Friday, June 30, 2006

Maternity Pants

Wow. Baby Bullet is BIG! Or at least my belly is. Britt and I had started noticing this week that I am looking pretty bloated and my lower belly is getting pretty firm. My mother asked me how much weight I had gained (!) and my grandmother asked my mom (within my ear shot) if I was showing “already?” So – 2nd pregnancy, in my 9th week, I guess I am!

I went to get dressed yesterday, and it was a challenge. It has been getting harder, but this was no fun. We just moved into our new house this week, and I need to do laundry in the worst way (luckily I can start tonight!), so I tried on 2 pairs of pants to no avail. On the brink of tears (aren’t I always?), I resorted to the maternity gaucho pants I had bought a week ago. They were big – BIG – but so comfy! I had a bridal shower to go to that wan an hour away last night, so the car ride and the event were easy to bear in those clothes!

Then, today is jean day. The stretchy denim capris I have been wearing every Friday are in the HUGE pile of laundry. So, I found the biggest pair of jeans I have in my closet, dug out a rubber band, and made do. They are kinda tight, and I sure am glad I am leaving work soon to go home and put on something more comfy! I guess I need to get on the ball and get some maternity clothes. YUCK! Anyone wanna donate to the cause???

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

I HATE GIVING BLOOD!

Ok – I am over it now! I just got back from my first pre-natal visit, I’d guess you’d call it. It was just the medical history and insurance part of things, then they took blood for my lab work. I was there almost 2 hours though! SHEESH! There was a LOT going on in that building! They were running late and over booked and just random things going on. It didn’t help that I was trying to get them to change my name on all my stuff there as well…

So, here’s how it went. Britt went with me, and we had to park at the ER across the street and walk to the Women’s Clinic – that was my first clue they were busy. First I went into the “Business Office” of the clinic. That’s where the name change fiasco started and where I gave my first urine sample. (Part of the lab is in this area as well.) After a short wait, we met with the nurse that did a medical history with us, and then went over my insurance benefits and payment plan. Luckily, I do have good insurance, so this won’t be too bad!

After we answered 2000 medical history questions, she took us upstairs to the backed up lab. The lab tech told us it would be a 15 minute or so wait, and she gave me my little cup and wipes for my sterile urine sample and told me to try to get that done while we waited. Unfortunately, I had held it for so long before I came to the visit, then peed so much downstairs, I was OUT! I went to find a water fountain, but that didn’t help much. When it was finally our turn in the lab, she gave me a BIG glass of water while she worked on the blood draw. I was a little more than nervous as she got out the needle and the FIVE vials that had to be filled. This is my FAVORITE part. NOT! She poked around on both my hands and arms, and finally decided she liked what she saw in my right hand. Poked me, drilled around a bit, and got it to flow. For one of the larger vials. She started the 2nd one, and got nowhere. Pulled that needle out, and started prodding again to find another site. She finally decided it wasn’t her day, and went to get “help.” The second lady was rougher, but got results! She found a spot in my left arm, and got the rest of the blood they needed. I had sat there all nervous and anxious for so long, I really did have to pee after that – so it was off to give my sample. After that was all done and we FINALLY got to leave. WHEW! I was so glad to be done with all of that!

My next appointment is Wednesday, July 12, and I actually get to see the doctor that day! Maybe we will get to hear the heartbeat!!!

Monday, June 26, 2006

Embarrassing

So, I just had to make my 100th run to the potty this morning. As I was walking into the stall - literally INCHES away from the toilet, I SNEEZED. And I leaked! WHAT?!?!?!?! That has never happened before. WOW. So embarrassing. I guess it is time for pantiliners every day...

It's Monday - AGAIN!

I can't believe it has been a whole week since I wrote anything. Nothing much is new. Basically, go to any website that has a list of early pregnancy symptoms and put the words "Betsey has" in front of every item on the list! LOL! We closed on our house last Thursday, adna re in teh process of doing a few projects before we move in. We are going to start moving tonight, and hope to sleep there Wednesday night. So, that has been taking up a lot of our time.

And speaking of Wednesday, I have my first contact with any medical professionals that day! I have an appointment at 9:30 am to have some lab work and meet with the insurance coordinator. I am pretty excited just to get the process started! Then, I go back 2 weeks after that for my first meeting with the doctor. So, we are getting closer!

Monday, June 19, 2006

It's Monday

No more spotting. I didn't have any at all yesterday. Actually had a pretty good day - until about 5 o'clock. Whoever calls it "morning sickness" is so far off base it's not funny! I feel pretty good this morning, too, but I guarantee when I get home from work I will go straight to bed! Actually, I think I would rather get up and get going for the day than have to deal with it in the morning, so that's not so bad. I got my "This is your pregnancy this week" email this morning and it told me to cheer up as I only have about 6 more weeks of morning sickness to endure! YIPPEEEEEE! (Can you feel my sarcasm?)

