Showing posts with label weekly updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weekly updates. Show all posts

Thursday, November 5, 2015

37w0d.

Baby's size: Swiss chard

Next appointment: Biophysical profile 11/6; OB 11/10

Total weight gain: 59.8 lbs. Up a little but down almost 4 lbs. just from yesterday, due to several monster poops. (Sorry, TMI!)

Sleep: Averaging between 5 and 6, which is about 1-2 less than I'd like. Staying asleep is harder these days, and not just because of the constant peeing.

Food cravings: This past weekend, I really wanted these dolmas I'd had recently and made Mr. Hope get three orders of them (one for me, two for everyone else to split). And last night I wanted a provolone sandwich from Wawa. Just provolone on bread with extra mayo. Weird shit like that.

Symptoms: HEARTBURN. And the constipation is back. Also hair-trigger moodiness. Lots of crying for no reason, or even with reason but striking out of nowhere. My boobs are burning, which according to the Googles means my milk ducts are getting ready. Oh, and I'm in full-on waddle. Seriously, I'm like Jabba the Hut these days.

What I'm loving: I'm finishing up my labor mixes. I did one for relaxation and one for when I need to be energized. For the latter, I included the Beastie Boys' Eggman, which totally makes me laugh. Yeah, I'm that much of a dork.

What I'm not loving: Gaining weight again. For a while I thought I'd hold steady at 55 lbs. Really hoping I lose a lot with birth (or within a couple weeks of birth). Maybe I'll be one of those lucky fuckers for whom breastfeeding is the best diet ever.

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting our little guy. Twelve days and counting!

Best moment this week: Getting the call with my official induction date. Knowing when the Jellybean is going to be born allows the planner in me to get all my ducks in a row. It was seriously such a relief.

Friday, October 9, 2015

33w0d.

[Fun fact: According to the OB's office, I was actually 33w0d yesterday. But I'm pretty sure this is based on the due date of 11/25, which was given to me by the same site that told me what week/day I was based on my transfer date. So, I suppose I *could* be 33w1d today, but whatevs.]

Baby's size: Pineapple

Next appointment: 10/9

Total weight gain: 54.2. Down 2 lbs. from last week. All this week, I've been losing up to half a pound a day. Wondering if this is something I need to be concerned about, or if it's just the edema continuing to abate.

Sleep: Still averaging 6 to 7 hours. My AHI has been fairly low, which could be the result of less swelling or even the minor weight loss. Or, you know, it could be totally rando.

Food cravings: Still craving bread-y, squishy carbs.

Symptoms: The bad heartburn continues! Also, I'm running hotter and hotter - the other day I broke into a sweat when the house was 68 degrees.

What I'm loving: We're finished with our prenatal classes! The breastfeeding class we took on Tuesday was our favorite. I'm pumped! (No pun intended.)

What I'm not loving: That getting dress is so laborious it feels like I should get an Olympic medal every time I do it.

What I'm looking forward to: This will sound dorky, but we're getting the car seat bases inspected Tuesday. This is one of the last major things we need to do to get ready for the Jellybean, so I'm excited to check it off the list!

Best moment this week: When I saw the OB Tuesday, she told me that my anxiety level was appropriate for where I am in the pregnancy. It doesn't sound like much, but in the beginning, I was such a nut job about everything. It feels good to be considered "normal" for a change.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

32w0d.

Baby's size: Squash (perfect for fall!)

Next appointment: 10/5

Total weight gain: 56.2. So, up half a pound this week, which is about right.

Sleep: Averaging 6 to 7 hours, interrupted once or twice by bathroom/water breaks. So, getting ready for a newborn!

Food cravings: CARBS. Squishy, bread-y carbs.

Symptoms: Bad heartburn (Zantac time!) and starting to breathe heavier, which freaks Mr. Hope out even though I tell him it's normal.

What I'm loving: How close we are to meeting our little guy!

What I'm not loving: The need to pee every 45 minutes or so.

