Doctor visits and poetry

Well, while I may look pregnant, I don't feel very pregnant still. Just drained and starting to have joint and back pain. I could be chalking that up to my age! So I was pleased, since I haven't been feeling much movement, to hear the baby's heartbeat today at the doctor--and up higher. Apparently my uterus, which I can't feel either although baby books say you can (must be my abs of steel ;)), is right below my belly button, right where it should be for 18 weeks. So, according to the doc, I'm good. Also scheduled THE sonogram where we find if it's a boy or not (notice I didn't say boy or girl--not because I don't want a girl; I just think it's a boy). Ri wants a girl; Rog wants a boy; I want a girl for Ri and a boy for Rog, but we all want a healthy baby and don't really care. So, come Oct. 15, no more excuses to put off decorating the room and picking out things for the baby. I'm kinda looking forward to it. :)

Also had a glucose challenge today, surprisingly. I thought I was just gonna have a fasting blood glucose test, as I've had some hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic symptoms--nothing too bad yet--and since I have a family history of late-onset by and even before this age. We'll know the results of that in a few days, I suppose. But third trimester is when gestational diabetes is most likely to rear its ugly head.

And against my better judgment, but by popular demand, my first pregnancy shot:

And before I forget, the poetry thing is a weekly feature. Get your poetry chops ready for a new challenge tomorrow. :)

Friday Haiku

I've noticed a few sites have a penchant for Haiku on Fridays, so I thought I would share one with you and see if I could coax any out of you.

Friday Haiku time
Can you make one good like me?
I double-dog dare

OK, not my best, but maybe it's enough to make ya feel like you can do better and SHOW me. :)

Random, driveby gnomings

Have you seen this "man"? He was last spotted in an evergreen tree by the side of the road at a Green Township residence. He has pale skin, white hair, a tall, reddish pointy hat, white facial hair and a green jacket. His hat appears to have been harmed recently by the trained attack dog on the premises. His pants and boots are also white. He is very small in stature and is rarely seen in an upright position. Breathalizer tests will be conducted when the suspect is apprehended.

If you know anything about where this strange man comes from and his intent, other than trespassing, please submit a comment below. We hope to have a surveillance shot or an artist rendition soon ...

Breaking news
Just released, this image of the man, captured by guard dog:



If you have any information regarding this situation, please contact us immediately.

Moving along

I am surprised how fast things are moving along. I had my 3rd OB visit and heard the heartbeat on the doppler. The doc was pleased and mentioned having a detailed sonogram at 21-22 weeks since I'd refused the prenatal testing. We'll schedule that next visit. So, I'm doing much better. Everything is fine, and I'm even feeling well most evenings (unlike the last month). I felt the baby move for the first time last night as well. Looking forward to feeling it more often. I think I felt it briefly during Church today, but it was more pronounced last night--after some pie and soda (sugar rush? lol). This puts me at 14.5 weeks for reference. Thanks for your prayers!

Good news and bad?

Well, I'm having a bit of a roller-coaster. Everything seems fine from the sonograms, but I'm still having a bit of bleeding (it's been on and off for a month, but seems to be getting worse, and I've had my worst episode yet on Saturday). This "getting worse" trend precipitated the latest sonogram on Wed. (which otherwise, I wouldn't have had). Since everything looked great, I'm not super-worried, but any bleeding, of course, is a concern, so I've been instructed to stay off my feet and keep them up for the weekend. I suppose I'll go back to the Dr. tomorrow. So please pray that everything is ok and that the bleeding stops and that some of the herbal remedies I've been taking will be helpful and not harmful (kelp and raspberry, which a few friends of mine swear by for such things). For reference, I'm just over 12 weeks, and in the latest sonogram, there was a heartbeat and I did see the baby move. What a relief! I still don't feel anything though.

Good news and general stuff

So, the next blood test is back and the results were negative: meaning that the first test that showed antibody M was a false positive. Basically what this means is that we don't have to worry about my blood attacking the baby's blood--much like an Rh factor issue. Thanks again for your prayers on that one. The Lord is good.

I was reminded that I've never given a due date, although I think from the info I've given one could calculate, but that's too much work. :) Officially according to measurement it's March 10, but according to dates, it's March 3, so I think it's safe to say early March. This puts me at 10.5 weeks.

Other details you may or may not be craving: Yes, I am sick, but not too bad--and it's worse at night and after meals. Not really showing yet, and I've actually lost weight so far (altho I could use to lose more). Yes, we are planning to find out gender when the time comes (20 weeks). No, I'm not planning to go natural. (We're so untraditional.) For various reasons, I think it's a boy, but, hey, I've got a 50/50 chance of being right. We do still have the nursery set up nursery-ish, but we don't have a lot of stuff we kept. I've still got to go through some stuff in the attic and see what we've got (too hot now). Everyone's been great and supportive. I'm really blessed. Other details are probably still to be decided.

Update #1 (not much yet)

Just had my latest ob appointment. Looks like it'll be a while before the next sonogram, but things are going fine. Waiting on results from my M antibody titer to make sure it's not going up (please pray that it stays down or goes away--it was so low at 7 weeks, it could have been a false positive). I'm currently at almost 10 weeks. Still a little sick, but not bad at all most days, and I've actually lost a little weight (I needed to!).

Just got this scanned from our 7-week sonogram when we saw and heard the heartbeat, so I thought I'd post it (see the little spine?). Next visit in early September, we get to hear the heartbeat again via a doppler against my tummy. S'all for now. Thanks for the prayers!