I give in.

Okay.  I give in.  For the past year, I had been eating gluten-free.  Prior to eating gluten-free, I had some major issues with my digestive system (I'll spare you the details), plus almost daily headaches.  I felt lethargic and just "blah" most of the time.  After seeing my kinesiologist, he recommended I go gluten-free and see if my symptoms got better.  Well, after about 3 days the digestive issues cleared up for the most part and within 3 weeks I felt like a whole new woman.  I would still have the occasional gluten if I had no other choice (like at weddings, etc.) and I sometimes felt gross, but if I maintained a mostly gluten-free diet, I felt good most of the time.

Until I got pregnant.  First trimester was horrible for me with food aversions.  I was in tears because I couldn't stomach ANYTHING.  So I gave up being gluten-free and just decided to eat whatever sounded good.  Otherwise I was starving and I had lost 4 lbs.  Not good when you're pregnant!!  So... for the past 6-8 weeks I have been indulging in the gluten I have been deprived of for the past year.  I gotta admit, eating cereal and toast that doesn't crumble in my fingers was amazing.  And chicken tenders, french-onion soup at Panera, PIZZA.... mmm.  BUT - the headaches have been debilitating.  There have been two instances in the past couple of weeks when I have had such horrible headaches I have just locked myself in the bathroom in the dark and vomited due to the pain.  It is not fun.  Normally my headaches (not gluten-induced) go away with sleep, but I have been having them day and night.  So... I surrender.  I give in.  I am no longer going to eat gluten. *sigh*  It was fun while it lasted.

I realize that my headaches COULD come from pregnancy hormones, but knowing that I had daily headaches from gluten before, this is a change I must make.  I am grieving the loss of my chicken tenders and pizza and french onion soup (it just isn't the same without the bread).  But hopefully this will give me some of my energy and health back, and I will once again feel like a whole new woman.

Goodbye yummy food.

 

Dance party {in my uterus}!!

What a pleasant surprise today!  I had called my Dr. on Monday because I had been cramping all weekend.  I know cramping CAN be normal... but it can also NOT be normal.  They did a urine test (fun) to see if I had a UTI (not fun).  Luckily that came back clean, but they called me again today to see how I was feeling and the cramping has been pretty consistent.  So they decided to play it safe and have me come in.  Much to my surprise, my Dr. decided to cut to the chase and do an ultrasound!  This is what we found.

A baby!!  The baby was wiggling around like crazy.  It was so surreal, because I can't feel it at all, but it is an active little bugger!!  I can't wait until I can feel it's little kicks.

 

 

Another baby arm shot.  The Dr. said the baby has great brains, which you can see here.

Here is the baby's torso and arms.  The four black dots you see are the chambers of the heart.  CRAZY.

The baby had a nice strong heart rate of 151!  Not sure what the old wives tales would say about that one.  But we will find out soon enough if the babe is a "he" or "she".  I didn't ask the Dr. to take a peek this time because Jordan wasn't with me.  Although I have heard of people finding out this early!  Not sure how reliable those ultrasounds are though. :-)

So, the cause of the cramping?  In my doctors words, my uterus is just bitching and moaning (yes, his words) because it is doing something it has never done before.  My body seems to like to complain about change.  But - at least I can know that it is nothing to worry about... just growing pains, and I can expect that this is only the beginning of my physical discomfort!  Oh the joys of motherhood.

In other news, I am super excited because yesterday I bought tickets for Jordan and I to go see the Broadway musical "Wicked" in Chicago in December 2!!!  We are planning a mini "baby-moon" get-away to Chicago that weekend.  I am sooo excited.  I haven't seen many Broadway shows, and I have heard this is one to see for sure!!  Plus - this will be probably one of our last "alone" vacations for awhile.  It isn't anything crazy, but it will be fun to get away and do something different.

14 weeks.

This week has been interesting.  I thought I was over the nausea (I mean, I am in 2nd trimester right?), so I stopped taking my vitamin B-6 and Unisom that I had been taking to manage the nausea.  Bad choice.  On Monday night I got sick, and then Tuesday I ended up staying home from work, because I was so nauseous I had to lay down or else I was on the verge of puking. :-(  At least I know how much misery the B-6 and Unisom saved me from!  I am feeling better now... at least I am not nauseous.  However, I did pick up a head cold sometime this past week.  I am having difficulty breathing through my nose and my head feels like it is in the clouds.  So, I am using the saline nasal rinse, vaporizer, and breathe right strips to help me get through since I can't take any meds.  Yuck!!!

