Doctor's Notes

17 weeks and 1 day, and I had another doctor's appointment today. I weighed in and found that I had lost a pound. This may be due to clothing, food, etc. so I'm not worried at all about it. I listened to the heatbeat via Dopplar and it is about the same (150's). While listening to the heartbeat, I heard the baby moving around about 4-5 times. It sounds like when you accidently rub a microphone against your clothing.
My uterus has moved up to just under my belly button and has made my stomach firmer.
The appointment was short and sweet with nothing but good news.
2 more weeks until we should know: Boy or Girl?

Speaking of taking bets...

Ok, here's how it looks so far. If any of you change your minds before March 12, let me know and I'll update my list.

Sharon--girl

Jason--girl

Becky--girl

Mom Stabley--girl

Dad Stabley--girl

Matthew--girl

Dad Shanks--girl

Mom Shanks--boy

Mamaw--girl

Jack--girl

Debra--girl

Danielle--girl

Sarah--boy

Holly--undecided

John--undecided

Grandpa N--girl

Grandma N--girl

Jeff--girl

Maria--boy

Feeling Better and Counting Down

Jason is starting to feel better now. He has a lot of congestion and coughing, but no fever or aching body. Thanks for everyones' prayers!

We are two weeks and two days away from knowing if the baby is a boy or a girl. Jason and I are so excited and starting to put plans in place. As soon as we know, we will be finalizing a theme for the nursery, picking out colors and paint and doing some more consignment shopping.

Results

We just got back from Urgent Care. The doctor said that Jason has a combination of Flu, GI bug, and a cold. We got a script for Theraflu pills 2 times a day, and the doctor said to take Mucinex D 2 times a day and 3 Advil 3 times a day for three days. In other words, Jason is druggin' up!
When we got home all he wanted was to lay down and get some food in his stomach.
Please keep praying for Jason and me.

OH NO!

I am home this weekend taking care of a sick baby. Jason came home from work yesterday very achey and cold. Now when Jason gets cold, you know he's sick. It was so sad seeing him shiver with goose bumps and know that the worst is yet to come. He had a low-grade fever of 100, so he took some cold medicine for his symptoms. He laid down for about 2 hours and started to feel better so he got up and went to the living room for the rest of the evening. He still felt pretty good so he went to bed after taking some Nyquil.
This morning I wake up to Jason saying, "Can you get me a cool wash cloth?" This is code for "I'm trying to fight off vomiting". He asked for a trashcan a little later and then rushed to the bathroom soon after.
Since pregnancy, I have been especially sensitive to facial fluids (mucus, vomiting, boogers, etc.) I can barely type the words without getting visual images and my stomach turning.
Please pray for us both this weekend!

Dreamy with a chance of pickles

I had such an odd dream last night that I must share it with everyone.

*I went to the doctor for one of my regular pregnancy visits when they deliver the baby (a girl, by the way). Holly, my sister is assisting and has gloved hands ready. Mom is standing near me (for support, I guess). She is immediately given the baby until the nurse comes to clean the baby. When the baby is cleaned, she is handed off to me. I just hold the baby at arms length and just look at her. She is the spitting image of a cabage patch doll; blonde pig-tails and all. Well the doctor takes the baby and puts her back inside and the only thing I can think is, "Oh, no! Holly and Mom know that it's a girl before Jason!" Well the next day, I try to let Holly know not to mention anything to Jason while she is at our house. She doesn't take any of the hints, so she turns to Jason and asks, "So, what do you think of having a girl?"*

After that dream, I went to the store this afternoon and saw a jar of pickles and really wanted them, so now I'm eating pickle spears and dreaming odd dreams. What more can I ask for?

Belly Picture

This is 15 weeks. I don't know why that one part of my stomach looks flattened, but, oh well. Nothing I can do about it. I'm still about a pound short of pre-pregnancy weight, but I'm beginning to look bigger, so it's a good sign that our little one is growing. I keep checking the whattoexpect.com website each week and I think I am falling about a week behind what it says. Again, oh well; everyone is different.

Well, I think I will go do some laundry and read a book.

I'm so hot!

Ok, they ARE hotflashes. But it just seems so early for this. I just sit fanning myself for about ten minutes and try not to sweat! Eeewww!

Remembering to eat, weigh, and stretch

Ending week 14, I feel pretty good. I'm still loving carbs and staying away from any juicy chicken. But, I did venture out this past Saturday and eat a Chic-fil-A grilled chicken cool wrap (a grilled chicken salad wrapped in tortilla). Yummy, and it hit "the spot."
"The spot" has been changing lately from "all carbs no matter what" to "gimme something salty." I've been eating chips and salsa, and peanut butter crackers. I know they're still carbs, but it's the salt I want now. I have a snack usually twice each day that consists of a combination of fruit (apples/organes/bananas), chips/crackers, cereal, or fruit juice.
Ice cream is a good desert when I want something cold, too. I don't eat it too often; maybe just twice a week.

I am still not up to my pre-pregnancy weight. I think it's a little odd because I was never very sick. But, Doc says everything is fine and I should pick up some weight in this second trimester. I'm not really in a hurry, though.

My little "bump" seems to be moving up into my abdomin and beginning to take over. I can tell my lower stomach is getting firmer and my tendons are stretching. Sometimes I'll get off the couch to fast and have to double over because I didn't give my muscles a chance to get use to the idea. :) I'll post a belly picture when I can get Jason to take it.

Bursting at the Seams

Sharon has been asking for belly pictures. Mom took this picture when Jason and I went over for dinner last Saturday night (about 13 weeks=2 months).
These jeans no longer fit; I am having to zip them partly and then tuck the buttons and the rest of the zipper in.
Mom and I went pants shopping for me yesterday and we found two pairs of capris that are normal length on me. I know Grandma is thinking, "hurray, I won't have to hem them!"

Hold Still

January 30th, I had my second appointment. It seems the baby is very active! We were trying to hear the heartbeat with a Dopplar, but every time we would start to hear it, the baby would move. The doctor still got to check and the heartbeat is still about 158bpm. We should be able to find out if the baby is a boy or girl in about 6 weeks. March 12 is the date. Cross your fingers and, "Baby", please hold still when it’s time!

Don't you like food?

January 22nd. The baby is 12 weeks now and I am beginning to think that he/she doesn't like food. Lately that "morning" sicknes has been catching up with me morning and night. I guess I had gotten my hopes up that if I didn't get sick immediately, then I wouldn't get sick at all. WRONG! I'm learning every day (and night) not to make assumptions. Every woman is different and reacts differently to pregnancy. I just have to remind myself of that.

That's my baby!

Well January 2, 2008 was our first, and long awaited appointment at the doctor's office. We got to see the baby and hear the heart beat. The baby's heart rate was 158 beats per minute and the baby measured about 2.3 cm. At this point, the baby was 9 weeks old. This makes the due date to be a nice round number at 8/8/08. I hope everyone can make out the head, body, arms and legs.