One day away from nine weeks! Only three more weeks and I'm through my first trimester. Now that I've had my appointments (OB and ultrasound), things seem to be going a little quicker.
The weather here has turned rainy and chilly (at least it's chilly for August). I have enough shorts/short coveralls to get me through the summer, but jeans are another story. Right now I'm wearing my jeans with the top button undone and a t-shirt and/or sweatshirt pulled over the waist so it's not visible. It will be interesting when school starts next week to see what I can and can't quite fit into comfortably. Anything with an expandable waist is good at this point. :-) I'll probably start wearing my maternity clothes a couple of weeks after school starts. I need to get more by then. We've discovered that Penny's has great deals on maternity clothes, and they have a pretty decent selection. Other stores don't. I've gone to look at other departments stores and been very disappointed. They had maybe three racks of maternity clothes.
One of the biggest things I have to decide over the next few months is how close to my delivery date I'm going work. I called my district the other day and asked about how maternity leave works. I can't actually use my sick leave until I have medical orders not to work and/or I deliver. If I want a week or two off before I give birth, I'll have to take leave without pay. Jeff and I need to talk about this and figure it out. We may also get a better feel for things at our next appointment, which is still 3-1/2 weeks away.
Ugh. It's raining. Again. We need the rain pretty badly but come on! It's still summer! We need the nice weather. I guess the silver lining is that I need to be inside my classrooms working and that is easier for two reasons when it's icky and raining out. One, it's cooler in my classroom and two, I won't be as tempted to go out and enjoy the sunshine by taking a walk on the water front instead of getting things ready. The kids are back a week from today. I had meetings all morning, then the afternoon to work in my room. I'll probably go back in tomorrow morning and finish my room at Bryant. Then Monday I'll go to Manitou Park and get things taken care of there. Luckily I have a smaller space with less areas to decorate. I've got seating figured out there as well. Now all I need are class lists and to print up my seating chart.
Well, I'm exhausted. I was up at 6:00 this morning so I could get to work and get some things done before the meetings started. Time for bed. It's not even 8:00 yet. Pathetic. Only a few more weeks of being exhausted because of the pregnancy. I'm ready for that part to be done with.
8.26.2004
8.25.2004
8 Weeks, 5 Days - The First Ultrasound
Today was our first ultra sound. The baby's hearbeat is as strong as they get - 163 bpm! We even saw her move. (We don't know the sex and won't know the sex, but I really want a girl and am being optimistic so I'm calling the baby "her".) The ultrasound was amazing. We got a video and pictures. The video is only about 2-3 minutes long, but I know I'll be watching it lots over the next few days. It truely is a miracle! There is now this little life growing inside of me. It will be 10 - 12 weeks until I have another ultrasound. By then we'll be able to see more anatomy (arms, legs, head) defined and we'll also be able to hear the heartbeat. I wonder if that will go onto the video tape. I hope so! Just seeing everything today makes this so much more real and I'm also a lot calmer since things are looking great. Not so worried about thing going wrong or the baby not growing like she should.
I accidentally posted two pictures. They are exactly the same. Here is what you are seeing. The back is up, the head is to the right. If you look closely, you can see what I think is a leg off to the left, though it's not terribly clear. The black area around the baby is the amniotic sack. Way to the left of the baby, you can see a little ring. That is the yolk sack, which will go away pretty soon. When I went back to watch the video some more this afternoon, think I actually saw her kick! It's amazing that this little life is growing inside of me. I think my favorite part is watching the heart beat, though watching her move is a close second. Unbelievable!
Things continue to go extremely well as far as how I'm feeling. Nothing new, which is good. My clothes are starting to get tight, mostly around my waist.
Right now the baby is about the size of a small paper clip. In another couple of weeks (week 10) she'll graduate from "embryo" to "fetus".
It's been an exciting day for us! It's real now! What a kick to finally see my baby moving inside of me. I've been in awed tears several times this afternoon/evening just thinking about what we saw! We're bringing the video and picture home at Thanksgiving so those of you who will be in Denver will get to see it!
I accidentally posted two pictures. They are exactly the same. Here is what you are seeing. The back is up, the head is to the right. If you look closely, you can see what I think is a leg off to the left, though it's not terribly clear. The black area around the baby is the amniotic sack. Way to the left of the baby, you can see a little ring. That is the yolk sack, which will go away pretty soon. When I went back to watch the video some more this afternoon, think I actually saw her kick! It's amazing that this little life is growing inside of me. I think my favorite part is watching the heart beat, though watching her move is a close second. Unbelievable!
