17 Weeks

Taken today at 17 Weeks!

Look at that smile on my face! Life is so good!

Cliff says I am definitely carrying differently than with all of the girls.

His guess is BOY! I am sort of leaning that way now too!

Triple Screen Results: A-OK

I had my appointment today, and it went just fine. I put on six pounds, the baby had a heart rate of 152 bpm. When my doctor came into the exam room, I said to him SO, IS EVERYTHING GOOD? And he said he never got the results back yet. Which is good thing, because I did the blood work on Friday morning. Usually bad results reach his desk within two days. So he said he would call the blood service. As he is getting on the phone, his assistant came in with an unopened envelope with my results from the triple screen! He looks, doesn't freak and all is well.

For Down Syndrome:
My current risk based on my age was 1/333
From my current blood work my risk was 1/495 (or basically a risk that a 34 year old would have I am almost 36!)

For Spinal Bifida:
My risk was extremely low! Way lower than the average, in fact.

So what does that mean for me? No Amnio that is for sure! I am happy to not have to do such an invasive procedure! I am not going to have one based on this risk assessment. I feel good to just go for my detailed ultrasound on July 3. That should be good enough. IF something comes up on that appointment, I will revisit my options at that time. Right now, things are good! Let us go with that!

Baby is growing nicely, I am measuring right on track, I am healthy, I am growing a nice belly and life is good! I need to start working on my Christmas plans!! By golly we will have a baby by Christmas!

I have to ask myself, was this worth it? And I would have to answer with a big YES! Big worry out of my head (for today anyways ;D)

The feeling inside of me right now: Peaceful and Calm

The end result: Priceless

Appointment Day

Last night I had a crazy dream about a little boy named C... (well I cannot tell you the name, but it is the boy name we picked! I told you all it is a surprise!!) and he was born at 1:34 pm and he was very dark haired, and looked a lot my cousin's son Matthew. But, this kid was HUGE almost like a toddler and a Mr. Ed mouth and he talked. I forget what he said. But, I gave birth to him (well sort of. I had a timer in my hand, and I felt it in my hand when he was born. I felt no pain, just crying when he was born.) I remember holding him lovingly, and showing him to his brother Cameron, and his sisters Claire, Carly, Catie and Caroline! I said to them "You have a BROTHER!!!!!" and the kids were so excited to see a baby all dressed in blue!

This is now my SECOND boy dream. Usually the dream I have closest to the birth is what I typically have.

Anyways, it was very bizarre, exciting and frightening all at the same time. I guess my mind is all over the place waiting for this appointment, waiting for results, waiting to the birth day to see who we are having. Is it a little girl? Is it a little boy? Crazy times.

I still haven't heard anything in regards to my triple screen blood work done last Friday morning. I am thinking everything is A-OK. I will know more today. I am looking forward to hearing the heartbeat again today!

I am starting to get some energy back which has been really nice. I feel less sick every day! I almost feel normal! Which I don't mind at all.

I will update later. I promise.

16 Weeks 1 Day

Well well well! I am in my 16th week already. Wow, how this pregnancy is flying by.

Every day, I start to feel a bit better. We got out to see a movie with my husband on Friday, and some yummy appies at Milestones. I arranged this little get away for Cliff's Fathers Day present (well part of it) as the last movie we saw together was Madagascar and that was with four kids. Not really a date night. So, I arranged for care and off we went.

We had a lovely time, and we laughed a lot. And we talked a lot. We talked about Christmas. We talked about how busy we will be at Christmas with an infant that will be most likely under four weeks old. But, we are starting to make plans. And we have also decided when to put up the tree. (First week of December as per usual, but I will stay home with baby C this year. Cliff will take the four olders to pick out the BEST TREE EVER!) We will also start to do our Christmas shopping soon. We will also host Christmas dinner here. And bring the family to us. Just to keep life "normal" for the timing of a Christmas baby. We have never had this experience, and we will have a new experience this year! We are really looking forward to this!

