What If It Happened to You?

For all you new readers, usually I would post about my pregnancy (or before that happened, my fertility journey). But instead, I'm going to take a detour and ask you to lay prays on one of my dear friends. Thursday night, Hubby and I received a phone call that our friend J. had been in a car accident. His wife, A. was the one who called. She was very upset but didn't know anything at that point. As the night progressed into the wee hours of the morning, Hubby and A. exchanged several texts and phone calls. Around 2am Friday morning, A.'s mom called with the news. J. had died on impact in the car accident. I was devastated. 

J. was an amazing man of God. Young, not even 30 yet. Gifted. Had a heart for reaching children for the Lord. Loved to teach music to his students. A. is now left as a single mother. Her baby girl, M., is turning two in less than a month. She has another baby due in September. Her grief is unmeasurable. I know this is a sad and very depressing post, but it has been weighing on my mind a lot. It's a horrific tragedy for those of us on Earth. J. is in Heaven and he is rejoicing with our Savior. But A. is so grief-stricken. 

Please pray for A. as she is now working through her grief. She's trying to tell a two-year old that Daddy is not coming home. She has so many emotions to work through, thoughts that creep in, bitterness towards the other driver (and she asked for prayers for that, as she doesn't want to be bitter at all, but rather forgiving). 

I just keep imagining that it was me. What if that was my Hubby? What would I do? It's so unimaginable. What if it was you? What if this same situation happened to you? Hard to imagine, right? We just need to remember to appreciate those we love. Spend time with them as much as we can. Tell them we love them as often as possible. Hug them every chance we get. You just never know when God will call someone home.

Just pray for the family as they work through this difficult situation. Nothing can prepare you to lose someone so close, so young, and in such a sudden and tragic way. They have a long road ahead of them and prayer is the only sure thing to help get them through it.

Sorry for the depressing post, but it's been on my mind and I just needed to share my thoughts.

Baby Girl

I had my big 20-week anatomy scan today. The baby is looking good. SHE (yes, it's a GIRL!) is measuring 2 days behind, but that is good. Baby is perfect. I haven't put the pictures on the computer yet, but I will. Baby is just perfect. She wasn't the most cooperative thing there could ever be. She had her legs crossed for quite a while. She decided to put her arm over her face with her hand in a fist. I think she was annoyed with all the jiggling. The ultrasound tech (awesome lady) had to keep jiggling Baby Girl around because she wasn't cooperating. She covered her whole abdomen at one point by crossing her arms. But everything is just perfect.

I had my ultrasound done at a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor. He has decided to keep me on as a patient due to my hypertension. I have no complaints, he's a very nice doctor. So I'm going back in 8 weeks to see him and he wants to monitor the growth of the baby, since smaller babies can be related to hypertension, even if it is medicated. so, just add another doctor to my list of doctors. I see my obstetrician on March 31st. I don't see Dr. F (the MFM Doc) until May. And then, he wants to start monitoring me every few weeks. I guess I'm going to have a lot of days where I'm leaving work without being able to do my hall duty. I get to work early enough in the day to make up for that time, so I'm not worried about that. 

That's about it for me now. I haven't posted pictures yet, since I have to take pictures of the pictures, as my main computer died, so I can't scan the pictures to a computer. I'll post them soon!

Baby Furniture

Yesterday was a SUPER busy day. My Mother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law drove up (in the torrential rain) to deliver the baby furniture. The original plan was to store it in my parent's basement for now, since we really weren't ready for it here. We're still working on cleaning the baby's room. But somehow, there was a miscommunication and the furniture is here. So my MIL and SIL helped clear out the furniture that was in the way and loaded it into their van (since we were getting rid of those pieces anyway). As frustrated as I was about the miscommunication, I was so glad and thankful for their unceasing help. They stayed all afternoon and helped rearrange the living room to open up the space and of course, the baby furniture is here. The crib is not yet assembled because there really isn't room for it yet, we're still working on the future nursery.