What I'm looking forward to: My next OB appointment. At the last one, she told me she wanted to induce at 37 weeks. I want to clarify why and also start talking dates.

Best moment this week: My coworkers threw me a surprise baby shower yesterday. And it was 100% a surprise, too! I thought I was going into a strategy meeting (and was kind of cranky about it) and there was everyone. I feel so lucky...and so loved.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

31w0d.

Baby's size: Pineapple or coconut (so, making a pina colada in there?)

Next appointment: 10/1

Total weight gain: 55.6 lbs. Holding steady-ish.

Exercise: Still moving pretty well. Mr. Hope and I are joining the Y this weekend so I hope to be logging some pool time soon.

Sleep: Has been disrupted this week due to intense carpal tunnel pain. Like, the kind that makes you sob (and no, I'm not being a drama queen). Relief is on the way, though - I'm getting cortisone shots in my wrists on Monday.

Food cravings: Cheese and crunchy things.

Symptoms: Heartburn is making a comeback! Maybe this means the Jellybean will be born with a nice head o' hair?

What I'm loving: My husband. He's been such a great source of support and really stepping up his game around the house.

What I'm not loving: Pain. Discomfort. The fact that I've been unable to enjoy the majority of my pregnancy. I got robbed, yo.

What I'm looking forward to: Is it too early to say giving birth? Or, more accurately, evicting the Jellybean from my uterus?

Best moment this week: It's selfish but getting the call today that an ortho would be willing to treat the carpal tunnel. On Tuesday Dr. Direct said that the shots would help and be safe for baby, but good luck finding a doctor who'll touch a pregnant woman. But then I did. When the nurse told me they could get me in Monday I almost cried.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

30w0d.

Baby's size: Large cabbage or cucumber.

Next appointment: 9/22 (had one today, too)

Total weight gain: 51.4 lbs. So, down 1.6 lbs. and lower than where I was in at 22w5d.

Exercise: Moving more. My busted knee is mostly healed, which helps. But beyond that, taking off some of the excess fluid has made it easier for me to function, period. There was a time not too long ago when I would barely be able to make it around the grocery store before my back started hurting or I'd get too huffy and puffy. It was scary! But yesterday, I went grocery shopping all by myself for the first time in a while, and I was fine. Didn't even have back pain.

Sleep: Same. Also, I started using this app that tracks my sleep and tells me how many apnea events I have each night. I average between two and four, which is actually pretty great as anything under five is considered "normal."

Food cravings: Carbs, but I'm watching them like the good little gestational diabetic I am.

Symptoms: Burping, farting, and now, a little round ligament pain. I feel SO attractive, I tell you what. On the upside: Had some colostrum leakage from both nips, which apparently is a good sign for those of us who want to put our kid on the boob.

What I'm loving: Reaching 30 weeks. I mean, it's crazy. There was a time I was convinced I'd have pre-eclampsia by 28 weeks. So this? This is huge. And at the risk of jinxing things, I seem to be holding steady. My BP is great on the meds, my sugars are controlled by diet alone, sleep apnea is clearly being treated, and so far I haven't spilled any protein in my urine. I'm starting to think I might actually make it to 36 weeks!

What I'm not loving: The fruitless search for a decent nursing bra. My band size increased slightly, so I'm a 46 now, but my cup size (if you go by measurements alone) puts me at a DDDD/G. Once again, I'm struck by an industry that doesn't seem to think fat women procreate. I'm looking for a bra with thick straps and a wide band that I know will give me support. So far, nothing. (Any suggestions?)

What I'm looking forward to: Childbirth class starts tomorrow, and then I have my first resale event on Saturday. Plus, there's more nesting to be done!

Best moment this week: My surprise shower was last Saturday (and I totally need to write about it). There was this point when I looked around at all of these women who were there for me, who had done so much for me (not just the shower but in life itself), and I felt so completely loved. And then in the same breath, overwhelmed by all of the love. But it was a really beautiful moment, to know that there were so many wonderful ladies that I could count on.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

29w0d.

