Baby Boo

 4 weeks 1 day: 

Last week I had been feeling pretty awful, I was tired, slightly nauseated and had no motivation to do anything. The idea of being pregnant was soooo not even on my mind.  School and life always seems a bit long and hard this time of year so I really didn't think much of it.  Then I was late, which NEVER happens, but the thought of being pregnant was STILL not on my mind.  I have started working with a personal trainer over the last couple months and have been steadily losing weight and thought maybe the calorie deficit and working out every day might have something to do with it.  But one day late turned into two and I ordered some pregnancy tests figuring I should at least rule that out. The tests arrived a whole day early and I quickly snatched them from the front porch to get my answer. I honestly thought that this would rule out pregnancy as an option. Well, I cannot even tell you how instant that second line showed up on the test - I was in COMPLETE shock. Peter and I spent the evening just laughing at the news, what else could we do!  It is of course welcome news but completely shocking and unexpected and definitely makes us adjust some plans for this year.  I should be due on Halloween.  The biggest thing for me to process is that I am going to be feeling awful here soon and I am so not ready for the nausea.  I am also on a fitness journey and this puts a big wrench into those goals for this year, but I am grateful that Ayla is going to have the opportunity to have a close sibling like the other kids all have had.  God has been sooo good to us! 

Symptoms: major fatigue, peeing all the time, cramping, very slight nausea  

8 Weeks: 

Well, it has been awhile. Partially just because life has been crazy! Between dealing with the normal early pregnancy issues like nausea and fatigue we are also in the midst of a pretty major master bathroom/bedroom remodel.  Peter is so busy trying to take care of all of us while working and renovating and I am so grateful for how he cares for his big family!  The first trimester is always rough and that's why I've been so quiet with updates but it is also reassuring that baby is hopefully tucked in there safe and sound and growing!  I started looking pregnant in the tummy around week 8 last time and I am definitely looking that way now. I don't think I will be able to hide this for long!  The highlight so far is that I was able to to find a very hidden in the background heartbeat! It was special and made it all very real that there is in fact a baby in there (if the nausea wasn't a strong enough clue)!  I need to get scheduled for my first doctors appointment!  I'm still in a bit of shock and haven't really realized that we are going to have 6 kids but I am very excited for the journey ahead and this bonus blessing of this baby!

Symptoms: Nausea, food aversions, fatigue

9 weeks 5 days:

Today was one of those days I never want to forget!  I had my first prenatal appointment. We had fun entering the office and hearing the nurse and my doctor joke around about how they didn't expect to see us back and that we haven't learned yet!  I feel so fortunate that I have been able to have this doctor for all 4 of my pregnancies!  And then we went in for my ultrasound and there I sat in awe! I usually have an ultrasound around 7-8 weeks and I couldn't believe the difference another week or two make! We saw fingers and toes and baby was moving around so much and waving little arms all over!  So far this pregnancy I have felt terrible and I've been worried about how I'm going to handle this pregnancy while taking care of all the other kids, and how I can be a good mom to 6 kids.  From that first moment I saw this little one it was love at first sight and I know I can do this!  Peter and I both just kind of sat there in awe watching him/her wiggle and wae!  This baby is already so amazing and has changed our lives for the better!  I am so relieved to know baby is healthy and growing so big and strong! We are so blessed! 

Symptoms: Nausea, lots of gagging, super tired, food sounds gross 

12 Weeks 5 Days:

Last day in my first trimester and I am so ready to leave this phase behind!  It has been a rough couple months and while I still have some lingering nausea and lots of exhaustion I feel like there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel any day now! But I am grateful for progress!  A few weeks ago I went and did genetic blood work.  We have never done this before but since I am "old" this time the doctor said I might as well.  The only thing I wanted to make sure and NOT find out was the gender so we had to work extra hard to catch that phone call and not spoil our fun surprise!  Fortunately all the genetic tests came back with great news and gender is still a secret!  I have gone back and forth so much, sometimes I think boy but I also strongly assume it is a girl.  A girl would be nice to make it easy to round out the family with 4 girls who I could just picture having a blast going through life together! On the other hand some big brothers have been praying for a baby brother forever and it has been a long time since we've had one of those in the house :)  Either way I am excited and will be so happy either way! I just can't help but feel so blessed! 

