So many updates!

Well, as of today I am 34 weeks pregnant and should have about 6 weeks to go - but, I really only have about 3 weeks! At my 32 week appointment the doctor discovered that my blood pressure was higher than it should be. So, I was told I had "severe pregnancy induced hypertension". The sent me for blood work, had to do a 24 hour urine test, and then upgraded my condition to "pre-eclampsia". What this means is that I have high blood pressure, a decreased platelet count, and a high level of protein in my urine. So, I have been on bed rest for the past week, and will remain that way until our little girl is delivered.

She is still doing great and is growing right on schedule, well, a little ahead! Every Monday we have a BPP (biophysical profile) to check her lung function, fluid level, movements, and placenta function. Last week and today she scored an 8 of 8! Last week I had steroid injections to help her lungs mature a little faster, so everything is looking good!

The preinatologist we meet with every week told us that I will be induced at 37 weeks if my condition doesn't worsen. So, we are looking at about Jan 12th for her due date! I pray that everything continues as it is now, and she can cook for another 3 weeks! At the appt today she was estimated at 5lbs 14oz, so at least we know she will be a healthy size!

Anyway, that is the update. I look forward to every Monday and Wednesday when I am allowed to leave the house for doctor's appts! Sad, I know!!!

32 week update - the good and the bad

Well, I went to the Dr this morning because I wasn't feeling well. I have been coughing a lot and just wanted to make sure everything was okay. The Dr said I just have a viral infection and that there is nothing to worry about. My lungs were clear so there is no fear of bronchitis or anything - yay for the good news! So, I can take Tylenol PM at night to help me sleep. Other than that, it just has to work it's way out of my system. Another piece of good news was that my blood sugars look great and there is still no mention of needing insulin!! I got to hear Brighton's heart beat, and it was nice and strong at 154 BMP! She has been very active the past 2 weeks! Last night Jeff was actually able to feel her have the hicups!

Now for the not-so-good news. The Dr said I had 2+ protein in my urine (whatever that means) and my blood pressure was high. This is the first time the entire pregnancy that I have had high blood pressure! It was 122/96. They said the combination of the high protein and the elevated blood pressure makes me a candidate for "pregnancy induced hypertension". Yippi! Now instead of going in every 2 weeks, I have to be seen every week to monitor the blood pressure. I am at a high risk of developing pre-eclampsia which can lead to an early delivery. But, they are going to watch me closely so everything will be okay! I had blood work done, and have to do a 24hr urine collection - the fun times just keep coming! Oh, and I take my blood pressure twice a day at work and record the numbers. If I get about 140/90 then I call right away. So far I haven't been in that range!

Anyway, that is the latest! I finally got the nursery primed, so we just need to paint and get all the trim work done. We still have lots to do! But, school gets out on the 18th, so hopefully we will have a little more time then! I'll try to post a new picture soon!!

Thanksgiving and our trip to Colorado

This Thanksgiving Jeff and I flew up to Colorado to visit family and friends for the holiday! At the time I was 30 weeks, so flying was still okay by my Dr! The flight was good - a little uncomfortable towards the end, but nothing too bad. I didn't have any swelling or anything!
Anyway, when we got up there on Sunday my wonderful mother-in-law and sister-in-law threw me a baby shower! It was so much fun! Thank you to all the wonderful ladies that attended - you really made me feel special! Everything was perfect and I couldn't be happier! Not to mention I was truely blessed with everyone's generosity! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The rest of our trip was relaxing just spending time with family. Jeff and his dad worked on the baby's furniture in the evenings - I am sooo excited about seeing the final product! Now I just have to be patient until they get to come down after Christmas! We had a great trip and weren't ready to come home. But the positive side is we get to see mom, dad, and Steph again in a few weeks! Yay!

29 weeks - 11 to go!!

Wow - that is hard to believe! We had a pretty good weekend this weekend. I was able to pick up the baby bedding on Thursday and it is sooooo cute!! So yesterday I finally picked out what color I want to do her room (thanks Mandy for the help)! And Jeff and I put together her crib! Yay! We have something in the room now! Hopefully this week I will get some painting done before we leave for Colorado! Here is the weekly update - even though our little one is bigger than it says! :)

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

28 week appointment!