Baby's size: Squash (butternut or acorn, depending on the site)

Next appointment: 9/17 (had one today, too)

Total weight gain: 53 lbs. So, down 4.4 lbs. and right where I was in week 24. (Thanks, HCTZ!)

Exercise: Even less than usual, thanks to my bustimicated knee.

Sleep: Same.

Food cravings: Bread and cheese. Together.

Symptoms: I have that funny light brown line up and down my belly. And I'm getting super emotional. Oh, and my boobs? They are seriously huge, and not in a good way.

What I'm loving: The 3D ultrasound pics we got today. Best u/s tech ever! We finally got to see the Jellybean's face from multiple angles. Last week, we had a few snaps but he looked like a cartoon character. This time, he looked like a tiny human!

What I'm not loving: Still with the hands. The pain was so bad Monday I kept crying. So, the cardiologist put me back on the HCTZ. Dr. Direct isn't going to like it, but what can I do?

What I'm looking forward to: Lots and lots of baby stuff. We start childbirth classes a week from tomorrow. Next Thursday there's a curriculum night at our future daycare. And my shower is coming up in just a few short weeks, too!

Best moment this week: Seeing his face. It's the cutest little face! I can't stop staring at it.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

28w0d.

Baby's size: Large eggplant.

Next appointment: Today. More u/s and hopefully a 3D one!

Total weight gain: 57.4 lbs. However, I weigh slightly less than I did three weeks ago, so I'm not complaining.

Exercise: Minimal. Still struggling with pain/numbness in legs, not to mention swelling.

Sleep: Decent. Averaging 7-8 hours a night with the CPAP mask.

Food cravings: None.

Symptoms: Burping. Lots and lots of burping.

What I'm loving: Feeling Jellybean more regularly. Sometimes he kicks hard enough that it moves other things. Like, the other night I had my iPad on a pillow on my belly, and he kicked hard enough that the iPad jumped just a little.

What I'm not loving: My hands. They are swollen, stiff, numb, or in pain 100% of the time now, making even routine tasks difficult to complete.

What I'm looking forward to: This weekend. We have plans to do a lot of cleaning/purging in the house, and the closer we get to achieving our goals there, the better I'll feel.

Best moment this week: Last Thursday night I got in the pool for the first time since June...and discovered that preggos float. Like, literally FLOAT. It was crazy. And awesome.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

23w0d.

Baby's size: Large mango.

Next appointment: August 4.

Total weight gain: 52.8 lbs. So, down almost 5 lbs. from last week. I'll take it.

Exercise: Next to nothing. When I'm on my feet for more than 10 minutes at a time, they swell up. And I can't even go back to yoga this weekend due to the swelling/numbness in my hands. I need to join a pool.

Sleep: Using the CPAP 100% of the time now, though I have to sleep sitting up on the couch with my feet on an ottoman. If I lay on either side my whole body goes numb and then has shooting pains. It's really awesome.

Food cravings: Nothing out of the ordinary.

Symptoms: The vivid dreams are returning, likely because I'm actually reaching REM sleep with the CPAP. There was a rather involved one the other night with Bradley Cooper in it. It wasn't dirty, though - he was like my stepfather or something.

What I'm loving: I'm finally starting to look like I have a baby bump and not just a food baby.

What I'm not loving: The general discomfort I'm in, like, all of the time. Oh, and how the cardiologist assumed I'm eating potato chips 24/7, when I eat clean about 85% of the time.

What I'm looking forward to: ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL VIABILITY.

Best moment this week: There was a day when we checked my BP and it was normal and my blood sugar was normal and I felt like, "Okay, maybe I'm going to be okay after all."

Thursday, July 23, 2015

22w0d.

Baby's size: Spaghetti squash. Really? I just made one for dinner last night and it was pretty big.

Next appointment: August 4.