I am super excited, because next weekend we are going to IKEA with my parents to pick out some stuff for the nursery!!  Yippee!!  After reading a lot of reviews, I decided to get a large dresser for the room in place of a changing table, and get our rocking chair from there.  It is WAY cheaper, and people who use their rocking chairs (called Poang chairs) seem to really like them.  Plus - it could easily be used in a different room after baby (although, I anticipate needing it for a nursery for quite a few years).

Anyway... we made it through another week successfully. :-)  I keep waiting for the belly to grow, but I don't feel a ton different from 13 weeks.  I figure in the next 2-3 weeks I'll be doing some growing for sure though.

Today's date: September 26, 2010

How far along: 14 weeks

Total weight gain: Mmmm... it fluctuates throughout the week.  I was up about 1.5 lbs today, but it could have been the chocolate peanut butter pie I ate. :-)

Size and growth of the baby: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.)

Sex: Gender ultrasound is scheduled for November 10!

Maternity clothes: Wearing maternity jeans (soo comfy), but still wearing regular everything else.

Sleep: Sleeping good.

Best moment(s) of the week: Hmm... maybe not puking and feeling more normal on Wednesday? :-)

Movement: I felt a little *tap tap tap* yesterday... and I don't think it was gas?... haha.  Not sure what it was, but I like to think it was a little nudge from the baby.  I haven't felt anything since though.

Food cravings/aversions: No aversions!!  (yay!)... but I've been eating toast with home made strawberry jam like crazy.

Morning sickness: Feeling good with the exception of Monday and Tuesday.

Symptoms: Fatigue, headaches, expanding belly.

Labor signs: Way too soon.

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss: Nothing right now.

What I'm looking forward to: Looking pregnant and gender ultrasound on November 10!

What's going on this week:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.  He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

13 weeks.

I am officially in 2nd trimester!!  Woo hoo!!  I feel SO relieved to be here.  I feel like I am able to relax and enjoy this stage of pregnancy.  I can't wait to look pregnant.  I feel my waist line growing, but I still don't look pregnant.  Soon enough.  :-)

One thing that has been heavy on my heart is what to do about work when the baby comes.  I always saw myself as a stay at home mom.  However, I am now in a job that I love at an organization that I seriously believe is the best ever.  Sometimes I can't imagine giving this up.  They are willing to be flexible with me schedule-wise, but I constantly go back and forth with what I should do.  Jordan has always wanted me to stay home.  Financially - we'd have to make some real lifestyle changes, but we could live off his income.  But in some ways, I feel if I stayed home, I'd be mourning the end of a career that barely started.  But I can't help but wonder if I'd regret not giving my full attention to my kids, as my mom did.  It is a hard decision... and I need prayer for it.  So, if you think of it - lift me up. :-)  Jordan and I were talking about this the other night over chinese food (I was CRAVING it... and had a coupon for buy one get one free buffet... win win situation there).  And this was my fortune.

Haha.  Whether I work, work at home, or stay home... I think it is clear that my line of work is soon going to be changing in some capacity. :-)  I have some time to make my final decision about work, but I would like to give my work an answer so they can adjust accordingly with plenty of time (even if I stay working, I would not be able to work in the office 4 days a week).

Anyway... 13 week update!!

Today's date: September 19, 2010

How far along: 13 weeks (2nd TRIMESTER!!)

Total weight gain: Still nothing.  Not complaining though.

Size and growth of the baby: The size of a peach, about 2.9" and about .81oz.  Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body.

Sex: Gender ultrasound is scheduled for November 10!!!  I'll be just over 20 weeks. :-)  I still feel like I would be shocked if it was a girl.

Maternity clothes: I gave in and put on the maternity jeans today.  I can still button my regular jeans but they are tight and getting more uncomfortable.  I am not a real fan of the bella band, but I will continue to use it for my work pants.  That one pair of jeans is still the only one I can button.  Maternity jeans are soooo comfy.  I don't know why all pants are just elastic anyway.

Sleep: Sleeping good... some crazy dreams happening lately.  Getting up to pee more often.

Best moment(s) of the week: Hearing the heartbeat again on Thursday!  The doctor picked it up with the doppler right away and said we are 99% in the clear.  I am now considered completely normal and don't have another appointment until 16 weeks.

Movement: Too soon to feel, though it's happening. :)  I hope I can feel it in about a month or so.

Food cravings/aversions: MUCH MUCH better.  I feel like I am having more cravings than aversions in this stage.  So far this week, I have craved fast food, chinese food, and spaghetti.

Morning sickness: Feeling pretty good these days!

Symptoms: Fatigue, headaches, expanding belly.

Labor signs: Way too soon.

Belly button in or out: In.

What I miss: Nothing right now.

What I'm looking forward to: Feeling the baby move... looking pregnant.

What's going on this week:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries.  Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords...savor this, their nonfunctional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with his head now only one third the size of his body. And intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy -- much more convenient.