This morning we had our 28 week appointment and everything went great! Jeff and I were able to see our little girl again! And yes, she is still a girl, and yes, there is still just 1 of her! Well, it looks like we are going to have a big girl! When they measured her femur, she was in the 96th percentile!! Looks like she has her daddy's legs! And, she is estimated to weigh 3 lbs 1 oz right now. Her overall size put her in the 73rd percentile, and she was measuring about 1 1/2 weeks early! When we read her sonogram report they actually put 1/22/10 on there! Now, that doesn't mean she will be born that early, but that she is growing at a good rate! The doctor expects we will have a 8+ pound baby!

My appointment went well too. I got the Rhogam shot since I am 28 weeks along and have A- blood. My blood pressure, belly size, and blood sugars all looked good! And, I only have to check my blood sugars 2 times a day now! Yay!! So far this pregnancy I have gained about 11 pounds, with 7 of them coming in the last 8 weeks - my doctor was happy with that too.

Anyway, here is the picture of Brighton today. She was head down and laying on her right side, so it was hard to get a clear shot of her face. But, if you look hard enough you can see her chubby little cheeks, her ear, hands in front of her face, and maybe a little hair! Oh, I can't wait to see her in person!!!

A very productive weekend!

This weekend Jeff and I got a lot of stuff done! Let me just say, I have a wonderful and amazing husband, and I feel truely blessed to have him in my life! He worked his tail off this weekend around the house! All of our stuff is moved out of storage, and there are 2 little boxes waiting to be un-packed...then we are done!!!! Jeff organized the garage and put stuff up in the attic so I can actually park my car in the garage - I am very excited about that! Saturday we went car shopping for me. I really like my Murano, but feel like I need something bigger to start hauling baby stuff! So, we went to Carmax and I found a Tahoe (online) that I really like. All the finances are approved, so we just have to wait for it to come in from San Antonio. Hopefully sometime this week I will have a new vehicle!

Yesterday Jeff worked like a mad-man outside in the yard. We have about 1/2 acre, and the previous owners had some pretty interesting plants everywhere! So Jeff pulled out pretty much every plant in the front yard (trust me, none you would want to keep) and finally mowed down all the weeds...the front of the house looks so much better!!! Now we just have the other yard to do!

Oh, another thing we did on Saturday was pick up our crib! Actually having it at the house (still in the box) has made me anxious about the baby's room! Hopefully this weekend we can start painting the trim and doors so that next weekend we can work on the walls! Anyway, that is the update from the Bernard house! Have a great week everyone!

27 weeks down...13 to go!

My goodness time has started to fly by! Today I am 27 weeks along, and I can't believe that in under 3 months our little girl will be here! She is moving a lot more lately, and Jeff is able to feel her will a little more ease. She does have her quiet times, and that makes me a little nervous! As I sit here to type this, my little girl has her first hiccups (right on schedule)!!!! It feels like a little tapping on the inside about 1 sec apart from each other - hope that means she is growing! I am feeling good still, and blood sugar is right on track! I am starting to get a little uncomfortable at night, but I know that is just the beginning!

Anyway, here is the 27 week update:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Only 1 more week until we get to see her again! Yay!!!

Surprise Baby Shower!!!!

So, have I ever mentioned that I have the best group of volleyball players ever?!?! In case some of you don't know, I am an athletic trainer at a high school. Well, last week I get a phone call from the head volleyball coach saying that one of her players was hurt during work-out during class and I needed to come over there and get her on the Gator - so I hop on the Gator and head to the gym. When I get there all the girls are in the locker room because the coach was "upset" with them for messing around and getting someone hurt. Mind you, the volleyball nets were set up and there were balls left out on the floor (very good staging on their part)!!

Well, I go into the locker room to check on the girl that was hurt and low and behold - they surprised me with a baby shower!!! Both the varsity and JV teams were in there, and there was streamers and balloons everywhere! They are so sweet! Evidently they had been planning this for like 2 weeks and it was called operation B-squared (Baby Brighton or Brighton Bernard)! I totally felt special and appreciated, which doesn't happen often in my profession. My first baby shower was awesome!! Here are some pics from that day - too bad I didn't have a heads up so I could fix my hair or put on make-up!

