Friday, April 28, 2006

A few pictures for Crystal to see!




I'm a bloated whale!

Thank god the new style are loose shirts and not tight ones. We went to Winners and I picked up about 7 new tops, the ones that are long and have a band at the bottom and are loose from the top to the bottom (I know, I'm horrible at describing clothes) but whatever, they work for me. I'm so happy we no longer have a scale at home, I think I would be uver-depressed all the time. I will get over it, no worries. I won't ever deprive myself along this journey, it's just hard to deal with. I think only those people who have really struggled with their weight would understand.

I have to take a picture of myself before I get too big, so I can document my progress. It will be so hard. I have always hated my stomach, so taking pictures of it and having people focus on it is going to be my worst nightmare. The first person who tries to touch my tummy is in for a big surprise!!!

I have to attend a funeral today. My mom's best friend step-son was found after missing for 5 months, he had an overdose. I knew Jason for about 15 years, he was a super great guy and it's going to be really hard today. I already cry at the drop of a hat so I assume I will be a wreck today.

Thank god it's Friday.....

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Sleepy....

I am overall pretty tired and lethargic the past few weeks, but I am having problems sleeping. I don't know if I just have too much going on in my head that I can't fall asleep, or what it is. I used to go to bed around 9ish and now I'm not falling asleep till 11 or 12. It sucks.

I think alot of it has to do with teh fact I am not exercising anymore, but that's going to stop (the NOT exercising will stop, therefore I WILL be exercising) next week.

Can't wait!

xo

And so it begins...

I put on my favourite pair of jeans (waist: 30) and couldn't do them up this morning. After a brief moment of silence to mourn the beginning of the loss of my waist, I used a trick that Nadia told me about - she uses an elastic to tie up her pants. You put one end of the elastic around the button, put the other end through the hole and then back around the button - voila - you get an extra inch of waist.

It's 8:30 am and I already feel bloated.

I baked last night - I made this super fiber filled cookies to help with some bathroom problems I have been having (which apparently is total normal during pregnancy, NOT going or going too much, right now I'd rather the latter).

I am having my first cup of decaffeinated green tea - I'm not a coffee drinker and the only type of tea I like is green tea, but never tried the decaf stuff yet, we'll see how it goes. I'm just freezing in the office today, otherwise I would stick to my water. Just took my first sip, not bad but not great.

Cramping continues, I miss my Advil.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

IPS

So last night I asked Jeff about the IPS, I had signed up for it without really consulting him.

He said it doesn't matter to him if I do it or not, the only upside would be if we knew there was a chance that our baby would have a chromosomal defect, then we would be able to be more prepared for it (counselling etc...). But I guess the bottom line is that it wouldn't change anything. We would still have the baby and we would still love it the best we can, no matter what.

I think I may still go, just to be able to be prepared.

Other than that, I am feeling pretty good today. I went to bed around 8:30 last night and slept till 6. I'm still not overly hungry and if I look at myself, I don't LOOK 157, I still look like I did when I was 145, but my clothes feel tight so I know I am gaining. Which, I should be.

My goal is to not reach 200 lbs, that gives me 40 lbs to work with and I think it's 100% do-able. I will allow myself one treat a week, I will just NOT buy things to keep at home or else it will be all over for me. GOd, even saying that word - 200, scares the living daylights out of me.

I'm already looking forward to going back to WW after I have the baby, to the parents and tots meeting! I think they give you 6 months to get back to your goal weight before you start paying. Also, my goal is to start training for the 1/2 marathon next February. I really wish I was able to keep up with running during this pregnancy, but I just don't have it in me and it doesn't feel right. I have been way too tired, but I will start walking and biking... soon, I promise!

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Strange

The posts that didn't post yesterday are now here today?

I had my Dr's appt, my weight is 157. I have to work really hard to not get over 200 whlie being pregnant, I would be extremely worried about my frame of mind. So just no giving into cravings daily, maybe just once a week. This scares me.

