The best help has been talking to my coworker who is also pregnant and had hypertension before she got pregnant. She knows tons about the medicines and dealing with hypertension and she is really good about answering my questions. I go back to the doctor on Wednesday and hopefully the nurse practitioner will be more forthcoming with information and give me a good report.

Todd and I started looking at baby stuff last week. Man, it is expensive. Just the glider and ottoman I want are $500. Both cribs we liked were also in the $500 range. We also started comparing car seats and strollers and it is amazing to me how much there is to know and look at. The only purchase we've made so far is for me. I broke down and bought a Snoogle. It's basically a long body pillow to help me sleep on my side. I have always been a belly sleeper and I know I probably won't be able to comfortably sleep that way much longer. So, I am trying to train myself to sleep on my left side, which is supposed to help blood flow. So far I am not doing to great and I am tossing and turning a lot more. I am just trying to figure out the best way to configure the pillow and myself and I can be the most comfortable and get the best sleep. Just another joy of being pregnant. Already making these huge changes to my life and the baby is not even close to being here yet.

We've also finally decided on 2 baby names that we both like. We've had our girl name for a while now, but have been arguing and texing back and forth about the boy name. We are both pretty excited to at least have that part done. I am not going to post them just yet just in case we decide to change either of them. I hope not, but I'm pregnant, so who knows what notion will come to my mind.

12 week check-up

Sort of a mixed check-up today. The best part was hearing the baby's heartbeat. It was at 160 bpm and sounded so neat. It took them forever to find it and I was really starting to get nervous there at the end. I always tend to prepare for the worst but I really, really didn't want to have to deal with the worst. Luckily, the nurse was persistent and found it really low in my abdomen. Such a relief.

Then the doctor came in and started harping on my blood pressure. I admitted I was nervous when the nurse took it since I was worried about finding the heartbeat today. She seemed to think it's not related to my weight (which I've gained 6 pounds, not so good) or stress, so she put me on blood pressure meds. I am not thrilled about that, but what can I do. I kind of wished she let me observe it for 2 weeks and then start meds, but she said that blood pressure should drop during pregnancy and my has been progressively getting higher. Of course, Todd gets all stressed and nervous. He really doesn't want me being on meds because he is worried I'll be on them the rest of my life, but I told him I don't think the doctor is going to do something that will hurt me. I talked to my mom about the whole deal and she agrees that it is a bit high and encouraged me to get a blood pressure monitor to have at the house. The only thing I am worried about with the meds is the doctor told me I may get more tired. How is that possible? I don't think I can get much more tired. So, now I feel like a senior citizen taking my blood pressure twice a day, cutting my salt, and taking medicine. Fun stuff.

Not much new

There hasn't been a whole lot new going on lately. I thought the morning sickness and exhaustion were gone because I've felt really good the past week or so. But, they both came back with a vengeance today. So, I went back to the routine of eating all day and then a 2 hour nap after work. Not fun. I am trying to get back into exercising, but that's not easy when I am sleeping all day.

I've been doing a lot of clothes shopping for me the past few weeks because none of my old clothes fit right anymore. It's kind of bittersweet buying maternity clothes. While I love any excuse to shop, I hate not being able to wear the clothes I have. A lady at work that is 8 months preggers is also going to give me some of her maternity clothes. Sweet.

Hopefully Todd can finish the attic soon so we can clean out what will be the baby's room. I want to get that done since there isn't a whole lot else for me to do. I've started pricing bedding and furniture and I can't wait until it's time to pick it out. I looove decorating and I am sure the baby's room will be no different.

The other item I would like to tackle would be the name list. We've got a pretty good girl's name settled on, but we cannot agree with a boy's name. We've both thrown out some good names and thought we had one picked out before I even got pregnant. But, then I decided I didn't like it anymore. I want to have the name before the big ultrasound in a few weeks so once we know, we can start calling him/her by his/her name. I am so excited to think that we'll know that so soon. The last part of this trimester has gone faster than the first few weeks I've known. Only 28 weeks and 1 day to go!

First ultrasound!!!

Well, I had my first ultrasound yesterday. I got kind of nervous when she told me it was an internal one because I wasn't really prepared for that. But, I forgot about it once I saw the baby flash up on the screen. It was so awesome that I just about started crying. Part of me had really been trying to prepare for the worst, so to actually see a living little baby on that screen was unbelievable. She determined that I was 8 weeks, 2 days along, which puts the due date January 21, 2009. Awesome. Then I saw the doctor, who said all my initial tests came back normal and everything looks great. Todd decided that he had to start telling everyone right away, so he was on the phone as soon as we left the doctor's office. I'm telling people a little more slowly, I guess just still being cautious. I am excited, but still nervous since it's only 8 weeks along.