Total weight gain: 57.2 lbs. No, that's not a typo. I put on nearly 20 lbs. in the week that I was away. I've already dropped 4.6 lbs. since I got home a day and a half ago, though, so I'm hoping more of the water/fluid drops away over the next week.

Exercise: I walked my ass off on this business trip. (My feet paid the price.)

Sleep: Getting somewhat better now that I have the CPAP. I'm dreaming again, at least when I use it. But I'm still having aches and pains that wake me up routinely, so it's not 100% yet.

Food cravings: Fruits and vegetables. A week of eating nothing but restaurant food and convention center catering will do that to you.

Symptoms: I'm feeling Jellybean flutter almost daily now. I love it. I smile every single time.

What I'm loving: Being home!

What I'm not loving: The crazy water weight gain. Between all of the sodium in the not-homemade food, the heat/humidity, and flying twice, I'm all kinds of messed up.

What I'm looking forward to: Getting back to a normal routine. I'm so glad this trip is over. I'm so glad that life is slowing down a smidge.

Best moment this week: Coming home to Mr. Hope and Precious Pup. It's so good to feel loved.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

21w0d.

Baby's size: Carrot.

Next appointment: August 4.

Total weight gain: Not sure - I'm away on business with no access to a scale. I feel like a beached whale, though.

Exercise: Walking, lots of walking. So much walking that my feet keep swelling up. They look like they belong to a Hobbit.

Sleep: The hotel where I'm staying has a cloud bed. It's heavenly. Still not getting great sleep, though, as I'm wrestling with my new CPAP machine. It makes me feel claustrophobic a lot of the time.

Food cravings: Meat, seltzer, fresh fruit.

Symptoms: Swollen everything.

What I'm loving: In an odd way, finding out that I do have sleep apnea has been a good thing. It explains a lot of what's been going on with my body. Also, I feel pretty awesome that I got the testing done AND got a CPAP before I boarded the plane earlier this week. (I rock.)

What I'm not loving: The mean girl co-worker who's making this trip hellish. Are we in high school again? Because that's what it feels like.

What I'm looking forward to: GOING HOME.

Best moment this week: The triumphant acquisition of the CPAP machine.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

20w0d.

Baby's size: Small banana. Oddly enough, I ate one of those yesterday and it caused Jellybean to start swimming across my stomach like crazy. Was it the sugar? Or does he just not love bananas? Either way, it was pretty flipping cool.

Next appointment: July 10

Total weight gain: 39.8 lbs. So, yes, I lost .2 lbs. this week. (I'll take it!)

Exercise: I went to yoga on Sunday. It was harder this time! I'm just so swollen.

Sleep: Exclusively on the couch now. Will talk to OB about it on 7/10.

Food cravings: Salty/crunchy things.

Symptoms: I have edema in my stomach. Yes, my stomach. It's so gross. And uncomfortable. My body totally hates being pregnant.

What I'm loving: Jellybean is perfect! I was so terrified that all of the crap I've been dealing with was hurting him in some way, but no. The level 2 u/s on Tuesday revealed a super-active little boy who looks exactly how they want him to look. RELIEF!

What I'm not loving: Just how shitty I feel 90% of the time.

What I'm looking forward to: Mr. Hope and I are going to do our registry this weekend. I've had so much anxiety about it. I don't even know why. I kind of can't wait to get it over with.

Best moment this week: Realizing that I actually HAVE been feeling the baby, but mistaking those feelings for uterine twinges/growing pains.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

19w0d.

Baby's size: Mango

Next appointment: July 7

Total weight gain: 40 lbs. on the dot. And I'm not even halfway done yet.

Exercise: None. I missed yoga because of a business brunch. I suck.

Sleep: Eludes me. Still.

Food cravings: Beef. Lots and lots of beef.

Symptoms: The snoring continues! And the sleeping-sitting-up-on-the-couch thing.

What I'm loving: Mr. Hope, for putting up with me when I'm this miserable.