Everything else came out fine. I have another appointment for IPS (Integrated Prenatal screening) (consisting of 2 ultrasounds and bloodwork). This is optional and it's screening for chromosomal abnormalities etc. I opted to do it. A screening test does not tell for sure whether or not your baby is healthy. It can tell if you have a lower or higher chance than usual of having a
baby with one of three problems: Down syndrome, trisomy 18 or an open neural tube defect.

My next appt with my dr. is May 23rd - they want to do another urine test, I guess mine had blood in it last week. They aren't too worried but will do another follow up test just to make sure everything is OK.

I still have horrible stomach cramps - I'm going to eat my left over enchilada from last night, maybe that will help it.

Yay it worked!

That is all.

I hope this works....

Yesterday I tried posting twice, at two different times and both times I don't know what happened but my site was never updated. I hope I'm not typing for nothing again!

Yesterday I had brutal stomach cramps, it's like pre-menstrual cramps but worse. I can't help but get worried when I get cramps, my sister lost her baby at 5 months and it was the cramps that was the pre-cursor. I know that it's OK but I can't help be worried in the back of my mind.

I don't feel as bloated in the mornings as I do at night time. I don't have a scale, so I can't tell for sure but I don't think I've gained any weight. I have a dr's appt this afternoon for a pre-natal assessment and to start maternal screening and I think a weigh-in is on the agenda (maybe I will close my eyes).

Jeff had a dream it was a girl last night - he's pretty darn cute about the whole thing. Every night when we get into bed we read the day's entry from my pregnancy journal. Last night's entry was funny because I could remember reading that same day when Kaethe was pregnant. The baby's arms look less like flippers and more like paddles. Jeff is totally into it and listens to intently... watching him watch me read last night gave me butterflies in my stomach, I think I am falling more in love as we go through this together. Ok, enough of the cheese!

I'm not feeling all that great this morning, I luckily enough haven't hit the morning sickness yet and if it totally passes me by, I will be all too grateful. But, my stomach feels off. Maybe it's because I haven't eaten anything yet. I have Captain Crunch for breakfast (had a huge craving over the weekend) so hopefully I will feel better after that.

I'm crossing my fingers my blog will actually update.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Argh!

I just wrote a whole post (ok, wasn't that interesting but it was long!) and it didn't get posted.

When I get over it (I take things too personally) I will post another one.

Making a list...

And checking it twice!

I have done alot more reading since my last dr's appt, and I have a list of questions for my doctor, whom I am seeing tomorrow. A few at the top of my list...

1/ Can I donate blood while pregnant? (I have an appt coming up on May 6th)
2/ What is my due date (if it's just the 3 months back + 7 days, or does the length of your cycle have anything to do with it?)

I've asked alot of the general questions re: diet, exercise and there are SO many different schools of thought, but I am going with what feels good for me. Running isn't happening anymore, but I am heading back to the gym tonight. I have just been too tired at the end of the work day AND first thing in the morning to get up and go, but I decided this morning I have to get back into it.

When I signed up for medical benefits here at work, I went on the cheapest plan but now I am going to upgrade - the most important reason why, is so I can have a private room when I have the baby - none of this sharing baby stories with my neighbour. A friend also told me they are more lax on visitors (numbers, how long they stay..) when you have a private room.

Feeling good today, still have a sore throat - but it hasn't made it's way into my head or nose yet, so for that I am thankful.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

I love weekends!

Last night I looked after the twins until around 8ish and then my sister came home with St. Huberts (god love her). I am finding that I can't eat as much as I used to (which is definitely a good thing!) but I definitely need to eat more often. I can feel myself getting cranky and feeling a tad nauseous if I haven't eaten in the last 2 - 2.5 hours. But as soon as I have a little snack, I'm much better.

Certain things I've found so far that I don't have any desire to eat: bananas and yogurt. And my yearning for chocolate has majorly decreased. I'm bummed about the bananas and yogurt but ecstatic about the chocolate.

This morning Jeff, Rob, Ricky and Mario are working on our deck - I'm pretty excited for that to be ready!

I have my doctor's appt on Tuesday and they made such a mess of my arm last week with the blood tests I am definitely not looking forward to it.