So it was a really busy day. After all the furniture was rearranged and some of it was out in my MIL's van, we drove our giant computer stand to my aunt's house and assembled it there for her. With all the rain, there was flooding issues, so we had to be careful. It wasn't necessarily the best day to do all the furniture moving, but it's done. I am so thankful for the extra help, since when it comes to moving furniture, I feel useless these days. 

Now...if I only had the motivation to work on cleaning some more...

18 Weeks 1 Day Update/Quiz

Okay, so it's been 3 weeks since I did one of these, so I thought it was time. Everything keeps on changing! I'll post my latest belly pic (from 17 weeks 4 days) at the bottom of the quiz. Enjoy!

How far along: 18 weeks 1 day

 

Symptoms: Nausea (though not nearly as bad, still usually only at night or when I have to blow my nose...tissues have a smell and I just can't stand it), constipation is back, my belly has sort of "popped," the heartburn is becoming very constant, and I have to pee a bunch of times in the night.

Total weight gain: 7lbs at last weigh in at the doctor, but my next appointment is tomorrow, so we'll see what it's up to now.

Maternity clothes: I can still wear some of my non-maternity tops and they look pretty good. But otherwise, it's pretty much maternity pants, tights, dresses, pantyhose, skirts, and tops.

Stretch marks: Only on my chest, as it has have definitely grown already. But none on the tummy yet. I'm using TONS of Palmer's Cocoa Butter.

Sleep: I sleep like a baby most of the time, until I have to pee. I love my body pillow. I have been sleeping very well other than the potty trips. Thankfully, with the body pillow, I don't find myself lying on my back at all.
 

Best moment last week: Feeling the flutters and realizing that it's more than flutters. Today, I swear I felt a kick.

Movement: I still feel the flutters, but now, I also feel a lot more movement. Today, like I posted above, I think I felt a kick. So amazing!

Food cravings: Oddly, none really. My sweet tooth had briefly returned, but now it's gone again. I don't really have any cravings. Weird, huh?

Belly Button in or out: In, of course!

What I miss: Of course, the foods I shouldn't eat like lunch meat and hot dogs, but I also miss really dancing. I went country line dancing last night and realized that I can't really get into as much as I used to because my whole center of gravity is different!

What I am looking forward to: My appointment with Dr. H tomorrow and scheduling the anatomy scan.

 

Milestones: Feeling the first kick!

 

How is daddy? He is wonderful. We've started cleaning out the second bedroom. He's so super helpful.

How are the grandparents? They are excited as can be.

Now, for the most recent picture...

Flutters Have Turned Into Movements

I feel like a caged bird, as it's snowing still and I haven't been outside since Wednesday night. It's another snow day, all local schools are closed for the day. But that's okay. I'm dealing with it. Actually, Hubby and I are going to try to venture out for lunch today. I just need to get out for a little bit. And since our little princess of a dog won't do her big business outside, we have to get out for a while, leaving her at home alone. Then, she will do her business on her potty pad. Such a diva, I tell you!

So anyway, I've had flutters for a few weeks now. But, yesterday, I started to feel more movement. I didn't really feel it too much during the day, it was more at night. But it was so exciting! I can't wait to feel the kicking and punching. I'm sure I'll notice it after it already begins, since this is my first baby and I don't know what to expect or what I'm supposed to be feeling. But I know the movements are definitely that. It's the strangest feeling in the world, yet it's the most amazing feeling ever. I wouldn't trade it in for anything!

The Nausea Bug

Well, you would think that by the end of the 17th week of pregnancy, the nausea would be quieter than before. Well it hasn't worked out that way for me. Yesterday, I spent the day teaching and feeling very nauseous. I ate half my lunch before it soured in my stomach and I had throw the rest of it out. I ate half my yogurt and the same thing happened. I had my Sea.Bands on all day yesterday. The nausea was tolerable but not at all likable. 

