GREAT Check-up Appointment (13w5d)

So, up until today no really eventful things going on pregnancy-wise.  I did get my new phone, the Motorola Backflip, which is very techy and cool.  Also, on Monday I had a meeting with my instructor and found out that I got an A on my student teaching midterm.  Woot!  I just need to survive school until May 21st and I'll be D-O-N-E!  Anyway...back to Nano...

Nanobyte seems to be doing fine, and is not giving me any trouble other than restless sleep, tiredness, and some pain in my tailbone.  We went to an appointment today to get another update from Dr. Lasting and I was ecstatic with the news I received.


*First off, the nurse weighed me in (something that I am always anxious about) and I discovered that I lost another half of a pound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This puts me at 1.5 pounds less than my starting weight before getting pregnant. :o)  Who would have thought that at over 3 months pregnant I would have lost weight???

*Secondly, I got my blood pressure taken. I think the doctor said 128/60, but regardless of the number, he was very very impressed by my blood pressure.  He said it was even better than his :o)

*Third, I got my "belly" or uterus measured for growth.  The second he touched my lower abdomen he stated, "Wow, you are definitely starting to show.  I can feel your uterus right here!"  He showed me where it was and I got to touch it for myself.  To me, it feels like a hard bubble in my lower stomach- something I never thought was possible to feel.  He measured my "belly" at 15cm (about 5.9 in) and said I was growing perfectly, right on schedule.

*Last, but DEFINITELY not least, I was able to hear my baby's heartbeat for the first time.  At first, I didn't hear anything and started to freak out, but after 15 or so seconds heard a little blurb (heartbeat-that I didn't recognize) and saw Dr. Lasting chuckle to himself and smile.  I figured everything was ok at that point and was reaffirmed with his comment, "Come on out...there is no point in hiding since I already heard you once."  After a little manipulating, we were able to get Nano to cooperate briefly and got a good listen at the fast woosh woosh woosh that was his/her heart.  It was so awesome!  Nano only put up with us for a bit though, and moved around again at the end.

Overall, I am SUPER STOKED at the results of this appointment!  I haven't gained any weight being pregnant and have actually lost some... I have great blood pressure and am measuring perfectly... and I got to hear my baby.  I have another appointment in a month (just a check up) and then will schedule my specialist appointment for the big anatomy ultrasound.  Til next time my friends!

~Heather

Uneventful Update (11w3d)

Since I wrote last, nothing too exciting has been going on in terms of pregnancy.  I am still tired, but naps help immensely.  Baby is now the size of a large lime and today his/her intestines are developing and the bladder sac is now formed.  Isn't that amazing???


My next appointment is April 1st (April fool's day) and is just a check-up to make sure everything is ok with baby.  I look forward to it because I can't feel the baby yet and have no way of knowing how Nanobyte is doing.  I can't wait til that appointment because it marks almost the end of my first trimester (the scariest one in terms of miscarriage).


I am going to be very happy when it is May 17th, since school will be over. I had my midterm for student teaching yesterday and think it went pretty well. :o) I will find out my "grade" on March 29th. I am blessed to have a flexible job with my mom, where I can come in later/on a different day if needed.  Today I decided to stay home instead of go to work (switching to wed/thurs this week) so I could rest a bit from midterm and get some paperwork that is required done.  Hopefully I will be productive!  Oh, and I need to do laundry today, since I have absolutely nothing to wear for going out of the house.  Hehe, comfy clothes are amazing!

Oooh something exciting is that I get a new phone in 9 days!  My phone has been doing some weird things lately.  It will randomly turn off, won't ring, and now says I have a text message even though I don't! :-) It's enough to drive me crazy.  I'm debating between getting the Pantech Impact and the Motorola Backflip.  The Backflip is wayyy more techy, and has internet (required) almost like the iPhone.  The pantech is a simpler phone and internet is 20 bucks cheaper a month.  I don't know what to get...Nick wants me to get the Backflip because he thinks I'll like the internet on it but it may be too fancy for me. :P


I will keep updating!  I am determined this time! :o) 
~Heather

We're Pregnant!!!!

For those of you who haven’t heard via word of mouth, Facebook, or some other means, I would like to officially announce on my blog (which…I know, I haven’t written since October) that my husband and I are expecting our first baby!  I would also like to take the time on here to tell about what has happened since we found out and hopefully keep this blog up to date as much as possible throughout my pregnancy.

I am currently 10 weeks and 1 day pregnant.  Nicholas and I found out via 2 urine pregnancy tests on January 26^th 2010- at 5:45am on a Tuesday morning.  I immediately called the doctor to schedule a confirmation pregnancy test and they had an appointment that afternoon.  So, I had to go to work all morning at my mom’s house and keep it from her until I got the confirmation and could tell my family that night with Nicholas.  The doctor’s test came back positive VERY quickly and that evening we were able to tell both sets of our parents.

First, we told Nick’s mom, since we caught her leaving my parents house (which was where everyone was just finishing up Bible study).  We had her roll down her window, and Nick told her that I was going to get really fat in the upcoming months.  I know, really nice right? Hahaha!  She was very happy, cried a little, and asked us a few questions.  She was mostly excited about being a grandma again and Josh (our nephew) having a friend to play with.

We ended up going home for a few minutes until Bible study was completely over and we could tell my family privately.  A friend had given us a Microsoft onesie for our future children because Nicholas is so computer-savvy.  So, I had the great idea of putting the onesie in a bag and having Nick give it to my dad to clean.  That worked out perfectly, although my dad/mom took a little while to get it.  My sisters got it immediately and started screaming and came to hug me.  To make a long story short, both of our families are really excited and on board.

