Monday, May 28, 2007

13 weeks 2 days - May 28th.

Well, if things go my way...I am exactly 6 months today away from the day my baby will be born. Seems too crazy and too darn close. I still have my baby girl Caroline. She needs me so much, and I tote her and her sis Catie around on my hips...I guess one or two of them will need to walk a little bit more then! Caroline is still nursing 1-2x's per day. So not bad. She is teething, with about 3 teeth moving in now. And, she has a diaper rash. I cannot stomach the smell of poos. I have to close the doors, or move the garbage can outside. Or else I just want to be sick.

I feel that I am moving a long so slowly. Like my heart is working so hard just to do my day to day grind. I was so tired today as I did A LOT of walking to and from school and preschool. And, somebody today asked where I am going to put the new "one?" I said this one (pointing to Catie) will be almost 3 in September and will have to walk...poor gal. She loves the Chariot.

I was working on some more stats this evening. These are about birth days. Or the days that our family members were born on. Here is the run down:

Sunday - no takers YET...

Monday - Carly

Tuesday - Caroline and Cameron

Wednesday - No takers YET...but that is November 28th!! Could be "THE DAY!"

Thursday - Myself and Catie

Friday - Cliff

Saturday - Claire

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Week 13! May 26th 2007

How your baby's growing: Your belly may soon be big enough to announce to the world that you're expecting, but your baby is still tiny. In fact, he's only about 3 inches long crown to rump — roughly the size of a jumbo shrimp — and weighs just about an ounce. Despite the small proportions, there's a fully formed baby inside your womb now. Much more proportional than it was a few weeks ago, his head is now only about a third the size of his body. His tiny, unique fingerprints are already in place. His kidneys and urinary tract are functional, and he's starting to urinate out the amniotic fluid he's been swallowing. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed, and your odds of miscarriage will drop considerably.

Time to celebrate! This is the last week of your first trimester. Next week you'll be in your second trimester. That's great news for two reasons: One, your risk of miscarriage drops dramatically, and two, many women see early pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness, subside.

---------------
Here I am at week 13. Not much to report since my exciting doctor's appointment. I feel pretty good on good points, but when I feel bad. I feel really bad. Like yesterday. I woke up with a headache, and went to bed with a headache. And then I felt really sick and queasy all day. That wasn't so nice.

Today, I feel pretty good. I am going to get some waxing, and a pedicure done to perk myself up a bit.

I feel most comfortable in mat clothing these days, and I am still nursing Caroline a couple of times a day. She doesn't want to give it up, and when I try not to feed her she hits me in the face, lifts up my top or puts her hands down my shirt! This is certainly a new experience for me. The others weaned so nicely, and here I am at almost 13 months of breastfeeding under my belt. That is the longest so far. Usually I feed for about 1 year. Except Cameron, my first born. I only fed him full time until 5 months, and quit by 6 months! I had a Millenium party to go to! I had to wean him...now I would not even consider doing that. My how I have changed.

Hopefully this morning sickness will leave in the next couple of weeks. Here is to hoping anyways.

I booked my 18 week ultrasound for July 3rd!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Thumpity Thump, Thumpity Thump...

Well, today I had my 12 week (+4 day) appointment. I gained 2 pounds, and we heard the heartbeat of our number 6! It was on the high side (see I know it is going to be a girl) around 150-160 beats per minute. I can never tire of the sound of a brand new heartbeat! Our heartbeats were beating in sinc of each other (and my doctor said they would forever be that way...isn't he sweet.) Tears of happiness welled up in my eyes. That made this pregnancy real. In fact, I was kind of not feeling like I was pregnant, even though I knew I was pregnant. I think I was just safeguarding myself from any pain of perhaps something awful happening.

But anyways, all is well. I am emotionally well, and physically well! I am so excited to meet this baby. And, my doctor thinks this baby will be our bookend. I am not so sure about that. I feel girl, and Cliff is going with boy this time. (He has only been right once, with Caroline) I have higher odds with me being right for 3/5.

I have my paper work for the triple screen to do on June 15th. And, I have my requisition for my 18 week ultrasound. I need to book that for after July 1st. Where does the time go?!

As for sickness, I still have my moments of nausea, I am gagging on my toothbrush still, and I just feel like the wind has been knocked from my sails. I am always cold, and wanting to nap. I guess this is what pregnancy at 35 is for me. It wasn't like when I was 27...that is for sure.

Here is an interesting stat! At that end of this pregnancy I will have spent just over FIVE YEARS of my life pregnant. Wow eh! More interesting stats to come.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

12 Weeks...

Well, here I am 12 weeks. Soon to be in the 2nd trimester!! Wow...how time flies, yet how long the pregnancy feels.

It is 11:13 pm and I am still awake, and I don't feel like am going to throw up. I just feel nausea. I am still REALLY tired. I guess we had a busy day today. I did laundry from 8:30 am all the way until this evening around 9 pm. Today I washed and changed all of the beds, and we ran a lot of errands. I also spent 4+ hours sorting and filing our documents in our new filing cabinet we purchased today. So, a good day.