Sunday, June 18, 2006

The past two days...

The past two days have been LONG and scary.

Let's start with Friday. I woke up feeling the worst I have this whole pregnancy. But, I ate something, pushed through, and went to work. Actually didn't feel all that bad at work most of the morning. However, I was on a 12:30 deadline. (That's when Britt and I go to lunch, and my project had to be done before I left.) So, I was working my butt off, and I forgot (neglected to) have my morning snack - or my morning water. BAD, bad Mommy! So about 12:15, one of my co-workers asked me a simple question, and my answer was pure babble! I couldn't get the words to come out of my mouth! I left for lunch, and I know my blood sugar was crashing and my blood pressure was on the rise. I was seeing spots in front of my eyes and having a horrible time concentration. Food helped, but only minimally. I went back to work at 1:30, but thought I was going to DIE. I got a few loose ends wrapped up, but my boss wasn't there to ask if I could leave. I debated whether to just leave or not, and at 5 till 2, I bolted. And probably shouldn't have driven myself home! I was in my bed asleep by 2:05. We had car pooled, so Britt called at 4:45 to see if I could come get him, and that was the first I had woken up! I still felt a little googly all evening, but the nap helped. I learned my lesson! I have to eat more often and DRINK MORE WATER!

So, that leads me to Saturday... We did not sleep well Friday night. There were bad thunderstorms around here, and Emma and Lara were up several times. Add to that I wasn't feeling well (Still), and it was a long night. Only to be interrupted by my mother calling at 8:15 in the morning! UGH! So, that' how our day started. Well, when I went to the bathroom mid-morning, I noticed small stain in my underwear. When I wiped, there was some brown blood on the tissue. I didn't think much of it, and didn't mention it to Britt. We had to drop the girls off with their dad, then go to a wedding yesterday afternoon. I was still having some spotting when Britt and I were getting ready for the 4:00 wedding, so I decided to tell him then. I still felt OK, and I wasn't concerned about the spotting. But I put a pantiliner in my underwear just to monitor what was going on. I tried to sit a lot at the reception and just let other people take care of me. It was a beautiful wedding and a GREAT reception! (The dinner and reception were at Paula's house just like Britt and I did!) Later in the evening, I went to the restroom at the house. And this time I noticed a bigger, redder spot on my liner. I was getting tired anyway, so after I told Britt, we decided it was time to go home - it was about 9:00. When we got here, we both went straight to bed. We were so tired, we fell asleep with the overhead light on, the TV on, I didn't take out my contacts, or take my vitamins, we didn't pray (our nightly ritual) or even KISS goodnight! WOW! I woke up and tuned off the light at TV at one point, but I don't know what time it was!

Anyway - I woke up this morning feeling tired, but better. I went to the restroom when I first got up, but I didn't look. So I don't know if I am still spotting or not. I did have an "unexplained bleeding incident" when I was 10 weeks pregnant with the girls. I am 7 weeks today. I am still not worried about it, but I am going to take better care of myself - that's for sure!

Monday, June 12, 2006

So, where does all the PEE come from? AND a bloody nose?

WOW. What a weekend! I was in Dallas, and I am now 6 weeks pregnant. I guess that it some sort of sign for the harder pregnancy symptoms to hit or something! Still not miserable, but some days are so LONG…

Here’s the thing about the pee. I really do want to know where it all comes from. Saturday night. I went out to dinner with about 25 people. The service was adequate – about what you would expect for 25 people on a Saturday night. I drank water, and I know I only got one refill. So, that was about 20 oz of water at dinner from about 8pm to 9pm. Then, when I got back to the hotel, I drank about 4 oz of water with my vitamins. And went to bed. When I got up at 3:40 to pee, I peed for DAYS! I never thought my bladder was going to actually be empty! Then, when I got up at 7 am to start my day – I peed for DAYS AND DAYS! WOW! That was a lot of pee. So, where did it all come from?

And my newest pregnancy woe is the strange and scary thing that happened to me this morning. The nausea I wake up with is getting worse. So, I laid in bed for a long time before I even tried to sit up. When I did finally sit up, blood started POURING out of my nose! Like a faucet! I tried to catch it in my hands, but it was dark and I didn’t have my glasses, so I was at a loss. Britt came to my rescue with tissues, but I still got some on the bed and my pajamas. And all over my face and hands. It bled really fast for about 5 minutes, then it stopped as abruptly as it started. SO WEIRD!

