11 Week Appointment

I was not supposed to have an ultrasound at this appointment, but as the days crept on, I started to worry and was really hoping to get some peace of mind. I had been able to hear the heartbeat on my home doppler every day, but I just needed to see our baby again. So, I called a few days before and asked if I could get a sneak peek to make sure everything was growing OK! They of course obliged to my crazy and let me come in first thing to do an ultrasound and then have our appointment. I am so thankful to have a doctor and staff who understands the nerves I am feeling and is willing to accommodate whenever I need reassurance.

I was really pretty relaxed...in comparison to how I have been! But, as soon as I laid down, there came the racing heart and elevated blood pressure! Wendy, the ultrasound tech, immediately told us "there's a heartbeat!" and with those three words, I instantly started to relax. Then we got to see our little peanut break dancing and moving all over the place! It was amazing to know that he/she was having a dance party in there and I couldn't feel a thing! But, it was great to see him/her so active and I was amazed how much he/she had grown in just two short weeks. Wendy said everything looked good for this stage and that's all I can ask for. Next ultrasound is in 4 weeks...bets on if I can wait that long?! Until then, I will be attempting to make guesses on what this peanut is - Boy or Girl! I have been studying up on the Nub Theory and Skull Theory and probably will drive myself crazy trying to figure it out!

Someone was doing crunches! Almost reminded me of
when we would lay on our backs on the trampoline and try
to use our legs to stand up!

Our little baby alien in 3D!

3rd Ultrasound - 9 weeks

January 9 was actually the due date of our first loss, so I am feeling a bit calm about this ultrasound. I somewhat feel like we will get great news just because then this day will have something good associated with it. Or maybe I am feeling calm because I was finally able to pick up the Peanut's heartbeat on my doppler last night....eeek!!! I cannot tell you how happy and relieved that makes me feel. We are nearing the time when I wasn't able to hear a heartbeat with our last baby, so this is a crucial ultrasound. Thankfully, my nerves are in check!

However, I have to say that my blood pressure and heart rate go through the roof when I lay down on the ultrasound table!! I think I am a bit scarred, but will hopefully have nothing but happy experiences from here on out. When we got back to the room and she put the probe on my belly, the very first thing she said was, "there's a heartbeat!". Thank goodness! She measured the baby and peanut was still a bit ahead of schedule, measuring 9 weeks 3 days, which would move me up to August 11. Heartbeat was 173. She flipped the machine over to the 3D/4D mode, so we got to see our teeny tiny peanut moving around a little. It was amazing to me that he/she actually looked like a little baby. Also looked like a tadpole still, but more like a baby than just two weeks before. There is nothing quite like seeing that little heart flicker on the screen and then hearing the galloping. Heartbeat was 173bpm, so definitely a strong heartbeat. The tech even mentioned how although we are never out of the woods, getting past the 8 week mark was a huge plus - that is when a lot of chromosomal abnormalities take over and babies don't make it. The next critical mark is the 11 week mark, so fingers crossed we get there. Next appointment is scheduled for 2 weeks, but the next ultrasound will be in 4 weeks.

Our sweet little peanut!

8 weeks - So Very Tired!!!!

Well, I am happy to say that the nausea is nowhere near as bad as it was when I was pregnant with Jameson. Of course, I thought I would be lucky and completely avert it, but when I hit 8 weeks, the nausea kicked into gear.  I have some brutal waves here and there, but the good thing is, I am pretty much able to eat whatever I want and the sound of certain foods doesn't send me running for the hills like it did the first time around! Thank goodness! The only real symptom that is somewhat debilitating is the exhaustion. I remember being tired with J, but not like this. I struggle to keep my eyes open when 2PM hits! I have to use my lunch breaks to run home and take a quick power nap in order to be able to function in the afternoons! It is nuts! But, I guess that is what building a baby will to do you. And, if this is the worst that I experience, I will for sure take it!!

1 week until my next ultrasound...but who's counting?!