Getting our act together

There has been a lot going on with our family, no necessarily baby related. At least that is what I thought. However, thinking it over more, preparing for a baby is more than belly pics, registering and kick counts. It's also getting your life ready and to a place where you feel it will be best for that baby. And that's what we've been doing. A big jump start on our spiritual life, which has finally started encompassing all aspects of life.
I haven't decided if I'm really going to go into it here, or if it's time to start that blog. And let's be honest. I haven't done that great of a job keeping up with this one. Not that we aren't excited for Johanna, but there really is so much to write about that is blog-worthy. But what God is doing is constant and exciting and life changing. I think that is a blog that I could keep up with.
But we'll see where He leads...

The reveal

Well, I've been waiting to update because I wanted to have a belly pic to go with it, but we keep forgetting and I've realized my camera does not like me doing it myself. But, we do have some news, so I figured I needed to go ahead.
We had the "big" ultrasound last Tuesday, which revealed that we were wrong again and we are, in fact, having another girl! After the initial shock because everyone was so sure it was a boy, we were very excited for Adia to have a sister. And, I think we have decided on a name:
Johanna Elise. Just aren't sure if we will call her Elise or Johanna. And in other good news, the tear is completely gone! YAY!

So, there you go. The big news for now.

To those I love

There are some things that come with pregnancy that come out of left field. Things that you never really thought would be affected by it. But here I am, with yet another "side effect" that this pregnancy seems to be so plagued with.
Because of all the worry and stress we had early on, I've pretty much been a real joy to be around (I hope you caught the sarcasm). I have not done a very good job to not let this pregnancy effect every part of my life. For a while, it's all I could think about, especially when I had to stay in bed the majority of the time. And therefore, it has caused issues with my closest relationships. Not to the point of no return on any of them, but it's been a struggle to get them back to where they need to be.
So, I guess my purpose for this post is this: Your pregnancy is not every one's pregnancy. And even those closest to you (i.e. your husband, best friend, family) aren't as obsessed with it as you are. Try to keep your perspective when you are around them and make them feel as important as you did before you were pregnant.

And on a different note, I should have some updated belly pics in a couple days.

*sigh*

of relief that is. Heart rate was 158 (and I did google when I got home because the 2 times before that it had been in the 170s and it's completely normal. I obviously am not). But they were checking my BP at the same time as trying to find the heart rate (which took a little while to find), so of course my BP was high and they had to take it again at the end of the appt.
I've also definitely felt baby move the last two days. Kind of like a rolling feeling against the inside of my stomach. So I was a little less anxious going in.
My Big ultrasound is April 13. But, I think we may go to Ultrasona and get the gender check done March 29th because 1. we really want to find out asap what we are having. And 2. Adia can't be there for the Big one because they won't allow children under 14, and we would really like her to be a part of this. And 3. I have a 10% off coupon.

Where did this fear come from?

I know. I'm shocked myself. Another blog post so soon after the last one? Well, I'm feeling anxious, so I thought writing about it may help a bit. So here goes...
My Dr. appt is Thursday morning. I am so nervous there isn't going to be a heartbeat this time. I know it's very unlikely, but I can't shake this worry. And even though *I think* I've felt movement I keep saying that it's probably just gas and then that worries me, even though it's still early to feel any movement, even with this being baby #2. But although I know that, the fear keeps taking over. and over. and over. I really think I need some serious prayer time - a good conversation with God to let him know what's going on and that I really need some help here! And for Him to tell my I'm being silly and that He has this baby and to trust.
So, with that said, I am really hoping I have some great news to post on Thursday afternoon. Oh, and I'm going to try to get an ultrasound because of the bleeding on Sunday. And who knows, I may casually ask boy or girl and get an answer...

15 weeks and a set-back

So I started heavy bleeding again early this morning. It's subsided for now and I just pray it stays that way. This is the first big bleeding incident in 4 weeks and I'm so bummed. I was really hoping when I went to the Dr.'s this Thursday that it would be all but healed, but I don't think that will be the case now. And the crazy thing is that I've been unusually anxious these last few days about the baby - just worried something was wrong. I am praying that all is still fine with baby and this won't affect him/her too much. And I am hopeful that it's already slowed down to light spotting. I just truly hate this. So much.

But, I do think I've started to feel sporadic baby movement! It may just be wishful thinking, but there has been something going on. And to end this post, my 15 week belly shot from yesterday. A horrible pic of me, but I rarely take a good one... (Oh, and did I mention my birthday was on Friday?)

Short and sweet

My 14 week belly pic. Gotta run. Promised Adia we would eat Panera for dinner!

13 weeks and another rant

There are so many words for vomit. There's throw-up, hurl, up-chuck. I tend to say puke a lot and in high school, we thought it was super funny to call it ralph. Whatever anyone calls it, I better be down with it. My last puke was Friday, a full two weeks after what I had hoped was my last one. Foolish me was thinking that when I turned 12 weeks, I was going to feel completely better and never feel queasy again the rest of this pregnancy. But that is so not the case. I've been feeling nauseous everyday since Wednesday again, threw-up on Friday and still woke up queasy today at 13 weeks and 1 day. AHHHHHHHHHH, I am so over this!



And I'm still spotting. Not bleeding, but still spotting. I know the baby is okay, but it's still a bit nerve-wrecking.



I am still so amazed how different my pregnancies have been. I loved being pregnant with Adia, it was pretty uneventful. This has been anything but that. But, I am still so thankful I get to go through this because whatever I have to endure will be worth it when our new little one is here.



To end this rant, here is my 13 week belly pic:

A good/decent Dr. appt.

So I went in for another appt. today. It was shorter than I thought it would be, but it went well.

I thought they were going to do another ultrasound to check on the tear, but they just listened for the heartbeat on the Doppler. Which we found and was 171 bpm!! Dr. said that since there isn't anything they can do about the tear and they heard a good, strong heart rate, they won't do another ultrasound until my big one, in 8 weeks.

I am glad they didn't do an internal ultrasound because that really made things worse last time, but I guess I was kind of hoping they would try to do a regular one. But, it was great to hear the babies heartbeat and besides a short episode this past Sunday, the bleeding has mainly been just spotting.

Also, I have gained about 4.5 lbs total so far. And that's good because I started a little underweight due to being sick. I'm surprised it wasn't more though because I have been eating a lot lately. But I'll take it.

Finally!

I am a little late in writing this, but I am pregnant again! The due date is September 4th, which puts me at 10 weeks, 5 days.
I was so very surprised when I saw the positive pregnancy test. I had finally given it all over to God and was really okay with the idea of not having more children, if that was His will for us.
I took the test because I was spotting but no actual period and I was feeling kind of sick that morning. I was completely expecting to see nothing, inspect if for about 5 more minutes to see if I could see the faintest of faint lines then throw it away like I've done every other time. But when I went to look at it this time, I was totally blown away. I started laughing and crying at the same time.
I was going to think I some neat way to tell Jason, but was so shocked that I just called him at work and told him. We both were so not expecting it, but here we are!

And now for the not-so-great news. I have a subchorionic hemorrhage that is caused by the baby's sack partially separating from my uterus. It is something that isn't completely uncommon and a lot of times will heal itself, usually by 20 weeks. So we are praying for that! What's really hard is that I can't do very much. A normal day before is too much now and can start the bleeding again. So I've been spending a lot of time in my bed and it's starting to get old. But, I will stay here my entire pregnancy if I need to for this baby.

Well, that's my latest update!