Baby Stuff

Well, here we go again! 

We found out we were having another baby early in September.  We weren't trying to have another quite yet, but I just wasn't feeling well, so I took a home test.  Sure enough, it was positive.  I drew the same picture I did for our families to have Rudy color and give to John.  Rudy proudly showed him the picture, and John exclaimed how awesome he did and set it down.  I had to tell him, "Look closely..."  Then his eyes popped and welled up, "You're kidding??" -- along with some other phrases of disbelief.     

We had our first doctor's appointment on October 16 when I was 9 weeks pregnant to confirm the pregnancy with an initial sonogram, make sure there was just one baby swimming around in there, determine my due date and get blood work done and all that kind of good stuff. 

The receptionists, nurses, and doctors all smiled knowingly at us when we walked in and we heard more than a few times, "You just can't get enough of this place, can you?"  "Good to see you again!" "Can't stay away too long, huh??"  ... at least we have a friendly office to visit since we have been there regularly for the past three years! 

We got a clean report (me and the baby).  The baby had a strong heart rate of 172, measured exactly as I had predicted for the due date, and was incredibly active.  I don't remember seeing Rudy or Avery so active at the initial sonogram, but those were at 6 and 8 weeks.  We could see the baby's arms and legs moving around .. it was incredible.

Our due date is May 21, 2014.  Seems so far away and just around the corner all at the same time. 

I have been feeling pretty lousy, to say the least.  Lots and lots of nausea, light headed, tired like I've never been before, and just achy all over.  I forgot how miserable the first trimester is and the more kids I have, the more difficult it is!  Luckily I am starting to feel better, but could really use a boost in my energy level!  Some days I really drag. 

We have had a lot of questioning and what seems like judgments since we told our news.  I am trying my hardest to stay positive and excited.  Is the timing ideal?  Not quite.  Is it going to be difficult?  Absolutely.  But we will adjust and make the best of it.  It's crazy that we will have kids back to back to back in school, but some people have triplets.  Some people have three young kids with health or mental problems.  Some people have three young kids without any support or help from family or friends.  Some people have fertility problems and would give anything for any number of babies.  We are so fortunate and so very blessed with the cards we have been dealt.  We can do this and we will do great.  Taking on a lot is nothing new to John and I and the looks we get of "what are you thinking?" is nothing new to us, either.  But we have always come out just fine... and I am very confident that this will be the same.  We will be tested, but I believe in us and the love we have for each other and our growing family.  So people can say what they want or think what they want, but I am choosing to focus on the positive, enjoy every minute, and be grateful of the lives we have made together.  ... ok, my rant is over :)

I wrote that two weeks ago, just waiting on taking a "pregnancy pic" to add to the post.  Still haven't gotten around to it, but the days are going by fast.

We had our second doctor's appointment a couple weeks ago.  John had gotten called into work, so I took both kids with me by myself.  Again, I'm lucky I have such a friendly doctor's office to visit.  They all helped me watch and corral the kids while I met with the doctor and did what I needed to do.  And the kids were really well behaved.  The iPad and snacks definitely helped, though!  We got to hear baby's heartbeat… Rudy thought it sounded like a choo-choo :)  

Another clean appointment.. moving right along!  And I am so happy to be feeling a bit better.  I am still lacking on energy at random times of the day, but the nausea has almost all gone away.  There are a lot of foods I can't stomach.. mostly meat of any kind.  I can handle meat in something (like small pieces ground up or a little on a salad) or lunch meat (heated, of course), but a chunk of meat makes me want to vom!  In general I'm hungry, but nothing really sounds great… except last night when I had a taste for nachos.  Then I said to John, "I must really want nachos because I swear I just heard them say it on TV" (I was working on the computer while we watched football.. so why would they be talking about nachos??).  In my defense, there was a player on the Broncos, Duke Ihenacho, that was getting a lot of mention.  And, in case you were wondering, John did get up to make me some nachos.  They really hit the spot!  :)  

Pregnancy picture coming soon…