The volleyball girls and Coach Green!

The volleyball girls (with Coach Green not in the picture)

Opening gifts - wow, baby blankets are sooooo soft!

Our "Happy Giraffe" bouncer!!!

Such cute onesies!!

Really, her little feet are going to be this small?!?!?

Actually seeing her name in print for the first time - it looks pretty good! :)

Cards from some of the girls

The yummy cake that one of my players made! It was 3 level - strawberry on top, chocolate in the middle, and vanilla on the bottom! She even decorated it herself! See the B 2 on top?? So cute!

Nursery Bedding!

So, we are having our bedding custom made by a place called "Cowgirls and Lace" here in Dripping Springs. It won't be ready until the start of December, but I figured I could post the fabric samples and try to explain what it will look like! She is going to be a cowgirl princess with her room being pink and brown!

This is the front of the bumper:Each side looks like it is in 3 pieces. In the middle will be the brown cow-hide and on each side will be the pink checkered print. Seperating the pieces will be the ribbon you see, and the trim along the entire thing is the pink/brown rope at the top.

The inside of the bumper will look like this:

The reverse side of the pink checkered fabric will be the brown minky dot, and the reverse side of the brown cow-hide will be the pink fuzzy fabric. The same ribbon will seperate the panels and the trim around the top is the same.

The dust ruffle will look like this:

It will be the pink checkered fabric with the polka-dot trim about 3 inches from the bottom. The skirt will be tailored with the "v-folds" in the front and on the sides.

And finally, the ties on the bumper will look like this:

The ribbon is 2-sided so you will be able to see both the pink and brown!

We have also ordered a brown rocker/recliner that should be in around the same time! Hopefully we will start working on the nursery soon with painting and everything. But for now, our attention is focused on un-packing the rest of the house! Hope you enjoy!!!!

24 Weeks! V-Day!!

So this morning we had our 24 week appointment! No ultrasound this time, so I was kind of bummed about that, but everything went well! My belly is growing right on schedule, and I actually gained weight this last month! Just 3 lbs, but I have a feeling there will be plenty more to come! I also turned in my glucose numbers, and they were very happy with them! Looks like insulin is going to be a long ways off!! Yay!!! I was able to hear Brighton's heart rate on the doppler, and she was about 148-152 bmp - perfect! I wish I could have seen her pretty little face!
We have our 28 week appointment scheduled for Nov. 10th, and we will get to see her again then! They are going to do another growth scan so we can see how big she is measuring and all that good stuff! Also at the next appointment I will have to get the Rhogam shot since I am A- blood type. Then from 28 weeks on we will have appointments every 2 weeks! Agh! It is going to be here before you know it!
Today is also a big day because we have reached our "V-Day"! If your baby happens to be born at 24 weeks or later, it has greater than 50% chance of survival...hence, viability day! Granted we want that little girl to cook as long as possible, but passing all the small milestones are exciting! I feel great, she is moving like crazy, and Jeffrey is able to feel her as well - so weird! Anyway, below is the pregnancy update for 24 weeks!!
Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

21 Weeks!!!! Over 1/2 way done!!!!

It is hard to believe that we are on the down-hill side of the pregnancy! I have a feeling the due date will get here before I know it! Anyway, I have been feeling great! Brighton is moving around quite a bit (such a weird feeling), so it is nice to know she is doing okay! Jeffrey thought he felt her the other night, but it still might be too early for that.

This weekend we did a lot of baby stuff too! I went to the fabric store and picked out all the bedding stuff for Miss Brighton, but I am waiting to place the order until Oct. 2nd (the sale starts then)! It is going to be so cute! I will be sure to post pictures once we start working on her room! Then Jeffrey and I went and registered for some baby stuff at Babies 'R Us. That was an overwhelming experience! I left the store with a headache! :) But, it was fun and we are happy with our choices!

Here is the weekly update on the baby, although we think she is a little bigger than this already!!

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

20 Week Appt Went Great!

Well, yesterday we had our 20 week "big" appointment, and everything looks great! It is confirmed that we are having a GIRL!!!! She looked good and healthy, with all organs working and in their proper place! We actually were able to see her swallowing too! Right now she weighs about 12oz, and is in the 63% for femur length and head size! Hopefully she is going to get some of her daddy's height!