I wish I could make my posts more interesting, and I will try to in the future. I will slowly start to post pictures... of me, the nursery and all baby-related things.

xo

Friday, April 21, 2006

Boo!

I'm SICK! My wonderful husband passed along his nasty cough/cold. Normally I think - hey, shit happens. But, not being able to pop pills like I so often do kind of changes my view on this.

I had a crappy sleep last night because I kept coughing, and when I would stop - Jeff would start. My brother in law spent the night (he was in Ottawa from Halifax for work) so I couldn't even kick Jeff out to go to the other bed.

So I'm cranky, tired and sick. Want to be my friend?

I don't feel as fat today, my regular jeans feel somewhat loose on me. I think I'll go shopping this weekend for some shirts. I am going to Toronto at the end of May (Jeff's brother Michael is getting married) so I'm going to check out some of the mat stores they have there, but I guess you can't buy maternity clothes till you get to that point, cause who knows what my body is going to be like?

I'm too cranky to write, I'll be back soon enough.

xo

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Feeling Fat

Is it normal to gain this weight so early in a pregnancy? God, I don't know if it's my mind playing games with me (which happens alot, so wouldn't totally surprise me) but I feel like I've gained 10 lbs in the past week.

Jeff threw out my scale a few weeks ago (becuase of my weighing myself obsessiveness) so I can't know for sure, but I feel so bloated! It looks like I have a tummy already, it can't be though, can it?

My clothes fit OK, but they feel tight... I feel tight....

I need more clothes. I don't really want to buy 1 size up clothes, becuase they will only fit me for a short amount of time and then what the hell will I do with them? So I'm totally in a dilemna right now, maybe I should take my mom's advice and hit up a second hand store for some tops. I can use the whole elastic band trick on my pants, but the tops are kind of hard to manipulate.

Jeff said he'd take me shopping and I just might take him up on it!

I love "My Pregnancy Week by Week" and My Pregnancy Journal, it's fun to read about what the baby looks like, what's happening each week/day and it gives great little tips on nutrition and exercise. I have been way too tired to exercise but I'm starting again tomorrow. I think I may order a book online about being fit while pregnant. I talked to my Dr. about it and he said I can do wahtever I want, the only rule is to listen to your body. I tried running but I had cramps so I think I will stick to lower impact activities. I mean I know there are lots of women who can run while pregnant, but maybe I won't be able to. And I'm OK with that - I have been running for 3 years now, what's a 9 month break? Not saying I am completely giving up on it yet, I will try a few more times but I am not going to push it.

I had to sit down and let the nausea pass this morning, I think I get up too quickly in the morning. I have never been one to just lie in bed, as soon as I wake up, I get out of bed. My mind is filled with everything I have to do that day, so I want to get as early a start as possible. Maybe I will start reading a bit of my journal or pregnancy book in the morning when I wake up....

Toodles!

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Week # 6

I had my doctor's appt last night with my family doctor. Jeff surprised me and showed up so he could come in with me :)

We found out Jeff's blood type (AB+) and I am A-. This means that during delivery, I will have to get a shot of anti-antibodies to the rhesus factor. The + rhesus factor is the dominant gene, which means this baby will have it. I have the negative factor, so I will build up antibodies towards the positive because my body will see it as foreign. So at any point where my blood can be mixed with the baby's blood, it could cause harm to the baby which is why I will need the anti-antibodies. During subsequent pregnancies, I will need to get the shot earlier on in the pregnancy because I will have the anti bodies left over from this pregnancy.

Other than that, no real new information. I got sent for blood tests (during which one of my veins collapsed so she had to switch arms and it bloody hurt!) and I scheduled an appt with my obstetrician for June 22nd and another appt with my family doctor for my pre-natal assessment and to start maternal screening - more on that next week!

Feeling good again today, still don't feel like eating first thing in the morning - or much throughout the day to be honest. I just bring like 10 little snacks and munch on those all day long.