Smells are certainly getting me bad. The smell of plastics, poop (still) makes me run for the hills lol, and BBQ smells still. Yuck.

I cannot believe that almost 5 weeks have passed since my last doctor's appointment. And, I go there on Wednesday. Wow. Time is flying by.

I have decided I will take the triple screen blood test. And, if it comes back with a positive, I will remember there are lots of false positives. I have prepared myself for the worst case, and hoping for the best. How is that for optimistic huh? I guess because I am at an ADVANCED MATERNAL AGE of 35, I feel that my luck will run out. But, this baby is obviously meant to be, and I feel that all will be well.

Water still doesn't taste good. Last night we ordered Chinese food, and it didn't sit right at all. I didn't have that much, but all I could think about was how greasy and how yucky it made me feel. Not again...not again. Thankfully it all stayed down.

As for sleep, I find once my head hits the pillow, I am down for the night. Except, I get up once around 4 or 5 am to go pee. Oh the joys!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Movement and Belly Growth

I swear for the past week or so, I have been feeling flutters. Just like with Caroline at this same time around 11/12 weeks. I in-fact just felt it again so I decided to record it here. I love that feeling. And, for my belly it is growing as yesterday at the mall somebody already asked when I was due. This morning when I was laying on my back I was feeling around to see where I could feel my uterus, and it is definately up and out of my pelvis.

Thursday, May 17th

Yesterday, I was able to get out for dinner and some shopping with my Mom-In-Law. It was a lovely evening out. I went and got 1 pair of maternity khaki capri's (that don't fall down) a really nice below the knee denim skirt and 3 tops. Can you guess the colours? Well. They are my old faithfuls. I am so predictable when it comes to colours. I chose, black, pink, and blue. They are v-neck and short sleeves. I even went to Birks and had my rings checked and cleaned up! They sparkle like new now.

When I got home I was exhausted. And I started to feel sick. I went to bed feeling sick. I woke up feeling sick. And, then I puked. This is my second time puking. This tells me this is a girl. I have now passed my throw up record with Caroline. Yuck. It feels like I am getting worse instead of better. I am nearing my 12th week on Saturday. So almost in week 13. So close, yet so far away.

Right now I feel sick. I ate 1/2 a bagel with a little bit of natural peanut butter and I still feel really rank. Yuck. I just want to crawl back to bed this morning. But I know this is not an option.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

feeling groovy?

Nope.

Not yet. I thought today I was starting to feel a bit better. But, then that changed and I started to feel sick again.

I have to say that my sense of smell and taste is back! Yay, and not so yay. Now, smells really bother me again. Like the smell of our carpet, the smell of urine around the toilet, the smell of our linen closet, and I don't like the taste of water (my absolutely favourite drink--usually that is) I am masking the water with ice and lemon slices. That helps a bit. But, then I drink a whole glass and I start to feel sick again. And, how can I forget. The smell of poop. Yuck. I gag when I change the diapers. I have to change the diapers by an open window and breathe through my mouth. YUCK!!!!

I recently bought some "before and after" pants/jeans from Thyme Maternity. And, the problem is that they are great when you buy them, but they bag out and then they CONSTANTLY fall. So, when I am walking with my girls and boy to school. I hold a hand in my left, and a hand in my right. And then I try to pull up my pants and I end up squeezing a hand and hearing "OWWWHH Mommy" and I always say "SORRY." So, tomorrow I am going to make a trip to a different mall, with different maternity stores and get a skirt (old faithful to me) or a dress or something like that!! Hopefully I can eliminate this falling of the pants routine. It is getting old really quick.

*water break*

As for food etc. I find I am eating extremely healthy these days. No weight gain, gaining a small pooch as people that I know are already rubbing my belly. I think that is funny! Oh well. I have been eating a lot of fruits, especially citrus like oranges. At one point I said to Cliff I think if we have a girl we should name her Clementine! How befitting. But not...we thought about that name seriously for a couple of days, and then my daughter reminded me that Caillou has a friend named Clementine...so a big NO!!! I have been eating a whole grain bagel with a little natural peanut butter and 1/2 a banana. And that works really well on most days. The next item would be SUBWAY sandwiches. My favourite is the sweet onion chicken terriyaki. I get extra tomatoes and lots of jalapenos. Yummy. I think they know my husband in there now. I could eat a sandwich every day! I also love apples, and I love watermelon! I usually do not like watermelon, but it is delicious and satisfying to me.

Today, I actually pulled out Caroline's birth DVD that we recorded on the day she was born. I asked Claire and Carly if they wanted to watch. And of course they did. They asked questions, I answered. No beating around the bush. They were very curious about the placenta. Now they want to watch their "movies" so I said I would pull out a video a day. Those have yet to be transferred to DVD. That is on my list of things to do. It was fun to watch as I enjoyed all of the comments such as...

