Pregnancy Week 12

This week marks 12 weeks! I think it is a common misconception that the second trimester begins with the 12th week, but in FACT that does not begin until 13 weeks, 3 days. I can't wait to be able to say that I am in the second trimester. Slowly but surely, I am beginning to feel better. My nausea is really only present in the evening or if I allow myself to get too hungry. Which means I pretty much have to be constantly eating.

I also have more energy in the evenings after getting home from work, and I am finally catching up on all the housework I have been slacking off on. I have realized that because I have been so tired (and therefore lazy) that the rest of my family has become so as well. J and A have REALLY started slacking on their chores and seem to want to plant themselves in front of the TV. They are in for a reality check this summer when I kick them outside if the sun is out.

Anyway, Bean is the size of a PLUM now!


And since I am almost in the second tri, time to start belly shots. Please remember that I was chubby and had a belly BEFORE, but I definitely think I am starting to get a baby bump. None of my jeans fit or my work pants, and I can no longer suck it in.

Most Amazing Sound. Ever.

Two weeks ago, I went to my first pregnancy appointment at my doctor's. She did all the standard tests and then attempted (at 9 weeks, 5 days) to listen to the heartbeat via doppler. Dr. P. insisted that there was only a 50% chance of hearing anything this early on, and not to stress out if we couldn't hear it right away. Unfortunately, we were not able to find it at the appointment. She said it was also due to the fact that I am chubby because there is more skin and flab to go through (ok, she put it much nicer than that). Dr. P. instructed me to come back in two weeks to try again.

So, today (at 11 weeks, 4 days), I went back to Dr. P., and guess what?


She was able to find it pretty much immediately. I was ecstatic! Unfortunately, C was not there to hear it, since he had to work, and I was literally there for only 10 minutes, most of which was spent waiting. It was a beautiful sound and I immediately teared up and began thanking God. Every pregnant woman has that worry of the doctor being unable to find the heartbeat, so I was so grateful to hear that wonderful sound!

I go back for my standard check-up in two weeks (which is 4 weeks from my last appointment). And we scheduled our ultrasound for JULY 12! I can't wait to find out the sex of the bean!

Still here...

Hello to my loyal blog readers. I hope all 46 of you are still checking in. I seem to be pulling out of my constant-nausea phase, and hopefully will be back to blogging regularly. I am hoping to take part in Molly's Happy House Challenge, because my house is a disaster as of late. I have some small projects I hope to get a start on in the next few weeks, but right now, I am digging myself out of a huge pile of ungraded papers. I spent about a month attempting not to vomit on anyone in the first row of my classes, so hopefully now that has passed and I can catch up with everything.

So stick around, because school is ending and I have lots to accomplish around here before September! Including a nursery!

Pregnancy Week 9

This week, the bean is actually the size of a green olive!

My blogging has definitely been slacking because I am so tired and nauseous. All day. All last week I felt terrible, and actually had to get out of the shower to throw up one morning, then back into the shower to finish washing up. On Friday, I felt great and Saturday was not too bad either. Then yesterday, the day I hit my 9th week, terrible again. My heartburn has never gone away, and I had some sort of flare-up around 1 AM. I came down to the kitchen to get a drink and proceeded to vomit in the sink. I laid on the couch and then got sick again about an hour later. Needless to say, I had to use one of my sick days because I had gotten no sleep. No way was I going to drag myself into school today to deal with the crazies after puking all night and getting no sleep.

Next week I will probably start posting belly pics so stay tuned!

Pregnancy Week 8

This week, in pregnancy, the bean is the size of a raspberry! Interesting that something so small can wreak such havoc on one's digestive system...

When I told my baby (and by baby, I mean 22-year old) brother this, he became fascinated. Last night and today when he saw me, he poked me in my belly and said, "IT'S A RASPBERRY!" It was hilarious. The kid wants a nephew so bad it is ridiculous.

Anyway, the 7th week (last week, the bean was a blueberry) brought about the beginning of morning sickness. And by morning, I mean late afternoon and evening. And by sickness I mean crippling nausea. The past few days have been especially difficult and I have not had much luck eating anything substantial. Cold and frozen treats seem to be the easiest thing for me to eat, so when I wandered the grocery store today, I picked up a bunch of lemon ices and got home and made a Cool Whip key lime pie. And the thing I want most? A salami sandwich. Random, yes. And I am not supposed to eat lunch meat. Dammit. And the heartburn? Thank goodness my doctor has said Pepcid AC is acceptable because I have been miserable.

I am also not sleeping at night. My feet get really hot at night and it makes it difficult for me to relax. I toss and turn and am up until FOREVER and then wake up every few hours. Thank goodness for afternoon naps!

My pants are beginning to become snug. I ordered a few maternity items from Old Navy because my jeans were tight before and are now making me miserable! Thank goodness summer vacation is almost here and I will have three months to worry about work clothes!

The Details, Part 1

The date was Friday, April 9, 2010. Just a few days before going back to school after a much-needed and very relaxing spring break. My actual test date was not until Monday, but no way was I going to be able to wait that long! So, I peed on a stick as soon as I woke up.

At first, nothing.

And, being a freak, I disassembled the test. And holy shit. There was a very faint, almost invisible line. I spent several hours holding in my pee to go again and holding the test strip up to every available light on the off chance I would see the line clearer.

Then, I peed on the second stick.

This time? Well, this time the line showed up and there was no need to disassemble the test. It was there as clear as day. Wow. Pregnant.

I was going through all sorts of scenarios in my mind about when to tell C and how I would tell him. So how did I do it? Brace yourself, this is awesome.

On my way home from grocery shopping, I called to tell him I needed help unloading groceries. And then said, "What would you say if there was two lines on a test?" He responded with, "What? Really?"

I know. Slick. And clearly an awesome way to tell your husband you are knocked-up. Over the freaking phone. I got home and had bought a digital. And sure enough (as you witnessed), it said PREGNANT. So, C got home, we hugged and laughed and kind of freaked out and I showed him the digi. No denying that.

Symon Sunday: Corn Crepes with BBQ Pork

For the first recipe in our second round of Sundays with Symon, Ashlee chose the Corn Crepes with Barbecue Duck Confit.

In my newly knocked-up state that seems to include a strong aversion to most meats, there was no way I was about to try to make duck. And I have no coffee in the house right now either, so I was unable to make the coffee bbq sauce that Chef Symon uses with the duck confit. So, here is what I swapped up in the recipe.

Instead of duck, I used a pork tenderloin, put it in the crock pot, and dumped in a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce. Normally I add a bag of cheddar cheese to the mix, but did not this time. I usually prep my bbq pork this way, but was missing the Lipton Soup Mix.
Crepes are a pain in the ass. I was getting frustrated and ridiculously pissed and kept tearing them. And I think they were too thick. Whatever.

The husbo said they were yummy and an interesting way to eat bbq pork. I, unfortunately, could not try any because of the newly acquired nausea and aversion to most meat. He really seemed to enjoy it!

For the full recipes, visit Natasha's or Joanne's blog and their take on the recipe!

In two weeks, we will be making Chef Symon's Mac and Cheese with Chicken, Goat Cheese, and Rosemary. I had this at Bar Symon and it is delicious; unfortunately, I will not be able to eat any because GOAT CHEESE is on the FORBIDDEN TO EAT WHILST PREGNANT list. AUGH!