Not Expecting That.... or that!

This morning I woke up to my husband getting our foster baby up and ready for breakfast, it was nice to sleep in, if only for a few more minutes. I felt a weird sensation on my lower stomach. It felt as if my husband had laid another blanket on top of me, in bed. Not uncommon for him to do, as I tend to sleep in a ball and he seems to think that I am cold, so he gets me more blankets. :)

I took my hand and tried to feel for the extra blankets... none. What the heck was on me? I lifted up the blankets to look at my stomach to see if something happened since I last looked or felt my belly. I tend to sleep with one hand down on my lower belly, just over my uterus, sort of a comfort thing. I've done it since I was a little kid. Even more, now that I'm pregnant, as I am excited to start feeling the baby move and seem to think that if I have a hand on the outside and my nerves on the inside, there's a good chance I won't miss it, bahaha.

As I placed my hand over my lower belly I felt this HUGE lump down where my uterus is. It wasn't normal, nor had I felt it before. My lower belly was sticking a good 4 inches higher than the rest of my belly. At first I about crapped myself, but then I noticed, HOLY CRAP, that's the baby sticking way out there!!!! I RAN as fast as I could to go grab Jeff, to see if he saw it, too, or if it was just my eyes playing tricks on me.

He came in and I flopped back down on the bed and was like, "LOOK AT THIS!!!" His only response was.... "THAT'S THE BABY!!!!!" We spent the next few minutes just admiring my protruding buldge and I have to say that it's AWESOME. I've laid down a few times during the day, just to see if it's still there and it certainly is, just maybe not as protruded as it was.

If that wasn't shocker enough... my mom lives 10 hours away and the next time that I was planning on seeing her was going to be in July, after my 20w ultrasound, so I would be 5 months along. Well, she just text'd me a few minutes ago to say that she has Tuesday & Wednesday off, so they're going to drive down to spend an overnight trip with me, then drive back the next day. Just so she can see me for a bit.

I am so overwhelmed with joy, that I can't even discribe it. I'm just giddy. I can't wait for her to get here.

Talk about the unexpected, twice today!

13w5d - A Day of Reassurance

Today was our second OB appointment. Something I needed very badly, to go well. I wanted, so much, for her to say that our baby was doing well and that we were both right on track with things. I had a few questions and wasn't sure of the answers she was going to respond back with. The only real important one was about my hair loss. My hair has been falling out like CRAZY since finding out I'm pregnant. I mean in litteral CLUMPS. In the shower, when I brush it, in the morning when I get out of bed, all the time. Not to the extreme of someone having kemo, but pretty dang close. I don't seem to be getting bald but the amount that I am loosing made me worry. Doctor K reassured me that all was fine and it's normal for pregnant women to loose some hair ESPECIALLY if they were taking progesterone, like I was. She said that instead of dropping one at a time, it's dropping all the "dead" ones at the same time, trying to balance themselves out after being off the progesterone. I felt much better.

Then it came time for the nurse to check the heartbeat on the doppler. I was nervous, for this in particular, just because now was d-day, d-time! It was now or never. Either I was going to hear our little baby beating away in there, or I wasn't. Instantly upon touching the doppler to my belly, there was a loud, wush, wush, wush, wush. A perfect 154 beat per minute fetal heart tone. I couldn't have been happier. Our little Thumper was alive and well, in there squirming around, as usual. She kept having to chase Thumper around, trying to make the heart rate as clear as possible, but she was quick at learning Thumper's little tricks and catching him during his/her move.

Now I can see why all my online friends are having such a wonderful time with their dopplers, I couldn't imagine how that little sound coming from that maching could get old, it's very precious! I think I could listen to it all day long, really, I could.

I've gained 2 pounds!! YAY for me! After 4 days of hamburgers and fast food, finally some weight has kicked in. Our goal is still only 20-25 pounds, but doctor kim is very happy with my progress so far, and with the progress of the baby.

She wants to see us back in 2 weeks to do what's called a Quad Screen. It's just a blood test to measure 4 different hormones in my blood (that baby gives to me) to see if they're elevated which could indicate an increased risk of a few different issues with baby. Trisomy 21, trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, and a few others that she mentioned that I really can't remember. All I have replaying in my head is out little Thumper's heart beat. So we'll go back in for that and a quick ultrasound to make sure baby is doing well in there.

2 weeks AFTER that we'll go in for another routine OB appointment, then 3 weeks after THAT, we'll go in for our 20 week ultrasound and our appointment. I really can't wait. I finally feel like we're getting somewhere.