She was in the breech position, which is totally normal at this stage, and her bottom was pushed as far down as she could possibly go! It was amazing to see how flexible and active she is! I have been able to feel her moving for about 2 weeks now, but the feelings are definetly getting stronger! It is only a matter of time before Jeff can feel her too!

I am doing well also. Blood sugars are under control with the diet, so no mention of insulin yet! And, I am still down 1 lb from my pre-pregnancy weight! The doctor said that is totally normal for gestational diabetes mothers, and that I might gain very little weight overall.

So, that is the update. Our little girl, Brighton Jane, is doing great!!!

17 week update!

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

I have been such a slacker!!!

Okay, I am sooo sorry that I haven't updated the blog in a while. Towards the end of my 1st trimester I usually picked napping over being on the computer, and now things have been really busy with sports and school starting! So, I will try to go through everything pretty fast!
We had our 16 week appointment on August 17th and everything looked really good! The best news, is that is looks like we are having a GIRL!!!!! She was very active (I had to drink a glucose drink before the exam) so it was hard for the nurse to get a clear shot. But, we had 2 good views and we are about 80% sure she is a girl! We will confirm the gender at the 20 week appointment on September 14th! The nurse made the comment that she had really long legs, which my goodness, look at her daddy! Time to start saving for those club volleyball teams! We might have the next volleyball star on our hands!
So, back to the glucose drink. My doctor wanted to check for gestational diabetes pretty early due to my family history. Monday I did the 1 hour glucose test to see if additional testing was needed. Needless to say, I failed the 1 hour test and had to do the 3 hour test the following day. Tuesday morning I got to drink that yummy drink again (kind of tasted like orange fanta) and have my blood sugar checked every hour. Well, I failed that test too! :( Here were my levels in case you are interested: Fasting was 87 and it should be less than 95, 1 hour was 202 and it should be less than 180, 2 hour was 172 and it should be less than 155, and finally 3 hour was 72 and it should be less than 140. I thought 2 out of 4 wasn't bad...guess I was wrong! I have to meet with a diabetic counselor tomorrow (8/25) to see what changes to my diet I need to make, etc. Hopefully it won't come to the insulin injections, but I will do whatever is best for the baby!
Well, that is about it. I will post the 17 week update just in case anyone is interested! Have a great week!!

Video won't work...

Well, I tried yesterday and today to upload the video from our 12 week appt. I could not get it to work! :( So, I will have Jeff try and see if he can get it to work. I'll let you know!! Have a great day everyone!

NT scan went perfect!

We finally got to see the baby again today - 4 weeks is a long time to wait! The purpose of today's ultrasound was to do a NT scan (nuchal translucency). This measures the space behind the baby's neck and the skin that covers it. Our's measured 0.8 mm, and anything under 3.0 shows the baby does not have Down's Syndrome.

Also, the sonographer checked the baby's umbilical cord and it has all 3 parts! They are supposed to have 2 arteries and 1 vein, so that was good news! The digestive system was also working perfectly, with the intestines inside the abdomen (a condition that could happen) and the kidneys are already functioning! Baby is already starting to urinate!

One of the best things about today is that we actually got to hear the heartbeat! We saw it beating away 4 weeks ago, but nothing compares to that sound! It made me tear up to hear it - there is really a baby in there! Baby's heart rate was 163 BPM which is just perfect! Baby was also moving around like crazy, but I still can't feel it yet. He/she was kicking, squirming, moving it's arms, and opening and closing it's mouth! That was pretty funny to see!

Anyways, I have attached 2 pictures of the scan today. One is far away so you can see everything, and the other is a little more zoomed in (but is a little blurry). The head is to the left of the picture, and is facing the camera. There are 2 "alien" eyes with the mouth open! We just love our alien baby!!! I am also going to try and attach the video with the heartbeat!

Yay! Yay! Yay! 12 weeks!!!

So, I will write another post about the NT scan we had done today, but I wanted to post the basic "what's happening with baby" post! Here is what babycenter.com has to say!
The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

Holy cow - 11 weeks already!