What I'm not loving: The pain and swelling in my hands. The returning fear that I'm not going to make it - that I'm going to lose this baby.

What I'm looking forward to: Still the level 2 u/s. It honestly can't come soon enough.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

18w0d.

Baby's size: Bell pepper or sweet potato.

Next appointment: July 7

Total weight gain: 37.2 lbs. Up 7 lbs. from last week. I've officially stopped weighing myself every day, because it makes me too depressed.

Exercise: I worked on a farm over the weekend and went swimming for hours on Monday, but then my hands swelled so much that when I woke Tuesday I couldn't make fists. The OB has ordered me indoors. She says it's too hot and humid for me to be outside. Funsies.

Sleep: Still crappy. Still bouncing from bed to couch and back again.

Food cravings: French fries. But the good kind, not the fast food ones.

Symptoms: The swollen hands thing is daily now. Oh, and I'm snoring again. I'm terrified I'm developing sleep apnea but Mr. Hope assures me it's garden variety snoring.

What I'm loving: Pass.

What I'm not loving: The pain and swelling in my hands. The returning fear that I'm not going to make it - that I'm going to lose this baby.

What I'm looking forward to: My level 2 u/s.

Best moment this week: Eh.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

17w0d.

Baby's size: Turnip, pear, or onion.

Next appointment: July 7

Total weight gain: 30.2 lbs. Which means I'm up 4 lbs. from last week. Is this the new meds? Too many carbs? What?

Exercise: Not much this week. Yoga again and am scheduled to go walking tonight. I've been sick, which hasn't helped.

Sleep: The first two nights of Unisom = awesome. Then they started me on Labetalol (a beta blocker, for BP) on Saturday, and I stopped sleeping again. Mostly I'm just tired, like, all of the time.

Food cravings: Carbs. My stomach was upset early in the week and all food seemed gross to me. One night for dinner I ate a sleeve of unsalted saltines and nothing else. On Tuesday, I ate egg and cheese sandwiches on whole wheat English muffins for breakfast and lunch. Yesterday I finally ate some fruit and veggies again, so maybe this upset stomach thing is finally passing.

Symptoms: Finger/hand/arm numbness continues! Now it's not just in the mornings. My left eye oozes snot all day long and by night time is crusting shut. I'm super tired. My nipples are so dark they're almost black. I feel huge and ugly and gross 95% of the time. The other 5%? Is when I'm actually sleeping.

What I'm loving: Not a whole hell of a lot. I'm not going to lie; this week has been rough.

What I'm not loving: The Labetalol. My current depression. Being pregnant. There, I said it. Pregnancy is ugly and uncomfortable and gross. There is a parasite in my body. I wanted that parasite and I love him with all of my heart, but right now, I'm just trying to get through each day without losing my shit.

What I'm looking forward to: Feeling like a human again. And when will that be, exactly?

Best moment this week: We heard Jellybean's heartbeat for the first time last Friday. I was so stunned that she found it right away that my jaw dropped. I didn't even think to record it or anything. But it was a beautiful sound.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

16w0d.

Baby's size: Avocado!

Next appointment: June 12 (is in TOMORROW, at along last)

Total weight gain: 26 lbs. If you've been following the saga of my weight gain, you'll notice that I'm only up .2 lbs. from last week. And actually, I was up more - like another 5 lbs. - but it's started falling off. I'm now off the prednisone entirely, and it's been a little over a month since I stopped the HCTZ, so here's hoping my body's starting to get back to normal. Finally.

Exercise: Started prenatal yoga on Sunday. Was surprised and relieved to discover that I could keep up with the thin preggos. Went walking at the gym with the BFF on Monday. Thirty minutes at a snail's pace, but when I had the incline at 1 and tried to walk faster, I got little pangs in my uterus. So, slow and steady it is. Today I'm doing my workout DVD. It's good to be moving again.