I dont know if this is a result of being pregnant but my skin is SUPER oily - it's disgusting! I could feel the grease on my face all day yesterday. I am going to buy those face wipes to use throughout the day I think. I don't normally wear make up to work so I don't have to worry about that.

xo

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Doctor's Appt

I just scheduled a doctor's appointment for this afternoon, I guess to confirm my pregnancy. The woman who answered the phone, after hearing I just found out I was pregnant said "So you just want to come in and talk to him?" I don't know! I'm new to this! All my books just said - make an appt with your doctor, so that's what I am doing. I said - I guess to take a test as well?

This weekend was pretty crazy, I wasn't feeling too well and was absoloutely exhausted. Thank god it was the long weekend. The toilet and I became re-acquainted yesterday. Being nauseous has got to be one of the worst feelings ever (ok, at least one of the worst feelings I have ever experienced). But today I am feeling much better, the idea of eating breakfast at 6 am didn't sit too well with me, so I brought my breakfast to work and just finished it... it went down fine.

As much as I love the internet, I hate it. I wanted to try adn calculate my due date, or how far along I am. Some places it asks to put in my cycle length and others it doesn't, so I am getting conflicting information. I guess the doctor will be able to help me out with that.

I am taking my waist measurements tonight (oh god, the horror!).... depends on the result, I may or may not post it :)

xo

Saturday, April 15, 2006

No secret anymore....

Ok, I know you are supposed to keep it a secret until 3 months because so many miscarriages happen in the first trimester, but what the hell. We can't keep secrets!

We called PEI to let everyone know, we told both sets of my parents and all siblings and most of our close friends. Everyone is happy for us, which makes us happy!

We have a 3 bedroom house, currently it's our bedroom, a guest room and an office. The guest room will eventually become a nursery and the office will be the guest room. Poor Jeff's office is going to be moved downstairs to the basement. Hopefully we will get most of this done before my brother in law Mark comes into town on Thursday night.

I've been having pretty crazy pregnant dreams, last night Kaethe didn't want me as a bridesmaid because I was pregnant and I was wearing a pair of my summer capris and I looked sideways and I already had a huge stomach so I was all stressed because now I would have to tell work about it.

I've been eating like crap the last few days, the mentality "I can eat anything cause I'm going to get fat anyways" has taken over. But after Easter dinner, it's back to my healthy eating. They say the baby at this point only needs an extra 300 calories, so really now I can have a chocolate bar every day! Just kidding :) On a side note, I'm happy that Easter is almost over I've eaten WAY too many Mini Eggs (thanks Samantha)

Ok, off to do some groceries....

xo

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Week # 5

The last week I have been feeling incredibly tired and having the worst cramps ever. That's why I figured I wasn't pregnant, I thought I was getting my period!

I have been sleeping from 9pm till 6:30am.

For the past two months I have relegiously getting up at 5am to go to the gym and this wsa the first week there was no way I could drag my butt out of bed. Now I know why!

I am looking forward to 4 days off to relax, sleep and read! I think a visit to Chapters is in store for tonight (no pun intended) to see about some pregnancy books! My friend Laurie already gave me "What to Expect when you are Expecting" but I want to get a journal.....

Have a great Easter weekend everyone!

We are pregnant!

Last night after spending an enjoyable dinner with Rob, Ethan and Isabelle, we stopped by Kaethe and Peter's to check on their newest addition, Justen. It was Jeff's idea to go, he said he's in the mood for babies.

He was cute as hell and all snuggly even though he was a tad fussy.

I told Kaethe and Peter I was two days late, but my period is so out of wack and I have had menstrual cramps from hell - but the two of them insisted we went home and took a test and were shocked we hadn't done so yet.

We went home, I went upstairs, peed on a stick and then compared the stick to the box. I didn't know what the results were supposed to look like - so Jeff and I kept looking at the stick, eyes shifting to the box, to each other, back to the stick and so on. Until I said " Holy shit Jeff I think I'm pregnant".
















Sure enough, the little blue cross means I'm pregnant. I think only 6 weeks - it depends what site I'm checking it out on. I will take another test Monday morning to make sure it's still positive and then call my doctor.

Wow - scared, happy, terrified, ecstatic, frightened, giddy all in one! But overall, so very very happy. The due date looks to be around Dec 12th... A Christmas baby!