Unsure of what's to come...

Tomorrow is my second OB appointment and I'll be 13w5d.

I'm nervous for a couple reasons:

1. We haven't seen or been updated about Thumper in over a month and I just want to know that everything is STILL fine and going as planned.

2. When you try for 4 years and month after month things fail you, you kind of expect things to go wrong and mess up on you.

3. I don't know what's happening at our next appointment. I don't know if she's just going to ask how I have been doing, then send me on my way, listen to hear a heartbeat but that's it, or if she's going to do a full blown ultrasound and the works.

So wish me luck that all goes well, I'll update as soon as I can.

3 Months (and a week.. oops)

Dear my little baby bunny,

Thumper. You have been in Mommy's tummy for over 3 months, now. What an amazing journey this has been. I never could have imagined how wonderful it is to be pregnant, as well as how nerve wracking it is to try and get your nursery (among other things) ready and just perfect before your arrival. We still have around 6 months before you bless us with your pressence, however, I'm starting to feel panicked, already. I feel like 6 months isn't nearly enough time to get everything done that will need to be, before you make your arrival.

Our preparations have gone relatively smoothly, over the last couple weeks. We already have your bassinett up and ready to go, as well as your clothing. We're still waiting to find out if you're a little boy or a little girl, however, we really don't care which. We know that whatever you are, it's what we're meant to be blessed with and we couldn't be happier. Once we know if you're a boy or girl, then we'll go and pick out a few more needed items, until then, I think we're pretty much done.

So far, we've picked up; clothing, bassinett, your cloths hamper, your 6 piece crib bedding set, some much needed blankets (it will be november in the pacific northwest = COLD!), baskets, mobile for your crib, your crib, dresser and your changing table/dresser combo and all your room items are matching, of course. The only things left to get for your room are; paint (for the walls), your matching lamp, a rug for the floor, and some essentials like a diaper wipe warmer, diapers, wipes, baby lotion, baby shampoo, diaper cream, baby powder, etc.

Your nursery furniture is supposed to be available for pick up here in the next week or two. I can't wait. It's going to be such a fun opportunity for your dad and I to get it ready and all set to go for your little self.

We still have a bit of shopping to do, before we're done, as we still haven't purchased your stroller, carseat, bouncer, jumper, swing, playpen, etc. But we're moving right along and things seem to be going smoothly.

This month has been the best month yet, however, you haven't been real happy with my food choices. I've been trying to eat what would make you happy, as well as I, but soon as we hit 12 weeks, I seemed to have gotten a heavy dose of Morning Sickness and seemed to puke everyday sometimes twice per day. Thankfully it hasn't lasted and you seem to be doing better.

I don't know if you can hear us out here, or not, yet, but we make sure we tell you we love you every single night before bed. It seems to be our little nightly routine. I'm sure it will get added to once you're born and in bed with us, saying our goodnights.

This month I have felt your pressence a whole lot more than the last 2 months. I can't quite feel YOU yet, as I think you're still a bit small for that, but I can certainly feel my uteran muscles stretching every single day now. It's funny how it alternates back and forth between the left and right side. You seem to be growing well, from what I can feel.

Our next appointment is on Monday, May 18th, 2009. I can't wait to go. I certainly hope we get to see you, or at least hear your heartbeat. I've been thinking about it pretty often, lately. Nothing would make me happier. I absolutely LOVE having you in my belly and our family does as well. Your dad loves you so much already, as do I. We talk about you more often than not even when we try to have conversations about other things going on, somehow you seem to pop up into the conversation. It always makes us smile and our hearts fill with pure love and joy.

Your grammy always calls to check in on you and see how you're doing. I can't wait for you to be able to see her. She's coming down to see you when you're born.. so be expecting some company. Your grammy loves you so much and can't wait for your to be here. Your aunties and uncles, brother and sisters are also very excited to meet you and love on you. You have many people here on the "outside" waiting for your arrival, come November.

Did you realize that you made me a Mommy this year? This is the very first time I got to celebrate Mother's Day and actually participate on the receiving end. It was a wonderful day and I couldn't have been any happier or prouder of you and all you've done so far. You've made my life completely perfect. Whatever happens from now on, you will always be my baby and I will always be your mommy and I love you so much.

You've made my world, already, and I can't wait to hold you and tell you just how much it is, that we do love you.

With all my love, my heart, my joy, my everything, I give my all to you!

Love,

Your Mommy.