I can't believe that I just have 1 week to go until I am out of the 1st trimester! Once I hit that mark, I will be able to share the news with my co-workers and my students! They are going to be so excited! There is just something about being out of the 1st trimester before you want everyone to know! Anyways, I am feeling much better! My appetite is good - actually today I ate 3 full meals, and my energy is starting to come back. My naps are down to about an hour a day, but the waking during the night is becoming more frequent! I get up on average of 2 times a night to visit the bathroom! We finally get to see the baby again in a week! On the 20th we have the NT scan, so there will be more pictures to share! Yay!
Here is the weekly update from babycenter.com:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Holy cow - 11 weeks already!

Nausea mystery is solved!!!

So, some of you might know that I have been taking a medicine called Metformin for a while now. I was on it before I got pregnant to help with the PCOS. Once I got pregnant my doctor said I should stay on it to help prevent gestational diabetes. So, I have been taking 3 pills a day for a total of 1500mg. Pre-pregnancy I still had an appetite on the medicine, but it would mess with my stomach each time I took it.
Well, this past weekend we went to my grandparent's for the 4th of July, and I decided not to take the medicine for 2 days to see how I felt. Low and behold I felt great! I actually ate a full meal on Friday and Saturday, and had my appetite back to its normal level. So, I started thinking that maybe it wasn't the medicine and that I was just getting past the sickness stage - so I took the medicine again on Monday and Tuesday. Guess what...no appetite and I felt bad all day.
I called the doctor this morning to tell him all of that, and he said for me to stop taking the medicine. Since I wasn't eating hardly anything, I wasn't getting the nutrition I needed to help the pregnancy. He said he felt comfortable with me being off of it since I was 10 weeks along. So, now I am really excited to be off the medicine!!!!! The nausea is gone, and I can eat again! So much for the me having a girl theory! Who knows, I still might be! We won't find out until the 16 week appt with will be around the 20th of August! I can't wait!

Wow - 10 weeks already!

It seems like the last few weeks have just flown by! I can't believe that I am already 10 weeks along! Here is the weekly update about what is going on with the baby!

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

When will the nausea end?!?!?!

Well, I should be happy that I have been able to keep everything down, but my usual 2pm-6pm nausea has turned into 12pm-bedtime!! I have tried those Preggie Pops (lollipops that are supposed to help) and the sour ones are pretty good. I guess they help a little, but not as much as I would like!
I am ready to get to that "craving" stage, and I know Jeff is too! He is ready to be that husband that rushes out at 1am to pick up the fast food I am craving! For now, he just has to go downstairs and get a Sprite every once in a while! I know not every woman has the cravings, but I am hoping I am one of them!
So, I weighed myself yesterday morning. If I go by the scale at home, I have lost about 5 pounds since June 18th. Yes, weightloss in the 1st trimester is very common so I'm not too worried about it. I haven't been eating much due to the nausea, so that is the reason for the weightloss.
Anyways, that is just a little update!

9 weeks!!!!!

Wow! I can't believe I am already 9 weeks along! Just 3 more weeks and I am out of the first trimester - I can't wait for that! I have still not thrown up (except for the 1 time) but I am nauseous all the time. Most of the day I just feel icky, but I know that will pass before I know it, and I will be missing the sickness! Anyways, here is baby's update for the 9 week mark:

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

The best BFPB / Labor Buddy EVER!!!

So, I have a BFPB (big fat positive buddy) named Billie. She and her husband live out in California, and we met on a baby chat website. Anyways, she got her positive pregnancy test about 3 weeks before I did! Then, I got mine - totally a coincidence! And now, she is my labor buddy! It is fun to have someone to talk with that is going through the same thing I am.

This morning when I went to check the mail I had a nice package in there from her, and now I have some baby goodies to share! She sent me a cute sleeper with froggie footies, 2 cute onesies, and a board book! She is awesome! Thanks so much Billie - you are the best!!

8 weeks!!

Here is the weekly update:

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

Home from Colorado!