Symptoms: Fatigue, Nausea, no motivation 

16 Weeks 3 Days: 

Well it has been awhile. Time feels like it is going fast and slow at the same time.  For the most part I am feeling as normal as I feel during pregnancy. The nausea has mostly subsided although I still gag a lot!  I am now in maternity clothes but still feel like the bump isn't as big as it was with the girls at this stage. Not thinking that means anything but just worth noting.  The heartbeat has dropped down into the 140's or 150's, which is also lower than the girls, but I still am expecting this to be a girl :)  My last appointment my doctor was very concerned about my blood pressure but testing at home has proven it must just be some white coat syndrome. Unfortunately she wanted me to start checking my blood sugar too and while my normal numbers are great, my fasting blood sugar is not behaving so I am afraid that another Gestational Diabetes diagnosis is coming. I'm a bit frustrated by that because I worked so hard post partum to lower my risks for diabetes (long family history) but I know GD is it's own beast and there isn't necessarily a way to prevent it.   It will be a long pregnancy of monitoring my sugars with how early this has all started!  The best part of all this is that I have definitely starting feeling little thumps of the baby letting me know he or she is in there!  It is the best part of this whole process in my opinion and really gets me excited to meet this little one!  

Symptoms: Growing belly, tired, gagging, baby movement! 

19 Weeks 3 Days:
We are still moving ahead.  Still a bit nauseated and tired and I am not sure it is going to completely go away but that is okay. The best part right now is feeling lots of movement! I have felt it a couple times with my hand too, but so far baby stops moving whenever Daddy tries to feel. Heartrate still seems to be hanging out in the 140's to low 150's.  At my last appointment there was some debate on my due date so I am hoping for some clarification on that after my 20 week ultrasound next week! It is either October 31st or October 17th, which is quite a range if you ask me. I am still assuming it is the 31st of October though and wouldn't want to have you too early since we've been there done that before!  My blood pressure is still great (continuing to monitor it here and there to keep the doctor happy) and I was getting super strange blood sugar readings so I replaced the batteries and ordered new test strips and now my readings have been amazing - even fasting.  So I am feeling a lot better on all fronts for my health and baby's health. I am so excited to get to see this sweet little one again next week. Anatomy scan is always a fun appointment and also reassuring to know all looks well, so that is what we are hoping for! 

22 Weeks 1 Day:

I finally feel better!  20 weeks seems to be where I really turn the corner with the nausea. I am still pretty tired but that is to be expected I think.  The best update at this point is that we had our anatomy scan and baby looks great and my body still seems to be behaving!  Baby was measuring to October 25th so right in between the October 31st and October 17th due dates, so that doesn't really help us figure things out!  But we will just cross the due date bridge when we get farther down the road!  We successfully completed our ultrasound without finding gender so it should be smooth sailing from here.  Parts of my gut still thinks boy but I also think a lot of the symptoms are suggesting girl so I am completely clueless!  Peter and I have worked hard on names and I think we have a girl name and a boy name picked out but we may still debate it a little bit until the end just in case another name appeals to us!  Peter FINALLY felt some kicks last week so he is happy about that. We found out that I have an anterior placenta this time so that might be why it took him a bit longer to feel movement this time, but he's feeling kicks a lot now! All in all things are going great and I can't complain.  Summer is very hot this year and that's a new one for me and being farther along in a pregnancy but I'm surviving just fine with days of swelling here and there, which I have never dealt with during pregnancy before! We are getting more and more excited to meet this little one and buying things here and there and starting the prep. I know this summer is going to fly and fall will be here before we know it! We can't wait!