Sleep: Eludes me. This week has been the worst. I thought the exercise would help but it hasn't. I think part of the problem is that I'm a stomach sleeper. I was told this was okay until it was uncomfortable, and once it was uncomfortable I'd have to stop. Guess what? It's uncomfortable now. I spend most nights bouncing between my bed and the couch. And because I have such a hard time falling asleep, I start to get anxiety at bedtime. Based on the advice of my online support group, I purchased Unisom. It should arrive today. Fingers crossed that it brings relief!

Food cravings: I really wanted pepperoni pizza the other night. Like, badly. So I made the dinner I had planned - a quinoa salad loaded with veggies - and then Mr. Hope and I ordered a medium pepperoni. We ate the salad while waiting for the pizza to arrive. When it did, we discovered that the slices were small, like little triangles, so I had two. Craving satisfied. And I still lost weight that night, probably because I've been slamming water and powerloading fruits and veggies. So. No harm, no foul.

Symptoms: Pregnancy rhinitis to the nth degree. It's gotten worse as I weaned off the prednisone. Also I have this weird thing that my right hand goes numb in the mornings. Considering seeing the chiropractor or scheduling a pregnancy massage. Oh, and the insomnia thing. That's really fun.

What I'm loving: Precious Pup. We've been getting in extra snuggle time and playing lots of fetch. I don't know what it is about him but he's even more adorable than normal.

What I'm not loving: The sleep deprivation. And also the people who remark, "Just wait! It gets worse once you have the baby!" Yeah, I get it. I'm never going to sleep again. Thanks, world.

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing Dr. Direct tomorrow. Not sure if I get an u/s or if we just hear the baby's heartbeat, but either way it will be good to have proof that Jellybean's doing fine.

Best moment this week: Seeing the scale go down. I know I'm like a broken record about this, but it felt really good.

[Side note: I've been the worst blogger lately. And there's so much that I want to write about. It's just that I'm used to getting up early in the AM, and that's when I'd write. But with the lack of sleep, sometimes I'm pushing it until 8 a.m. or later, just trying to get some rest before I have to go to work. Making it a goal to do more, because there's so much I want to document!]

Thursday, June 4, 2015

15w0d.

Baby's size: Apple or orange.

Next appointment: June 12.

Total weight gain: 25.8 lbs. I'm at a total loss right now. I'm not eating anywhere near enough calories to be putting on this much weight. I'd really hoped that stopping the hormones would help, but so far it hasn't. I honestly don't even know what to say.

Exercise: Struggling. The extra weight I've put on makes me winded pretty quickly. But, I've been doing some walking and I start yoga on Sunday. Next week it's the gym.

Sleep: Have stopped drinking before bed (trying to quit liquids two hours prior) and that's helped with the waking and peeing thing. Still get up every night between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. sick from hunger. Feel exhausted nearly all of the time.

Food cravings: Beef. Fruit. Fresh veggies. Not so bad.

Symptoms: Aching breasts, heightened sense of smell. Not so much on the vivid dreams this week. I pretty much have to eat every 2-3 hours or I feel sick. And I'm kind of swollen.

What I'm loving: Not so much what as who. Mr. Hope has been saint-like, even when I get crazy hangry or moody or whatever. We've been having a lot of fun together, too. I'm so happy that I'm going to make him a daddy again!

What I'm not loving: The weight gain. I won't complain about it. Y'all know it's killing me.

What I'm looking forward to: The weekend! Lots of fun stuff happening, but even more than that: I GET TO SLEEP IN.

Best moment this week: Saturday night I had friends over. Everything I put on made me look pregnant. Duh, I am pregnant! Gumbo put her hand on my belly and commented on my firm bump. It was the first time I didn't feel like Jabba the Hut. I actually took a bump picture with my phone - the first I've ever taken.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

14w0d.

Baby's size: Lemon.

Next appointment: June 12.