I decided that I would call out sick today. My school district has early dismissal because of the incoming snow storm (yes, Nor'Easter #4 of the 2009-2010 winter, which makes it #3 for 2010 is on the way). Well, I'm glad I did, since the nausea has started again. It's not super bad yet and hopefully, it won't be. But it's certainly not fun, not exciting, and not at all wanted. But it's here nonetheless. 

Now, I'm just trying to decide if I think it's a boy or a girl. Only a few more weeks until I can find out!

The Things That Make My Day

Last week, I was nominated for a blogging award by Catrisha from Baby Dreams and I didn't want to to go ignored. It's just been so busy over this way. Hubby's students finally performed Aladdin for two nights. It was originally supposed to be four nights, but the original nights got snowed out, so we had the musical on Thursday and Friday. I've been involved with it and it's very time consuming. So blogging has sort of taken the back seat. But, the musical is over, my feet are up, I'm relaxing, and therefore, catching up in the blogging realm. 


My pregnancy is still going well. It seems that I'm showing a lot earlier than I thought I would. But I haven't had the sickness that most women seem to get, so I'm not complaining. At my last doctor's appointment, I had only gained 7 pounds since the month before getting pregnant. It's all pretty much in my belly and I don't eat much more than I used to. I'm showing very high, too. Weird, but I'm hoping the old wives tales about carrying high being a girl hold true. But I have such a "boy" feeling. Only a few more weeks until I can find out! 


Anyway, back to the blogging award. My blog was awarded as one that makes someone's day. 

The rules are: I have to list 10 Things That Make My Day and then list 10 Blogs worthy of this award as well, and then you'll have the award and they'll have the award too. Don't forget you'll have to do the same... list 10 Things and 10 Blogs to earn the award (then of course copy the pic of the award to your computer and paste/upload the award pic to your own blog post saying that you received this award with your 10 and 10). It's less confusing that it sounds, so I'm going to list 10 things that make my day.

1. Coming home from work to a dog who just loves to greet me. It's nice to be missed, to be loved, to have something or someone look forward to my return from wherever I am.

2. Hugs and kisses from Hubby. Nothing beats a warm embrace and the soft kisses on my cheek that tell me I'm loved and I'm special.

3. An email or Facebook comment from a good friend. It's always nice to have friends involved in life, even when distance separates you.

4. A good cup of coffee. Of course, my coffee is a specific concoction of a quarter caffeinated coffee and three-quarters decaf. But it makes my day to enjoy my one little cup of coffee with creamer and splenda.

5. Gentle reminders of God's unconditional love for me. I'm the farthest thing from perfect and those reminders give me warm fuzzies.


6. Talking to my mom on the phone. It's a daily ritual. I call my mom every day on the way to work and talking to her just makes my day.


7. Beautiful words from friends. Nothing can make someone's day more than kind words no matter what the situation is.


8. A great song on the radio. I listen a lot of K-Love and I just love when certain songs come on that I can just sing to and completely understand, like "Perfect People." If you don't know that song, look it up. It's fantastic.


9. Being told by little kids that I am the most beautiful woman besides their mom. To be ranked anywhere near the mother of a little kid is just an amazing thing. 

10. Watching a funny commercial on TV. You know the kind, the kind that makes you laugh to the point where you are almost in tears. There aren't many out there, but there are a few!


Okay, now for the 10 bloggers and blogs that make my day because I love to read them and catch up on their lives:

1. Meggo from Unconceivable (Conceived!)

2. Olivia from Misadventures in Baby Making 

3. All You Who Hope 

4. Journey Girl from Donor Eggs Journey 

5. Priscilla from It only takes one time...Not! 

6. The Mrs. from In God's Hands 

7. Sabine from A Land Far Away 

8. The Misfit from IF 

9. Chirleen from Confessions of a TC-A-Holic 

10. Miracle in the Making from TTC Baby Blog