Somewhere along the way, I managed to miss the fact that I forgot to post my weekly update. :) Sorry about that! I'm sure you sit anxiously awaiting our new post each week anyway, right? Totally joking.
As I mentioned in the title of this post, we got a nice, early surprise announcement! We went to our friend's clinic (the retired OB) two weeks earlier than planned. Though we knew there were no guarantees, at 16 1/2 weeks we knew there was a possibility we could learn the gender so decided to try anyway. After all, we're scheduled for our official ultrasound at 20 weeks so it wouldn't be a great loss if we didn't learn anything new.
I always have a little bit of anxiety when it comes to pregnancy before I'm able to physically feel the baby move much. Not that movement means everything is okay but it is reassuring none-the-less. So there was a part of me that was anxious going in to the ultrasound. After experiencing our own miscarriage in 2008 and then knowing many, many friends to lose babies at various stages of pregnancy, I secretly feared seeing a lifeless body on the screen. To my sheer delight, there was one active, super energetic little baby in there! The doctor commented several times on how bouncy he was. Could be interesting as the pregnancy moves along and I can actually feel all that movement. :)
So there we were, admiring all the beautiful body parts - a nice round head, good looking heart, legs and feet, arms and hands. Then I noticed a little "something" down south. I uttered a "whoa." The doctor looked at me and said, "Yep. I saw that too. Actually, seen it a few times." He later went on to say that while we did not have one still, clear shot, based on all those "few times" he'd say with 95% certainty that we were having another boy. YAY! Though we obviously would've been grateful and happy with any gender, we're SUPER excited that Benjamin will have a brother! Right now, between the two girls, we have far more pink and princess than not. Benjamin is ALL boy and I think he will really love the fun of another.
In other pregnancy news, my nausea is slowly tapering. Praise the Lord! During the day I find myself nauseous off and on but I can usually help it by getting food on my stomach. It's still the worst in the evenings but is more manageable than it was a month ago for sure. So very excited about that. I've started having some of the usual pregnancy tenderness and pressure. Haven't really had any big breakouts on my face (like with past pregnancies) but some on my neck which is not fun of course. Not too many crazy dreams lately. Vivid but not as crazy as they were earlier on. And finally having small bursts of energy here and there. All this to say, I still feel some of the discomforts of pregnancy but mostly, in a much more bearable, encouraging way!
Until next time...
Take care,
Terra
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Week 14: Midwife Visit
By God's great grace, the vertigo has tapered off tremendously in the last week or so. It's not gone but it's WAY more manageable. Thank you ALL who've prayed for me and the family in those regards.
Midwife visit was short and sweet. Gained a couple of pounds. Everything else looked normal too. Got to hear the heartbeat again which is now in the 150s. We have a friend and previous professor that is a retired OB. He still volunteers time at two local clinics and he said he'd be happy to give us a gender peek when we return from our vacation (2nd wk of July). We're scheduled for the official one on July 24. Not that a two week wait would kill us but it's kind of neat that this same doc was also the first to tell us the gender of all three of our other kids. So there's some upcoming excitement!
Looking forward to our July vacation to Florida. Sadly, my mother-in-law will still be in the Philippines (after the recent loss of her brother). Fortunately, we'll still be able to visit with the rest of the family, including those from Hawaii - who we only see once a year. Everyone is very excited about that. We're looking forward to some much needed rest and relaxation and are thankful to have a live-in home sitter while we're gone. :) Thanks Filicia!
Been getting some of the final pieces for homeschool this fall. One really great buy was from a local homeschool fair. I got some parts of a curriculum package I was specifically looking for 85% off the retail price of $200. Yes, you read that right - and it was exactly what I was looking for. Praise the Lord for sweet graces! And then I got the math program I wanted for 47% off. Not a bad deal either in my opinion as I haven't seen it sold much lower.
So, there's life in a nutshell. Until next time...
Take care,
Terra
Midwife visit was short and sweet. Gained a couple of pounds. Everything else looked normal too. Got to hear the heartbeat again which is now in the 150s. We have a friend and previous professor that is a retired OB. He still volunteers time at two local clinics and he said he'd be happy to give us a gender peek when we return from our vacation (2nd wk of July). We're scheduled for the official one on July 24. Not that a two week wait would kill us but it's kind of neat that this same doc was also the first to tell us the gender of all three of our other kids. So there's some upcoming excitement!