Just 2 days after finding out I was pregnant I was able to get into the OB for a welcome appointment and let me just say I LOVE our OB.  His name is Dr. Lasting and he is the nicest guy I have ever met in the medical field.  We are blessed to have him and I look forward to having him for this and any subsequent pregnancies. He is just so happy and informative and on top of things that I feel completely at ease.  I have had 4 appointments already, and was able to have an ultrasound each time to help confirm due date and pregnancy status. 

The baby, who we are calling NANOBYTE, is doing great!  My 3^rd ultrasound detected the heartbeat, which seemed to encompass the entire baby (The baby looked like a bean, and the flashing heartbeat covered it). My last ultrasound which was on Tuesday was just 3 weeks later and Nanobyte looked TOTALLY different.  No longer a little bean shaped speck, now Nano looked like a baby- with arms, legs, a head, and a torso.  You could even see a speck where Nano’s eye was.  Dr. Lasting said that if we waited long enough we might see movement in the baby, and as if on queue Nanobyte woke up and started dancing for me.  It is like baby stood up and decided to wiggle and squirm to get my attention.  It was the most precious thing I have ever seen, and at that moment I fell more in love with my baby than I thought possible.

If you haven’t guessed yet, we are waiting to find out what we are having until the birth- so Nanobyte will remain Nanobyte until the due date- which is officially October 2^nd (though I think it will be closer if not Oct 5^th).

I have been feeling OK, better than I expected to feel.  My biggest “symptoms” are tiredness and nausea.  I thankfully have not thrown up yet, though there are times when I almost wish I had so I would feel better.  I have had 3 cravings- green olives, oranges, and carne-asada burritos.  I don’t have much appetite today unfortunately, so am sticking to light options (so far an English muffin with goji berry jelly, hummus and pita bread, and a fruit chiller cup).  My ideal food plate right now (based on what sounds good) would be a corn dog, some Oreos, a glass of milk, and a Mexican lollipop with that sweet/spicy chili covering. LOL!

I could definitely use a nap but am trying to be productive and push through it (I would be lying if I said I was showered and dressed hehe).  I am finding school to be more difficult while pregnant, since I am so tired.  My motivation is also diminished because I want to research and prepare things for my baby.  At least I will be done with my AA’s and Certificates before baby comes and I am quite happy with that J.

Well, I think you are all sick of hearing me talk now so I will stop. I will try to keep this updated on a regular basis (between planning/student teaching and other classes and work).  I hope that you are all doing well…sorry it’s been so long!

~Heather

My Worry Stone

Several years ago while on vacation with my family (I believe to somewhere in Arizona or maybe Lake Arrowhead) we stopped into a little gift shop on a day of perusing around town.  Something that caught my eye was a box full of smooth polished stones that were oval in shape and natural colors.  I asked the shop owner what the stones were because I had never seen them before.  He informed me that they were worry stones, something to comfort you and soothe your mind when you are stressed and uptight.  The concept interested me and since the stones were 2/5 dollars I bought a pair.*

My sister took one since she lost hers immediately after buying it and I stowed the other one away in my desk when we got home.  To be honest, I had completely forgotten about my little worry stone until a few months ago when looking for something in my old desk at my parents house.  I found the worry stone again and moved it to my office desk, thinking I would remember to take it home.  Well, I forgot to take it from there as well- until Tuesday that is.  On Tuesday I FINALLY brought it home to my house and set it on my coffee table.  I have found myself picking it up repeatedly throughout the day, while reading an article online, reading a textbook, watching TV, or talking to Nick.  I am amazingly surprised at how calming it is to rub the little stone.  It calms me, keeps me grounded in what I am doing, and keeps my hands busy on something safe and comforting.

I plan to continue to use this stone for a long time (or until I wear through it with my rubbing) and have it be a positive coping technique for stressful times.  I need more of those in my life.  Have any of you heard of worry stones?  If so, what do you think of them?  Would you ever use one?

*It should be noted that I don't believe worry stones are magical or spiritual or anything.  I just use it as an object to calm my nerves...a smooth rock :o)

~Heather

2nd Anniversary!

Today, October 13th, 2009 marks the 2nd anniversary of my marriage.  I can't believe it has been two years since I united with my love for life and became his wife.  I know for a fact that I have married the best man their is: who cares for me, loves me, provides for me, and encourages me.  Year 2 went so so so fast, like 10 times faster than year one.

Again, ouir anniversary has been unconventional.  Last year Nick worked late, we drove down to Outback to eat dinner.  Then we bought Nick shoes-at which time he got a migraine, threw up, and went to bed at 8pm.

This year, I woke up at 6am because Nick goes to Riverside on Tuesday and was getting ready.  He came into the room saying that our water pressure was out because the water main was gushing water into the street.  I had woken up to the sound of "rain" and was surprised to see the sidewalk and road engulfed in water.  So, at 6:15am we both packed up stuff for showers and our day and went to my parents to get ready.  Then, Nick drove to Riverside and stayed there all day until 8:30pm.  Meanwhile, I worked during the day and had to go to class at 6:30.  I didn't get home until after 10pm.  Nick bought me Toblerone chocolate and a chocolate orange and we shared a piece of Toblerone while watching House.  He crashed on the couch shortly after the show ended and is snoring peacefully as I type this.  Poor guy.

One of these years we will have a typical romantic anniversary, I am sure of it!  Just with my being a full time student and Nick working so hard for our family it isn't possible right now.

Sweetheart, Nicholas, Love... You are amazing and I love you with all that I am.  Thank you for standing by me and loving me with all of my flaws.  I look forward to 99 more years with you, let's do this! :o)

Love you prince,

Love Heather