Wow. Time has been FLYING by. I am now entering my 2nd trimester!! Woo woo!
I had my second visit with the midwife yesterday and FINALLY got to hear the heartbeat! We got to "see" the heartbeat at our early ultrasound, but getting to hear it was music to my ears. Nice strong heartbeat and now in the upper 140s to lower 150s. My midwife says that the wives tales about heart rate are somewhat accurate, but not until the 3rd trimester and there is still a lot of error. The wives tale is that a lower heart rate means it's a boy, whereas a higher heart rate means it's a girl. We do plan to find out the gender at the 20 week ultrasound so we shall see! = )
Things are going pretty darn well lately. I still feel nauseous, but just in the evenings, and not as severely as just a week ago. I am starting to get some energy back, but still really do need an afternoon nap to make it till bedtime. My heartburn is still staying manageable with Tums.. though I would like to try some more natural remedies once I find the time to get my hands on them.
Ari is growing up so fast. His latest thing is that he wants to know the name for anything and everything in the world. He will gesture with his hand (not point) and say, "Ehh?!!" about a billion times a day. It's so cute.. but sometimes it does get a little overwhelming and then I just have to distract/redirect him. = ) Some of his favorites to hear are "bananas", "crock pot", "light" and "door". When we're outside it's "snow" and "sidewalk". He such a little cutie. Poor guy is sprouting his upper lateral incisors too, so he's been having a rough go of it lately. I'm praying that they pop through very soon!
Spring break is over which means I am back to evening classes two nights a week. We have our second lecture exam coming up on Tuesday, so I really need to get my butt in gear. I think that if I can commit a hour a day to studying I should be good to go. I'm hoping I can make that happen...
Onto my last bit of news. Our church began a prayer experiment on Monday called "Leap of Faith" that will go 40 days, ending on Easter. We have been encouraged to pray big things for ourselves, others, and our church or city and see what God does. I have decided, amongst other things, to pray for healing from my food allergies. As many of you know, I am currently allergic to wheat, dairy and eggs. This is probably one of the biggest, most intimidating prayers I have ever prayed for on behalf of myself, but I am really excited about it. I am praying along side of that that my faith will be increased over this 40 days and that above all, God's will be done.. be that healing or not. I trust that He knows what's best, and if He decides that He can be glorified more in me not being healed, then so be it. But.. I really do feel like he wants to and and am praying persistently. = D
Well, it is nap time.. so I aught to be heading to bed. Hopefully I'll be able to update more often now that I'm starting to feel better. Tschau!!
So I am now 10 weeks pregnant with #2... or #2 and #3... just kidding.
It's funny because the other night I had a dream that I was having twins.. a boy and a girl. I shouldn't be surprised that I wonder. First of all, my sister has fraternal twin boys. Secondly, my midwife told me that it is a very common "wonder" of most 2nd time mothers because you tend to show sooner with your second. But, at my first visit with her yesterday, she did tell me that I seems to be measuring further along than my last period date would indicate, so she wants me to get an ultrasound next week to get a better estimate of how far along I am.
The first visit was everything it was the time around. Questions about family history, my health history, my current eating habits, exercise, symptoms, weight gain (or in my case loss) do I want to do a water birth again, etc. Breast exam, internal exam, measuring of my uterus.. etc etc. Fun stuff. What I was somewhat disappointed about was that we were not able to hear the heartbeat with the Doppler this time. The midwife did warn me that 10 weeks is on the earlier end. My first visit with Ari was more around 12 weeks and we did hear the heartbeat then. At least we get to have our ultrasound next Thursday to confirm life, due date and maybe hear the heartbeat then! = )
As of 10 weeks, I am still very tired. My nausea has taken a turn for the better though and I am mainly sick only in the late afternoon through evening now. Mornings have gotten a lot more manageable. Eating is going better too.. in large part due to my wonderful husband making me awesome Potato Leek (and chicken) Soup last weekend.. which almost lasted all week. I need to convince him to make me some more ASAP! ; D Finally, heartburn has kicked up a notch, but so far mint Tums has been taking care of it. Thanks to my little sister Esther for recommending I try them. They don't make me gag like the fruity Tums do! = D Overall things are going very well.
Onto other news, Ari seems to be working on pushing a couple more teeth out. These would be his incisors on the top. He has been POURING drool lately. I cannot keep up with the dry bibs and am actually debating buying another pack, it's seriously that bad! He's such a trooper though. We've also been introducing more foods into his diet since his one year checkup, at his doctor's okay. We've successfully introduced Cheerios (some wheat), blueberries and are working on plain yogurt. We are on day 4 or 5 of yogurt and so far he has had a raw butt rash only, which the doctor told me not to worry about (but of course to treat). I think he may also be getting a rash around his mouth though. I am going to continue giving it to him, while monitoring closely for worsening symptoms. I am hoping and praying that he will not have food sensitivities like I do.
Microbiology is going pretty well so far. I am irked each week that I have lab from 8-10pm, when there was originally an option for a 6-8pm lab. When I signed up I did not know I was pregnant and by the time I found out it was too late to switch. Oh well. I do really like my lab group. They are very nice and awesomely helpful people, which is good because by 8pm my brain has definitely turned a large portion of itself OFF.
I guess that's it for now. I'm scheduled to work tonight. Ugh. I really like my job, but I do NOT like it in the first trimester of pregnancy. I am hoping that I get canceled. God knows what I can handle though. It would be nice to have some cash to make a Mary Kay order.. I am out of almost all of my skin care products.. hmmm.. I guess I'll leave the decision up to Him. ; )