I do remember having a couple of bloody noses last time I was pregnant, and I know that is a “side effect” of my condition. But it was so strange – and SCARY! Well, my bladder says it is time to go, so I will GO GO GO!

Friday, June 9, 2006

OMGosh! The SNEEZING! (and another new thing for me…)

OK! Have I mentioned that I sneeze ALL THE TIME? Well, I do. The joke in the office is, “Don’t worry, you can’t ‘catch’ what she has!” That’s all fine and good, but it is a bit annoying. And they aren’t productive sneezes – not like a cold or hay fever. Just like when you sniff pepper or another irritant. IRRITATING is the right word for it! I did some internet research, and it says some women suffer from this. It also said that while pregnant you produce more mucus, so that could cause it. Sites also said I may have a cold or hay fever. I have no other symptoms, so I am going with pregnant sneezes. And, since I had that with the girls, it kinda makes sense. But apparently, I am in a minority here.

Now, on to my other “new” pregnancy thing. Never, EVER, in my life have I been constipated. Didn’t really even know what that was about. Well, now I do. Add that to the LONG list of gastro-intestinal issues this pregnancy has caused (can you say, GAS?), and I have been miserable more than a few times. So, 2 days ago, I took a laxative. The box said take two, but I was nervous and scared, so I took one. Nothing happened. So, last night I took another one. Happy to say I FEEL better, but nothing has really moved. So, maybe it was just bloating? I have no idea – but again, my body is going CRAZY! Not to mention the medicine DRIED ME OUT! I woke up yesterday morning noticing that everything was dry – eyes, nose, mouth, skin. But this morning I was so dry I HURT. My eyes felt like they were sunk into my head! And my skin? WOW! Tight all over. So, pretty much not doing the laxative thing again. Caused more harm than good, IMO.

But, other than that, I am doing good. I have not felt as tired the past couple of days. I don’t know if that is getting better or if I am just handling it better. My goal is to enjoy EVERY MINUTE of this pregnancy, and so far I am doing a pretty good job of that! We are just all so EXCITED about the new baby in our lives!

Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Just a couple of observations...

I don't know if it is being 31 vs. 26 the last time, or what, but this pregnancy is SO different! I was never sick - or even queasy - with the girls. I remember a few times a strong smell would make me gag a little, but that was it. This time (so far) I have never gotten sick, but I am constantly uncomfortable and nauseous. Especially if I get hungry or over tired. My body's reaction? QUEASY STOMACH! Not so much fun - but well worth it!

I have also been a lot more TIRED this time around. I don't remember that from last time. Again, it may be the age thing, but I don't know. I feel like I need a nap after work everyday! And some days, I just take one!

And, I don't remember having to pee this much this early. I do remember thinking last time I was pregnant that the books and websites all said frequent urination was a symptom, and I never had that early on. Third Trimester was a totally different story! But, it has already started here. I haven't slept through the night without getting up at least once in a week. I HATE that! I am so tired as it is, then I wake up and have to pee! LOL!

But - I will take it. Every minute of it! I plan on savoring every minute of this pregnancy. I am so excited! Britt is so excited! The GIRLS are so excited! They tell everyone - friend or stranger! They tell us all about how they are going to feed/change/rock/play with/put to bed/ read to etc. the new baby. It is hilarious! I can't wait to see how they are when Baby Bullet is actually here!

Here is a picture of the shirts they made with Britt on Friday night while I was at work: They loved telling all the relatives about their new sister status! I just hope they can hold out for 8 months! They know it will be "after Christmas" when the baby gets here, but do they know how LONG that is? I plan on making them a calendar to keep track soon!

Friday, June 2, 2006

Work Knows...

I told the Director of Football OPs yesterday - and he told his wife, so I knew it would get out sooner rather than later. So, I decided to tell my office manager and my direct boss this morning. Everyone has been really excited and supportive about it! So that's nice. And they weren't too worried about the timing. Luckily, football season will be over and the biggest part of recruiting will be too. I might be a little iffy to FLY to a bowl game, but I will drive myself if I have to!

So, I feel much better about that! Glad I don't have it looming over my head. We (the football office) are having a big event tonight (Football 101 for Women), and there are several people that are going to be at this event that already know, so I wanted to make sure the big bosses knew before they found out on accident tonight. So, I had to do it today! I am just glad it is out and I don't have to worry about who knows and who doesn't.

We are SO excited! YAY!

Thursday, June 1, 2006

Had my first bout of "morning" sickness

Last night. At 11:15. ?????

I never really threw up, but I felt like I would any second. I was miserable! I had thought I was hungry about 30 minutes earlier, but decided not to eat anything. Maybe I should have!

Anyway - I survived. Finally fell asleep and slept pretty well. Now it's time to face the day!