Well, we are home from the much anticipated trip to Colorado! We are so happy that we were able to share our good news in person! Jeff and I flew in on Thursday night after our doctor's appointment, but waited to tell Jeff and Bev until right before bed. We bought his mom a calender countdown thing that said "...weeks until I'm a Grandma" and we bought his dad a picture frame that said "Grandma and Grandpa's ray of sunshine". (We put the ultrasound picture in the frame). It took Bev all of 3 seconds to see the word "Grandma" and she was jumping up and down screaming! We swear the neighbors could hear her! Jeff's dad was very excited too - he had a few tears in his eyes! :)

The next morning we told Jeff's sister, Stephanie, the good news! She came over to the house and we told her that we had a house-warming present for her. (She just bought her first house about 2 weeks ago). We got her a picture frame that said "I love my aunt" with the ultrasound picture in it, and also a little tile thing that said "Aunt: Another word for fun". She was very excited, of course!

Then, on Sunday Jeff and Bev hosted a Father's Day lunch at their house and lots more family members came over. Let's see, Grandma and Grandpa Bernard, Aunt Debbie, cousin Monica and her husband Jim, cousin Jen and her husband Chris along with their baby Tegan, Aunt Becky and Uncle Phil, cousin Chelsea and her boyfriend Gabe along with their baby Nevaeh, and Phil's parents all came over for the celebration! During the lunch we told them we were expecting, and everyone was very excited for us! Now that all of them know, we gave our families the go-ahead to share our news with their other friends and family!

We had a great trip with one exception...it was MUCH too short! Hopefully we can make it back up there sometime this summer or this fall. I did get sick one night while I was there, but I am sure it was due to my prenatal vitamins! I took it on an empty stomach, so it made me sick. Oh well, I was bound to throw-up at least once!

1st Ultrasound!!!

We had our first ultrasound appointment on Thursday! That day couldn't get here soon enough! Aside from waiting on the doctor for 45 minutes, everything went great!!!! We got to meet with the doctor and ask lots of questions, but the best part was the ultrasound!! We actually got to see the baby's heartbeat! It looked like a little butterfly fluttering away in there! The baby look healthy, and measured 7 weeks and 2 days on Thursday (1 day behind my schedule), but the doctor said that would keep adjusting as we went along. So, I now have a due date "range" of Feb 1st-Feb 4th! My next appointment is July 20th for another ultrasound - it seems like forever away!
I know the picture is bad, but it is the best I can do for now! That white spot in the middle of all the black is the baby!

Okay, here is a little better pic!

7 Weeks!!!!! We have a blueberry!

So, I figured I should give the weekly update about the baby - it is just fun to know what is going on in there! As of Monday I am 7 weeks along! Doesn't seem like much, huh?!?! Anyways, here is what is happening:

The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her/his tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her/his nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her/his liver is churning out red blood cells until her/his bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She/he also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her/his umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her/his tiny body.

Thanks to babycenter.com I get weekly updates about the baby! It is really fun to look forward to Monday mornings! This is the picture they attached for this week as well. It is starting to look like a baby!!

Just a little update

Not much news as of now! Today we are 6 weeks and 4 days pregnant -the time is creeping along! I have been feeling okay, no real morning sickness yet. Yesterday I felt pretty queasy in the early evening hours, so I laid down for about 30 minutes...that 30 minutes turned into 2 hours!!! Jeff and I are very anxious about the appointment on Thursday (6/18) - it seems so far away! We can't wait to hear the heartbeat and actually see the little bean in there! Maybe then the pregnancy will sink in!
Then, after the appointment on Thursday we finally get to go to Colorado to share the news with Jeff's family! It has been so hard not to tell them, but we want to do it in person...they are going to be soooo excited!
Next update will probably be on Thursday after our appointment! Fingers crossed everything is okay!!!

Second Beta numbers!

Well, I got my second round of HcG (beta) numbers, and everything looks great!! I increased from a 69.1 to a 129.7! They are looking for at least a 60% increase in 48 hours, and we achieved that! Looks like everything is right on track! I also scheduled my first ultrasound appointment! How exciting! We will get to hear the heart beat for the first time on June 18th! That day cannot come fast enought!!
We still have not told Jeff's parents or family, and it is getting really hard! All of his family is in Colorado, so we are trying to plan a trip up there to tell them in person. Between his back surgery and the school year coming to a close, it is really hard to find the time! But, we can't wait until our July 4th trip, so I think we are going up there the evening of the 18th after our appointment. This just isn't something you tell over the phone! Anyways, that day will be here before you know it - - - I hope!