Looking forward to our July vacation to Florida. Sadly, my mother-in-law will still be in the Philippines (after the recent loss of her brother). Fortunately, we'll still be able to visit with the rest of the family, including those from Hawaii - who we only see once a year. Everyone is very excited about that. We're looking forward to some much needed rest and relaxation and are thankful to have a live-in home sitter while we're gone. :) Thanks Filicia!
Been getting some of the final pieces for homeschool this fall. One really great buy was from a local homeschool fair. I got some parts of a curriculum package I was specifically looking for 85% off the retail price of $200. Yes, you read that right - and it was exactly what I was looking for. Praise the Lord for sweet graces! And then I got the math program I wanted for 47% off. Not a bad deal either in my opinion as I haven't seen it sold much lower.
So, there's life in a nutshell. Until next time...
Take care,
Terra
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Weeks 12 & 13: Vertigo Updates and a Moving Baby
Anyone that's known me or my family for any length of time knows that we tend to have the most random, out-there, 1 in 1,000,000 type odds when it comes to our physical health. By God's grace, none of them have been life threatening, though there are some life-altering ones. Seriously, in my short 30yrs of life, I've had spinal meningitis, 2 ruptured ear drums, shingles (as a child), P(itiriasys Rosea) - TWICE, and a 1/300 wisdom teeth post-op problem. Then there are recurring neck/shoulder issues, funny red splotchy spots that appeared on my face when pregnant with my first (told they'd go away - never did), and my continued struggle with Benign Paroxsymal Positional Vertigo. During week 12, I managed to get a pinched nerve in my shoulder. As soon as I recovered from that, one of my toes started throbbing for no apparent reason. Come to find out, it appears I have cellulitis and now I'm on antibiotics for it. Are you laughing yet?! Ha! I have to laugh - otherwise I cry.
I had a treatment for the vertigo on Monday of week 13. While there, I learned I could hear through my ankle bone! NO joke! Long story - too long to write - but my doc said it's extremely uncommon (surprise?!) and likely caused by a bone in my ear that's shifted either up or sideways. I can basically hear through my bones. It's very likely the cause of my recurring vertigo struggle. Need a CT scan to confirm it but have to wait until I'm no longer pregnant. May need surgery or meds, may not.
Again, I'm super grateful that none of these random issues have been life-threatening - truly. I do often wonder why I have to continue to deal with one thing after another that it seems no one else has. But God is so good to remind me (mostly through friends and His word), that He IS in control and none of this escapes His care. He's allowed them to happen for whatever purpose and while I may not understand the reasons, I can trust He's in control.
Outside of the random health stuff - I'm quite certain I'm feeling the baby move now. Just little thumps here and there but definitely starting to notice. Feeling the baby move is probably my favorite part of the entire pregnancy experience. I never cease to be amazed by the miracle of it all!
And lastly, I think we've finally settled on a girl's name: Lily Grace. Our boy's name is Daniel Brian. :) We should find out the sex sometime in July!
Until next time...
Terra
I had a treatment for the vertigo on Monday of week 13. While there, I learned I could hear through my ankle bone! NO joke! Long story - too long to write - but my doc said it's extremely uncommon (surprise?!) and likely caused by a bone in my ear that's shifted either up or sideways. I can basically hear through my bones. It's very likely the cause of my recurring vertigo struggle. Need a CT scan to confirm it but have to wait until I'm no longer pregnant. May need surgery or meds, may not.
Again, I'm super grateful that none of these random issues have been life-threatening - truly. I do often wonder why I have to continue to deal with one thing after another that it seems no one else has. But God is so good to remind me (mostly through friends and His word), that He IS in control and none of this escapes His care. He's allowed them to happen for whatever purpose and while I may not understand the reasons, I can trust He's in control.
Outside of the random health stuff - I'm quite certain I'm feeling the baby move now. Just little thumps here and there but definitely starting to notice. Feeling the baby move is probably my favorite part of the entire pregnancy experience. I never cease to be amazed by the miracle of it all!
And lastly, I think we've finally settled on a girl's name: Lily Grace. Our boy's name is Daniel Brian. :) We should find out the sex sometime in July!
Until next time...
Terra
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