Total weight gain: 18.8 lbs. But I'm on the decline again, so hoping some of this is just my body trying to figure out how to operate off the progesterone and HCTZ at the same time. (So. Frustrating.)

Exercise: I'm walking more, but it's hot and mall walking isn't my thing. That said, I have a plan in place. Tomorrow I'm starting these pregnancy workout DVDs I ordered with Nugget but never got to use. Next weekend, I'm starting a pregnancy yoga class with a preggo friend. And gym with the BFF starts that week, too, so within the next 10 days I should have a comfortable routine down.

Sleep: Same as last week - waking up at least 3x a night to pee, waking up between 2:30 and 3:30 sick from hunger. New thing I tried last night: keeping a date-and-nut bar on my beside table. Ate half with the 1:30 pee and the other half with the 3:30 pee. No scary-sick hunger!

Food cravings: Fruit like you wouldn't believe, but I always get this way in the summer. Strawberries, blueberries, apricots, watermelon, cantaloupe - you name it, I want it.

Symptoms: I mentioned to the BFF that my nipples were so dark they were almost black, and she was like, "Uh, good luck with that." But that's a thing, right? Darkening areolas?

What I'm loving: The nursery chair we bought this weekend! It's a La-Z-Boy rocker/recliner. I'd had my eye on it for a couple of weeks, and then found out they were having a huge Memorial Day sale. The chair was almost $300 off! It was a bit of a splurge, but with this purchase we're officially finished buying nursery furniture.

What I'm not loving: Just how huge and gross I feel. I mean, I expected to feel like this at some point, but not at 14 weeks, you know?

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing the baby. I don't even know if I get to at the next appointment, or if she'll just go for Doppler, but I'm finding ultrasound withdrawal harder than expected. Is the baby still in there? My boobs are still killing me, and I'm not spotting or cramping, so I'm assuming yes, but you never know.

Best moment this week: This is TMI, but last night I had my first O in 14 weeks. So, that was pretty spectacular.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

13w0d.

(Welcome to the second trimester, y'all!)

Baby's size: Peach or pea pod (the baby is now 3" - go look at that on a ruler)

Next appointment: June 12

Total weight gain: 15 lbs. But I was up to 17 lbs. a couple of days ago, so this is improvement. I think the rebound from discontinuing the HCTZ is starting to dissipate already. Keeping fingers crossed!

Exercise: I'm not doing enough walking. The plan currently is to finish the freelance project due next week, then start meeting the BFF at the gym 2-3 nights a week. I can't do much - just walk on the treadmill at a leisurely pace - but anything should help.

Sleep: Still kind of crappy. I wake to pee 1-3 times in the middle of the night. Also, between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m., I wake up nauseated and starving. For the past four nights I've wandered into the darkened kitchen, toasted up a piece of sprouted grain bread, put a little cream cheese on it, ate it standing up, and then gone back to bed. No joke.

Food cravings: Besides my middle-of-the-night toast breaks, I've had random cravings, like the other night when I sent Mr. Hope out for pudding and animal crackers. But also I've noticed I've been eating a lot more red meat than I typically do, and a lot less chicken. The other night I made this one pot dish with ground beef and peppers and it was so good, I was walking the leftovers into co-workers' offices and telling them how good it was.

Food aversions: None.

Symptoms: My boobs are still these things I wish I could unhook from my body and put on a shelf. The heartburn has gotten more persistent; people tell me this means I'll have a hairy baby. And I'm guessing the waking up hungry thing is a symptom of something - a friend said it meant the baby was having growth spurts while I was sleeping that was causing my blood sugar to drop.

What I'm loving: NO. MORE. PIO. Took the last shot last night. It's so liberating!

What I'm not loving: That I'm still exhausted so much of the time. This may ease up now that I'm off the progesterone. But, like, yesterday was gorgeous. My plan was to come home from work, leash up the dog, and go for a long walk. But on the drive home I started to get really hungry. So when I got home, I drank two glasses of milk, ate a cheese stick, and then promptly wanted to pass out. Which I later did.