Telling Jeff the BIG news!!!

So, the secret finally came to an end last night when I told Jeff that he was going to be a Daddy! The entire family (mom, dad, step-mom, uncle, sister, brother-in-law, niece) along with Jeff and I went to dinner at a great Bar-B-Que place called the Salt Lick. At that point, the only people who knew I am pregnant was my mom and sister. Dinner went fine, and Jeff still had no idea!


Once dinner was over, I put the cookie cake in front of Jeff and told him to open it. His reaction was priceless! He opened it about 6 inches, read what it said, closed the box, and asked me "are you serious? Is this for real?" I just smiled at him and said, "yes, it is for real!!!" He teared up and was shaking when he gave me a kiss and said, "I can't believe this!" My dad and step-mom started tearing up too once they got to see what was on the cake! It was fun for them to find out that way also!


Needless to say, Jeff was very excited for the rest of the night! He wasn't even able to eat a piece of the cake he was no nervous! Ah, my hubby and his weak stomach! We might have to work on that over the next 9 months! I knew if I told him before dinner there was no way he would be able to eat!



I have attached some of the pictures from last night! Enjoy! (Thanks to my wonderful sister for taking them!)



Can you see the wheels turing in his head?!?!



Double checking to make sure he read it right!



Asking me if I am serious!!



A kiss for the new Mommy!!


Jeff and me


My dad, me, and step-mom


Jeff, me, and my mom



My sister and me

My mom, my uncle, and my niece Jensen making her new favorite face!

My brother-in-law and niece Jensen

Jensen just found out she was going to have to share with her new cousin!

Whew - she still has 9 months all by herself!~

Blood work confirms pregnancy!!!

So, the doctor's office just called with my progesterone and beta (HcG) levels and everything is good so far! My progesterone is at a 23.84 (up from 2 weeks ago) and they want to to stay above a 20 for pregnancy. My beta level is at a 69.1 which is also in the normal range for 15 DPO (days post ovulation). I will go back tomorrow to do the bloodwork again, and by then the beta number should have increased by 60%. So...everything looks good!

Tonight we have the family dinner and Jeff is going to find out he is going to be a daddy! Part of me wanted to make sure the bloodwork came back normal before I told him. I didn't want to tell him we were pregnant if it wasn't true. Doesn't look like that is going to happen!!!

My TTC journey (trying to conceive)

Jeff and I started trying to get pregnant soon after we were married. After a year of trying on our own, we decided it was time for me to see the doctor and find out what was going on. (Most fertility specialists won't see you until the 1 year mark). Well, I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and started taking a drug called Metformin. A few months of that and I still wasn't pregnant.

After more tests and charting, I found out that I wasn't ovulating. So, for the past 6 months (since December) I have also been taking a drug called Clomid. This medicine causes me to ovulate - pretty important if you want to get pregnant! Every month things would look "great" and my doctor would say "this could be the month"! And, every month I failed to get pregnant. So, this last month we added another type of drug. I did 4 days of injections of a medicine called Gonal F along with taking the Clomid. Gonal F is designed to help healthy follicles grow so a good egg will be released.

During all of this, I was closely monitored by my doctor with blood work and ultrasounds numerous times a month. I was in good hands, and I had the highest faith is what my doctor was doing for me.

Well, this month it worked!!! I took a pregnancy test on Saturday morning (5/23) and got the faintest of lines. I had to ask my mom if she saw the samething I did! She said yes, so the next morning (5/24) I took a digital pregnancy test and it said "pregnant"!!!!! I can't even explain how excited I was! Today I go for bloodwork to make sure all my levels are good, and I will go back again on Thursday. Right now I am just praying everything is normal, and things are good and healthy!

So, Jeff still does not know that we are pregnant! I am planning on telling him tomorrow (5/27) when we all go out to celebrate his birthday! He is going to be sooooo shocked! But, this is payback for the way he surprised me with the engagement! I can't wait until tomorrow - the secret is killing me!!!