I am hoping for good news tomorrow. I hope I hear nothing. That means the screening is A OK.

15 6/7th Week Belly Shot

Here is a photo from today and almost 16 weeks (tomorrow)

Maybe we are having another boy, as so far I appear to be all belly from this shot.

When I was expecting all of my girls I was big all over

(that was including my face etc and my but lol)

But then again, possibly it is too early to make an assumption! Wow, this is going to be a long pregnancy!

Happy Friday!

Triple Screeen Bloodwork - Done Today

I went for my triple screen blood work early this morning. I woke up early after a rough sleep and just decided to get ready and GET IT OVER WITH.

So, by 6:40 am I was at the lab and was out by 7:20 am. I picked up some Starbucks for Cliff and I and came home. *fingers crossed*

I will know if my results were positive by Monday. My doctor said he would call me either way so I would not stress over the information I may or may not receive. Anyways. That is over with (for today anyways!)

My ultrasound is booked for July 3rd already when I am 18 weeks (and a few days along!) I cannot believe that I am 16 weeks tomorrow! Wow!

Week 15 3/7th Along

Welcome to the second trimester! According to babycenter.com our BABY is the size of an avocado. It is hard to believe that something the size of an avocado can make a person feel so horrid lol. And GREEN. I truly do not feel like I am in the second trimester. I just feel so tired all of the time. Wow. I still am feeling rather gaggy, and I gag on my toothbrush every time I brush. Cliff thinks it is funny, me well not so much.

I am having better days, but then I get really tired at night. For example. I fall asleep on our comfy chairs in the family room almost every night without fail. Cliff says to me, Cathy get up and come to bed with me, and I say no I am too tired to move. So he leaves me there. I finally get up (usually a hour or so, sometimes longer) I drag myself to bed. However, I have gotten smarter about this situation, and pre do my getting ready for bed. IE. Jammies on, face washed and clean and my teeth brushed. But it doesn't matter some times. I am dog tired.

Anyways, I literally drag myself to bed, and crawl in. And Cliff says to me good night, I love you. And he curls up around me. And what do I do? I grunt...like a caveman. urrrrrgghh. That is good night I love you Cliff in caveman speak. I love you Cliff! I really do!

People keep asking me when I am due, and when I say December 1st, they say? Really? I guess because I look a lot bigger than where I am at in terms of weeks. I just tell them this is number six, and then you should see their faces lol! The look horror I guess. It is indeed shocking to see my reflection staring back at me. And, I always get asked is it twins? And I say I hope there is only ONE HEALTHY baby in there! (not a badger or some other weird animal lol)

At the end of this week, I am off to do my first crack EVER of doing the triple screen blood test. I am very nervous about it. I guess because I have never had the need to do it. Now that I am 35 I feel I should do this. I just pray for a good result IE. no news is good news. I know if I get a positive screening I will hear by the 18th. Yikes. Freak me out.

My next doctors appointment is next Thursday already. After that, my ultrasound! Time is a flying by. I am going to start doing my Christmas shopping early this year, as I KNOW it is going to be our most busy Christmas ever with a newborn/breastfeeding/sleep deprivation/double diaper duty!

Baby Movin' Baby Groovin'

This morning I woke up on my back, and rolled over to my right side. On on my left side, I felt 3 really "familiar" feelings of the baby moving. I said "Cliff I just felt the baby move again!" It was so cool. I have been feeling movements on and off for few weeks. But today, was definately really strong and really there!! No doubt about it! I have a baby growing in there! I really do!

Week 14

enough said

14 weeks 1 day pregnant - June 3rd

Here is the first official side view photo below...it is no doubt that I am pregnant...I cannot believe this belly. My goodness. (above photo is me at 16 weeks with Caroline for comparison)

13 6/7 Weeks

And I threw up this morning. Yuck. This is the third time this pregnancy. When will this morning sickness go away? When oh When?

This baby is a girl...I just feel it!