Michelin Man

Hi to everyone reading from ICLW!! In case you couldn't tell by the picture just above this post, I am pregnant, though still pretty new to the pregnancy thing. My belly has already started to change in shape. And I know that it will eventually look beautiful and be perfect. But right now, it doesn't look at all like a pregnant woman's belly. Instead, it looks like the Michelin Man.

It really is the strangest thing. The only way I can really give you a visual is to say that it looks like I'm wearing an invisible belt. I have a roll above the belly button and a roll below the belly button. And I know they will connect eventually, but right now, I'm the Michelin Lady! 

 

Adventures in the Snow

Well, New Jersey saw it's first snowfall of the year on Saturday. And it was a LOT of snow! We had 2 feet of snow. Hubby vowed to not let me out of the house for fear of falling and hurting Little Bean. So I was content to stay upstairs. And I did...on Saturday. And at that point, we didn't have the 2 feet, we maybe had 16 inches or so by Saturday early evening. Unfortunately, yesterday, I had to bundle up and head outside to play in the snow. Why? Hubby lost his keys in the snow. Yep, the key ring with the apartment key, the car keys, his classroom keys, the mailbox key, his mom's house key, etc...not good to lose in 2 feet of snow! So I got to play with a shovel, but I didn't actually shovel. We did find the keys, but it wasn't without some good laughs and quite the adventure. It was almost as classic as the day I lost my wedding ring in the sand in Wildwood, NJ (it fell off my finger when I went to catch a football and instead it grazed my finger and pulled the ring right off) and my most wonderful friends had to rent a metal detector because they refused to leave the beach until we found it. When Little Bean is born, there certainly will be no shortage of adventures and good laughs, that's for sure.

We went out to dinner last night at Iron Hill Brewery. Two of my friends were like kids in a candy store with all the beer samplers. Me? I had my root beer. Little Bean doesn't want alcohol! It was really funny thinking to myself that I'm pregnant and at a brewery. The irony of it makes me chuckle. But Little Bean is now in charge of my decisions and I have to make sure my Little Bean stays safe in there!

Little Bean Has a Heartbeat!

We went for our 7-week ultrasound last night with Dr. V. How exciting! Little Bean had a strong heartbeat, 133bpm. It is so amazing to see the beating heart of this little tiny being inside of your body. Wow. I don't think there are really words to express how it really feels. I didn't think I would ever get to feel those emotions and here I am! It's crazy!! I go back in again next Wednesday, two days before Christmas, for my 8-week ultrasound. After that, Dr. V is releasing me to my OB. I called them today and they can't get me in until January 7th. So I'll be a nervous wreck for the two weeks in between. But it's okay. Little Bean is doing well. She/he is measuring a few days behind, but Dr. V said it's okay.

So life seems to be going well. I think I am fighting a cold of sorts, so I am trying to rest and relax as much as possible. I'm trying to keep myself hydrated, too. The nausea hasn't really been an issue for me. Although yesterday I had some nausea issues, it hasn't been an issue otherwise. The heartburn comes and goes, but I can deal with it. But the tiredness. Oh, the tiredness is unbelievable! I am thankful for the reasons behind all the tiredness, but it is very intense. 

Life continues to be a blessing for me. Hubby is so patient and loving. He's a music teacher and tonight is the concert for his school. I'm not one to miss a concert, as I like to support him and I love his students. But I'm just so tired. So I am at home, relaxing. Although it's late, I'm going to take a nap before bed. 

Life is Teaching Me Patience

I find myself not being very patient with waiting for things lately. For example, I'm not the most patient with waiting for Wednesday night. I get my second ultrasound to make sure Little Bean is growing and has a heartbeat. I don't want to wait, I don't want to be patient. But just like all of our journeys, patience paves the way for wonderful blessings and beautiful life experiences. 

I haven't been feeling a whole lot different lately. I'm still bloated even though I tend to drink about 70oz of water on average (each day). I feel like I spend my life in the bathroom. I've been getting sleepy every day like clockwork around 1pm. Weird....

And one of my students is so observant. He says to me, "Mrs. C, why are you always tired anymore during Math?" And then yesterday, just like every day for the past two weeks, I have to take a trip to "The Little Girl's Room." The one-on-one aide for one of my students is on lunch break and she spends it in my room. So she watches my few students while I run to the bathroom. So this same student mentioned above says to me yesterday, "Geez, Mrs. C, you're always tired and you always have to go to the bathroom? What is wrong with you lately!" Okay, this kid is barely 8 years old...is it that obvious that something is different? Then, he asks me if I have kids. Um....no, and I didn't want to add "not quite yet, but soon!" Instead, I said I have him and get to send him home at the end of the day. He got a good laugh out of that. But really? He's been in my classroom since September and now, he's asking me if I have kids? Weird! He's probably going to be the first kid to figure out my little secret...



I thought you would all love that story. Kids are funny.

6 Week Ultrasound

I had my first ultrasound of Little Bean tonight. It was amazing! I got a little teary eyed when my doctor pointed to the screen and said "That's your baby." My baby! It's really happening, that's MY baby! Wow. The gestational sac is perfect, there's a visible yolk sac, and of course, a teeny tiny little itty bitty fetus hanging out. It was amazing. It's still too early to detect the heart beat. So I go back in next Wednesday evening to check for Little Bean's heartbeat. I'm excited. I am at a slight shortage of words to say, as it is just an amazing experience beyond words to describe it. So instead, I'll just post Little Bean's first picture. Enjoy!

Will the Nerves Ever Calm Down?

I had my 4th beta done today, Today, it's at 3,179 at 26 DPO. So that's a great number. Good things are happening so far. My number has steadily doubled, almost like textbook perfection. Numbers are going up too fast or too slow, but they are just right. Yet, my nerves are shot. I wonder if my nerves will ever calm down about this pregnancy! I worked so hard to get to this point, and so much prayer went in to getting here. This child of mine was conceived by prayer and hard work. But I'm so nervous that Little Bean won't be there on Wednesday night's ultrasound. I'm petrified of hearing that it's a blighted ovum or an ectopic pregnancy. Not that I've had any pain to say that it's ectopic, it is just one of those thoughts in the back of my mind. I don't want to get all excited about this child until I see that they are perfect on Wednesday night. But I'm just soooo nervous. So pray for Little Bean and me, that everything will be okay and Little Bean will just be perfect in every way.

Little Bean is Growing!

Sorry I've been MIA, lots of things going on. I've had 3 betas done now. Today's beta was 1579. I'm so excited about it. I get a fourth beta on Monday and my first ultrasound is Wednesday. I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm still in disbelief. I keep asking myself "Is this real?" and "Is this really happening?" It all seems so surreal, like a dream. I'm walking on a cloud right now! It's crazy!

Being pregnant is different...I've had some nausea this week. I have decided to keep saltines and ginger ale by the bed every night so that I can have it first thing in the morning. But I don't want to eat anything else until like 9 or 10. I'm definitely hungrier in the evening. It's still all so weird. All these things that are different for my body to experience, it's crazy. I don't know how else to describe it. 

Please pray for Little Bean. Pray that the ultrasound goes well on Wednesday and that Little Bean is healthy in there. I'm just so thankful for God's blessing with Little Bean.