So, we went out to celebrate with Nick and Bethany last night. After dinner Todd took me to the mall and bought me 2 pregnancy books and the Willow Tree pregnancy figurine. Sooo sweet. I bought 2 pairs of maternity pants at the Gap and they are so comfortable. I had an even worse time finding petites in maternity clothes than I do regular, so I just gave up and bough regulars and I will try to hem them. I also bought some prenatal workout videos because I have to start working out. I got on the scale at the doctor's office and I wasn't happy with the number. I know I am supposed to be gaining weight, but I am really already overweight, so I've got to watch my eating and start exercising again. So, I did prenatal yoga last night and that was relaxing. I am trying to convince Todd to buy a treadmill so I can walk more. I am trying not to stress it, but I want to be healthy as I can.

1st doctor visit

I think I am more frustrated after this visit than I was before. I went in thinking I would leave with a pretty firm due date. Um, not so much. They first calculated for December 23rd. The nurse tried to listen to the heartbeat with the doppler and couldldn't find it, which she said is sometimes normal. She went to get the ultrasound tech, but she was busy, so she said maybe we'd hear it the next time. Ok, fine. So, the nurse practitioner came in to start the physical part of the exam and we told her about all the earlier negative tests and when the symptoms started and she said maybe I'm not as far as I thought. Greeaaatttt. After feeling my uterus, she said she really doesn't think I am 11 weeks, but she is not sure. Even better. So, she said we'd schedule an ultrasound for 2 weeks and we'd know more then. Freakin wonderful. 2 more weeks before I know anything else. So, then they took tons of blood and sent me about my day. The ultrasound is scheduled for Friday, the 13th which is not much on the cool side, but hopefully I'll know more then. I still haven't heard them say I am officially pregnant, which worries me a smidge, but I am trying not to stress about it too much. I am just trying to be patient and wait until next Friday. I'm not one for patience, so it's killing me to wait, but I am trying to learn.

So, we started telling our coworkers since we'll be missing more time from work. And we've told almost all of the immediate family. That has been exciting, I just really hope I don't have to come back with bad news. Hopefully, all is well and we'll soon be able to tell everyone the good news and a due date.

Very surprising news!

I haven't been feeling good at all lately. I stay tired and my breasts have been very tender. I choked it to being the worst PMS ever. Wrong. Earlier this week I started counting days since my last period and I thought, uh ohhhh. It's been like 41 days. Not a good sign. So, then I did the math of when our "uh oh" moment happened and realized it was April 1st and the last "period" was exactly 18 days later. Exactly enough time for implantation bleeding. Which means I could have gotten pregnant April 1st and never had a clue. Todd and I were concerned in April so we took 5 pregnancy tests, yes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 tests over a week's time and nothing showed positive, so we figured we were safe. But, after I told him all the realizations I was having about timing, we knew something wasn't right. So, we went to the drug store and bought another pack of pregnancy tests. He said if I am really that far along, I should have hormones running like crazy so he told me to take the test as soon as we got home. And, sure enough pregnant starts flashing on the digital test. Then the tears started. More scared than anything, because I have not been the healthy pregnant woman I should have been. So, I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and hopefully all goes well. From what I can figure, I will be do December 23rd. I really hate that my baby will have to compete with Christmas, but that is the biggest and best gift I have ever been given so I won't complain. I am beyond scared and also excited all at the same time. The other good news is a lady that I work with (and we also bought our house from her and her husband without realizing it) is due at the same time so I have someone to sympathize and compare stories with. I am trying not to get toooo excited at this point, because I don't know for sure what's going on until I get to the doctor. I told Todd either way I am ok. If I am pregnant, then yay, bring on the baby. But, if I've miscarried because of all the unhealthy things I've done over the last 10 weeks, then it was meant to be and we will try again when we can.

Todd has been so sweet and supportive. I never doubted he would, but it has been nice to be taken care of. He even bought me flowers on Thursday because he knew I was in shock.
We haven't told the families yet. We are going to wait to tell them on Father's Day at our annual cookout. It is killing me not to say anything, but I want to make sure I have good news to tell. Only 2 weeks, it shouldn't be sooo bad.