What I'm looking forward to: This isn't entirely pregnancy related, but I should be done with the freelance project before my next update. And if I get some more energy back, that means lots of free time for myself. I want to enjoy it before I lose it!

Best moment this week: When Mr. Hope and I decided that we were turning in our membership to the "One and Done" club. More on this later.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

12w0d.

Baby's size: Plum.

Next appointment: May 19 (just a BP check - next OB appt. isn't until June 12!)

Total weight gain: 11.8 lbs. To be fair, a little more than four lbs. of that was added since yesterday, when I discontinued the HCTZ. This is exactly what I feared. I've read that after going off of it, people pack on up to 20 lbs. of water weight and that it can take them up to a month for that to start to come off. Yeah, this isn't going to fuck with my head at all.

Exercise: OB is encouraging me to walk. So I should probably start doing that.

Sleep: Crappy this week. Have been peeing a lot in the middle of the night. Then have trouble getting back to sleep. It doesn't help that Mr. Hope is a psycho-snorer.

Food cravings: None this week.

Food aversions: None.

Symptoms: My boobs are crazy sore. Like, so bad that I don't even want to release them from my bra at night. Also this bloating. MY GOD, THE BLOATING.

What I'm loving: Our families' reaction to the news. Also that we bought a crib. That's huge for me.

What I'm not loving: Where do I start? My anxiety level, the overnight water weight gain, waking up to pee 12 times a night, the fact that I still haven't gotten my MaterniT21 Plus test results (though my OB's nurse said I should get them today).

What I'm looking forward to: I am hoping that the test results are good and give me some peace of mind. Also that I don't keep packing on pounds of water weight. I literally drank 18 8 oz. glasses of pure water yesterday, plus another two of lemon water, two of decaf coffee, and 4 oz. of milk. So I was surprised by the scale this morning. I don't know what else I can do. Might just have to ride this out.

Best moment this week: I don't know. Maybe it was when I didn't freak out after Dr. Direct said she wasn't going to give us an ultrasound? I feel like if I get those test results and it's good news, then that would be what goes here.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

11w0d.

Baby's size: Fig, lime, or Brussels sprout, depending on which site you go by.

Next appointment: May 12 (first full OB appt., first time we'll get to hear the heartbeat!)

Total weight gain: 7.4 lbs. :: sob ::  Non-obese people are told to keep their first trimester weight gain to 5 lbs. or less. Please let this be the artificial hormones!

Exercise: Nothing official, but I've been doing a lot more walking. And I went grocery shopping with Mr. Hope this weekend for the first time in forever. Plus, I get to help cook again. So that's all really good.

Sleep: Still averaging about 8.5 hours a night. The exhaustion comes and goes.

Food cravings: Dairy. Lots and lots of dairy.

Food aversions: None, but I made Brussels sprouts for dinner last night (before I knew a pregnancy site would compare my unborn child to one!) and they tasted bitter and wrong. And I *love* Brussels sprouts.

Symptoms: I can feel the uterus stretching. More groin pressure, some mild lower back cramping, a few twinges here and there. And I feel crazy fat. So bloated. My fingers have started to swell into fat sausages. Swapped my wedding band out for a larger ring I got years ago. The wedding band still fits but only just barely, and I didn't want to take any chances.

What I'm loving: That I've made it this far. That I've graduated from the RE. That I spend more time thinking about what it means to have a baby than I do fearing losing the baby.

What I'm not loving: How fat I feel. Some of it is normal hot weather stuff (I tend to swell in heat regardless) but my boobs are spilling out of my bra, my jeans are getting too snug for comfort, and I don't know. It's just uncomfortable. (I'm sure it's going to get worse.)

What I'm looking forward to: Getting the results of my MaterniT21 Plus test. The tech said it could be four days to a week, so I could get them anywhere between today and Monday.

Best moment this week: Seeing our little ninja punching and kicking all over that ultrasound!