  • Your family circle is complete Cathy!
  • This is our last time here in the maternity ward!
  • This is the last time I have to wear this blue gown!
  • I am taking Cliff to the Vasectomy doctor after this!
  • Cathy is the best patient, and makes this look so easy!
  • It looks like a girl head to me!

And, now I laugh because I am right in the thick of it all again. And, you know what. I am darn excited! I just want to move past this tired and sluggish and sick stage. Life is good isn't it?!

Saturday, May 12, 2007

11 Weeks

You are now 11 weeks pregnant (63 days after conception), which is the beginning of week 12. Your baby is now around 5 cm long (or 2 inches) from crown to rump and weighing about 8 grams (or 0.28 ounces). Nearly doubling in size during the last week! By the end of this week your uterus will grow up out of the bones of your pelvis. If you see your caregiver around this time, they should be able to just tip the top of your uterus (called the 'fundus'), by feeling your belly. If they use a special Doppler machine, they may also be able to detect your baby's heartbeat and let you hear it for the first time!
______

Well, I woke up this morning with a bad headache, maybe more like a neck ache and I almost heaved into the toilet again. Yuck. Thankfully I did not, but it was close.

Not this week, but next I am back for my 12 week appointment and hopefully hear the heartbeat! Yay!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Almost 11 Weeks...

Tomorrow I am officially 11 weeks, and our baby is really now a fetus (no longer an embryo) congratulations little babe!

We have been talking a lot about baby names for you. Of course it has to be a hard C, and it has to begin with a Cl or a Ca. And for a boy, it has to end in an "on." So, really not much that we love to choose from. But, after thinking a lot, and doing a lot of looking we have found 2 perfect names already. One boy name, and one girl name. And nope. You all will have to wait until this baby makes its way into our arms before you find out! We thought a surprise is in order, as this baby was a big surprise to us. And, the sex will be a surprise too.

I would love to see what your baby name guesses would be! Feel free to post in the comments section!!

I pretty much think this baby will be a girl. Yup another girl. And, you know what. I am totally cool with having a 5th girl. I think that will be a wonderful addition to our family!

And, if I am wrong. A boy will be well received into this home too! Cameron would be one happy big brother!

All I can hope and pray for is a healthy and happy baby like our other fab five. I am so excited to hear the heartbeat!! I hope this baby does not play tricks like our original "trickster" Catie...it took forever, as in weeks to get her heartbeat.

Bring on the second trimester! I am ready!

The Ginger Man...

...to the rescue!


As you know, I like to look for things that are not really there...like the face in my old baseboard in our last ensuite. And so, when Cliff went to the store to buy me some fresh ginger to make tea for my morning sickness. This is the piece he picked! Isn't that fun!

The Ginger Man, is no longer as I ripped off his two arms and boiled them. Yummy with a squeeze of lemon.

And nope. The tea did nothing for my nausea. How many more weeks to go before I start feeling normal again? Today I am 10 6/7 th along. So, 11 weeks tomorrow. I would hope to see improvement in the next 4 weeks. Not too, too bad.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Are you pregnant?

That is the comment I received yesterday at preschool. Two people already noticed my little belly I am sporting there. Pretty funny because I am only 10.5 weeks along.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

10 Weeks

Well, welcome to 10 weeks. It started off with a bit of a sleep in, and then I threw up so hard that I popped a few blood vessels under my eyes. This has got to be a girl.

I still have a cold, and I just feel really miserable.

Friday, May 4, 2007

9 6/7 Weeks

Well, it is Friday night. And I have another cold. You just cannot guess what my weeks will be like from week to week. I am so tired, and sometimes just standing is exhausting. I know this part will leave, but then the physically hard pregnancy will kick in. I don't think I am looking forward to that part this time around.

I am going to go for my blood work tomorrow, and I hit the double digits! 10 Weeks. 30 weeks until my due date. That date of December 1st seems so VERY FAR AWAY. Yet, I know I will blink and the baby will be here. I am just going to do my best that I can do, and take this pregnancy day by day.

I still have so many mixed emotions. I sometimes forget that I am pregnant, and then the nausea comes back and I remember. I wake up and sometimes I forget, until I have to go to pee so bad that I need to practically run to the bathroom.

I am still trying to decide if I want to take the triple screen, as I am afraid of getting a false positive. And yet, maybe everything will come back normal and then not have to think about doing an amnio. A nursing friend I know, said to skip the triple screen and just do the amnio. I don't want to take risks. I don't even take Tylenol when I am pregnant. I have never ever taken one during any pregnancy.

I guess I am afraid deep down, that hey...you have 5 healthy kids, and maybe my luck will run out and I will have a "sick" child. Cliff and I have been talking a lot, and we are not sure what to do. I have never taken the triple screen, but I have never been 35 before ;D and turning 36 in October.

What to do, what to do. I just don't feel pregnant, or feel I have the right to complain. But here I am...complaining.

Well, my sub is here. I need to eat or else I feel really sick.