Things continue to go extremely well as far as how I'm feeling. Nothing new, which is good. My clothes are starting to get tight, mostly around my waist.
Right now the baby is about the size of a small paper clip. In another couple of weeks (week 10) she'll graduate from "embryo" to "fetus".
It's been an exciting day for us! It's real now! What a kick to finally see my baby moving inside of me. I've been in awed tears several times this afternoon/evening just thinking about what we saw! We're bringing the video and picture home at Thanksgiving so those of you who will be in Denver will get to see it!
8.24.2004
Our appointment for our first ultrasound is tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait! We were told that we can bring a video tape and record the ultrasound. We'll be able to see the heartbeat!
I called my employer today and asked about maternity leave - I can use my sick leave until the doctor releases me to go back to work. The best news is that I have enough sick leave accrued to last me through the end of the year. It helps that spring break is in there, right at the start. A free week when I won't have to use any leave to get paid! Yay! The bad news is that once the doctor releases me to go back to work, I have to take leave without pay. I will likely only miss 5 weeks of pay, but still. that's one entire pay period plus a week.
I also called my insurance today to see what their OB coverage is - 100% of the allowable amount. We could potentially get away with paying the remainder of our deductible ($38 and change) plus the inpatient copay at the hospital. We can handle that!
That's all for now. I'll post again tomorrow after my appointment, complete with a picture! This is finally getting real!
I called my employer today and asked about maternity leave - I can use my sick leave until the doctor releases me to go back to work. The best news is that I have enough sick leave accrued to last me through the end of the year. It helps that spring break is in there, right at the start. A free week when I won't have to use any leave to get paid! Yay! The bad news is that once the doctor releases me to go back to work, I have to take leave without pay. I will likely only miss 5 weeks of pay, but still. that's one entire pay period plus a week.
I also called my insurance today to see what their OB coverage is - 100% of the allowable amount. We could potentially get away with paying the remainder of our deductible ($38 and change) plus the inpatient copay at the hospital. We can handle that!
That's all for now. I'll post again tomorrow after my appointment, complete with a picture! This is finally getting real!
8.23.2004
The First Appointment
We had our first appointment today. It wasn't as long as I thought it would be. We talked with the doctor and he set my due date at April 2, I think to avoid an April 1 due date. He said that the baby can come anywhere withing the three weeks prior or one we following that date. My mother will be here the week ending on April 2 so I think it would be cool to have the baby that week, while she's here.
We need to call tomorrow and set up an ultrasound to confirm dates, make sure there's only one baby in there and to check for viability. We'll get that done at the next available slot that fits our schedule. After that, we won't have another ultrasound until 18-20 weeks. The coolest part is that we'll be able to see the heartbeat and we'll be able to videotape it! Way cool!
Dr. Nickel knows that we want to wait to find out the sex of the baby and supports that 100%. He also supports my desire to go for as natural a childbirth as possible, but will give me meds if I want them.
Oh, if you want to know the definition of the term my sister told me to look up, change the spelling by dropping the second 'y'. It essentially is an enzyme which, among other things, is found in sperm and breaks down a layer surrounding the egg, allowing for a single sperm to enter and fertilize the egg. I'm sure this isn't entirely accurate, but for my non-medically trained brain, it works.
Not much else right now. More after the ultrasound!
We need to call tomorrow and set up an ultrasound to confirm dates, make sure there's only one baby in there and to check for viability. We'll get that done at the next available slot that fits our schedule. After that, we won't have another ultrasound until 18-20 weeks. The coolest part is that we'll be able to see the heartbeat and we'll be able to videotape it! Way cool!
Dr. Nickel knows that we want to wait to find out the sex of the baby and supports that 100%. He also supports my desire to go for as natural a childbirth as possible, but will give me meds if I want them.
Oh, if you want to know the definition of the term my sister told me to look up, change the spelling by dropping the second 'y'. It essentially is an enzyme which, among other things, is found in sperm and breaks down a layer surrounding the egg, allowing for a single sperm to enter and fertilize the egg. I'm sure this isn't entirely accurate, but for my non-medically trained brain, it works.
Not much else right now. More after the ultrasound!
8.22.2004
8 Weeks and 3 Days - I think
Well, my first appointment is tomorrow afternoon. I'm so excited. It's been like waiting for Christmas or my birthday. I thought it would never come!
So here's what's been going on lately. I have been so blessed to have felt wonderful the entire time. A little tired (ok, absolutely exhausted sometimes is more accurate) and feeling like I'm constantly going to the bathroom, but other than that, I can't complain! I just pray that things continue going as smoothly as they are right now.
We had lunch with a couple of wonderful friends today, Eric and Eileen. I've known them since college - going on 8 years, I think - and they did the readings at our wedding. Eileen is also my recruiter for Mary Kay. They are going to be the godparents to our baby (Eric is The Godfather...)
I'll have more news tomorrow, like how far along I am for sure, when I'm due, etc. I've heard that the first appointment is the longest so I'm wondering exactly what goes on at the first OB appointment. My doctor is wonderful. I'm very comfortable with him. Plus, his office is literally a block from the hospital. I'm not sure why, but that is a comforting thing to me.
The house is slowly coming together. We've pretty much picked out the paint colors for the nursery. I'll announce them later once it's actually painted in case we change our minds. The major thing right now is unloading nearly everything from the study so that it can become the nursery. We have many bookcases to take care of and not anywhere near the space in the rest of our house. I have some ideas that I need to put past Jeffy. They will make the dining room much less cluttered than it currently is slated to become. I think we can make it work.
I'll be sure to post more tomorrow after my appointment. The title of each post will reflect how far along I am.
So here's what's been going on lately. I have been so blessed to have felt wonderful the entire time. A little tired (ok, absolutely exhausted sometimes is more accurate) and feeling like I'm constantly going to the bathroom, but other than that, I can't complain! I just pray that things continue going as smoothly as they are right now.
We had lunch with a couple of wonderful friends today, Eric and Eileen. I've known them since college - going on 8 years, I think - and they did the readings at our wedding. Eileen is also my recruiter for Mary Kay. They are going to be the godparents to our baby (Eric is The Godfather...)
I'll have more news tomorrow, like how far along I am for sure, when I'm due, etc. I've heard that the first appointment is the longest so I'm wondering exactly what goes on at the first OB appointment. My doctor is wonderful. I'm very comfortable with him. Plus, his office is literally a block from the hospital. I'm not sure why, but that is a comforting thing to me.
The house is slowly coming together. We've pretty much picked out the paint colors for the nursery. I'll announce them later once it's actually painted in case we change our minds. The major thing right now is unloading nearly everything from the study so that it can become the nursery. We have many bookcases to take care of and not anywhere near the space in the rest of our house. I have some ideas that I need to put past Jeffy. They will make the dining room much less cluttered than it currently is slated to become. I think we can make it work.
I'll be sure to post more tomorrow after my appointment. The title of each post will reflect how far along I am.
8.17.2004
The Countdown Begins!
About three weeks ago, Jeff and I found out that we are going from a couple to a family! It's been exciting waiting, planning, praying, and working for this. We've been married for two years now and this is the next step. Having a baby has been an aspect that has been missing for several months now. We were very blessed that we were able to conceive so quickly.
At this point, I think I'm nearly 8 weeks pregnant. I have my first OB appointment on Monday and am in an excited sort of anxious mood. At that point, we'll find out when I'm due. I suspect it will be some time in the first week of April. We aren't going to find out whether our baby is a boy or a girl until it's born. I think it's a girl, Jeff thinks it's a boy.
I'll try to post ultrasound pictures when I get them so you can see how our baby is growning. I'll also try to post some of my belly shots so those of you who are not in town can see how my belly is growing! I'm so excited for all of this! I've been waiting for this for my entire life (I know it sounds cliche, but it's true!)
At this point, I think I'm nearly 8 weeks pregnant. I have my first OB appointment on Monday and am in an excited sort of anxious mood. At that point, we'll find out when I'm due. I suspect it will be some time in the first week of April. We aren't going to find out whether our baby is a boy or a girl until it's born. I think it's a girl, Jeff thinks it's a boy.
I'll try to post ultrasound pictures when I get them so you can see how our baby is growning. I'll also try to post some of my belly shots so those of you who are not in town can see how my belly is growing! I'm so excited for all of this! I've been waiting for this for my entire life (I know it sounds cliche, but it's true!)
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