Happy New Year!

Wow, 2010 was a wonderful year. I am sad to see it go and yet I am so excited for 2011! 2010 was full great experiences with the boys. So many firsts- first words, first time sitting up, for time walking, first time at the beach, first time swimming, first time eating solid food and first birthday. I look back at how much they have grown and changed and I am amazed. They are little men now, not babies. They have such distinct personalities. They are sweet, funny, sensitive, silly and so stinking smart! I can't wait to continue to get to know them in 2011!

2011 is going to be amazing not only with the boys, but with our new bundle of joy. I still can't believe we are really having another baby! How fun! I just wrote the new on Facebook. The word is out! We are pregnant!!!! :-) I know you already know or you wouldn't be reading this blog, but I needed to shout it out!

Although we planned on going out tonight and "partying" the night away, that is not exactly what happened. We are home. I am not feeling so great (my stomach is hurting) and I am SO tired. Although pregnancy has so many positives, it also has its negatives. Feeling good and being energetic are not common place these days. I know it will pass and i am looking forward to it! So as we sit here, it is a good time to reflect on the year, make resolutions (that I will not keep) and dwell on the sweet memories of 2010!

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2010

Christmas was wonderful. I was so excited I could barely sleep. I woke up at 4:30 and never went back. I was so excited to see it through the boys eyes.

The boys got up at 7am. We brought them downstairs and gave them their pancake breakfast. Once they were done we all went out to the living room. The boys instantly started playing with the presents, throwing them around and laughing. We gave each of the boys one to open.

I was shocked at how well the opened the first present, less shocked when they ate the paper and even less shocked when they wanted to play with the new toy and not open anything else. :-) But, we helped them get through all of the gifts and they were so cute. They wanted to play, play, play!

We let them play for most of the morning and then put them down for their regular nap. We got ready, got the house set up for dinner and relaxed (for a little bit).

The boys got up around noon for lunch. They had chicken nuggets and grapes. Mommom showed up first. Mom and Dad came around 1 and the Martins came shortly after. The Martins gave the boys Cozy Coupes, little red cars, for Christmas. Ben was visibly excited. Each car was full of presents. Ben pulled all the gifts out and got in as fast as he possibly could. He was so so so excited!

The boys opened a few gifts and the adults exchanged presents as well. Dad went to get Mommom L and when they got back we did dinner. Everything was delicious! After dinner we cleaned up and finished opening gifts.

The boys played and played. They loved their cozy coupes, ball pit, bus with slide, shopping cart and many other toys.

Christmas was amazing. It is so great to see it through the eyes of a child. I love that next Christmas we will have 3 kids to enjoy it with.

11 Weeks

This Week

How far along? 11 weeks
Weight gain/loss: Maybe a pound or two
Maternity clothes? Well, I broke down and wore a pair of maternity pants on Christmas Eve. I am also in a pair now... but not everyday.
Stretch marks? No
Sleep? I fall asleep right away, but I wake up to go to the bathroom at least 2 times a night. I don't really feel rested in the morning.
Food cravings: orange juice, chocolate, salty food
Belly button in or out? In
Movement? Not yet
What I miss? having more energy, summer... not pregnancy related, but I am tired of winter!
What I'm looking forward to: finding out the sex of the baby on Feb 22!
Weekly wisdom: Take naps, eat small meals, drink water, enjoy every minute
Milestone: We told everyone at Cranberry Pines that we are expecting #3!

Pinelands

Today was my first visit with my OBGYN (Pinelands). They did blood work and did the normal exams. And then... I got to hear the heartbeat! It was awesome. I loved it. I still can't believe I AM PREGNANT!

10 Weeks

This Week

How far along? 10 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 0
Maternity clothes? Not yet, but I think they are in the near future. My belly is so bloated, especially at night.
Stretch marks? No
Sleep? Not bad. I have been having weird dreams.
Food cravings: cheese, orange juice, carbs
Belly button in or out? In
Movement? Not yet
What I miss? wearing my smaller sized jeans, sleeping through the night without going to the bathroom
What I'm looking forward to: going to my obgyn tomorrow, I think I get to hear the heartbeat!
Weekly wisdom: Enjoy every minute with Benny and Jacob, we will be a family of 5 soon and it will never be like this again.
Milestone: I am feeling a lot better and I am not nearly as tired.

Ultra sound and hematoma

I thought yesterday was my last day at Cooper. But it wasn't. My hematoma back and bigger than it was. They want to keep me for one more week to see what happens. I am thankful that they are watching it, but I was really hoping it would go away. It is hard to "take it easy" and not lift anything over 15 lbs. I am sure I am not helping when I carry Ben (26 lbs) around or Jacob (22 lbs).

The good news, baby #3 is looking good. He/she is measuring a little bigger than 9 weeks, but not much. Perfect! Everything seems to be going really well. We are thrilled!

For some reason Toby and I both really think it is a girl. Now, I am wrong 99% of the time, so it is most likely a boy. :-) Either way is fine, it is just weird how we always say "she" or talk about girl names. I am looking forward to finding out (Feb/Mar) so I can buy bedding and other fun stuff!

9 Weeks

This Week

How far along? 9 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 0
Maternity clothes? No, I am not looking forward to them like I was last time.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep? Pretty good. My prometruim pill makes me pass out. I just worry about the other two cuties, I wouldn't hear them if they cried!
Food cravings: ORANGE JUICE
Belly button in or out? In
Movement? Not yet
What I miss? Eating lunch meat, feeling rested, not worrying about the future
What I'm looking forward to: deciding if I am going back to work or not and being done with it, hearing the heartbeat
Weekly wisdom: Nap when the boys nap, don't eat too much at one time
Milestone: I am not nearly as nauseous!

Ode to Orange Juice

I love you orange juice.

I crave you all day long.

I would rather drink you than eat any meal.

You quench my thirst.

You taste wonderful.

You make me smile.

You once were an enemy (acid reflux) but now a true friend.

You have gotten me through many a day.

I love you orange juice.

Ultra Sound

Today I was nervous. I had an ultra sound scheduled because of the ER incident. I worried that something was wrong. That the baby hadn't grown. That there wouldn't be a heartbeat. BUT, everything is GREAT! I saw the heartbeat, the baby grew and they said everything is perfect. I am so happy!

Pregnancy Symptoms

I have noticed a few things this pregnancy about my pregnancy symptoms (and yes I have many). My nausea has gotten better, it isn't gone, but it is much less often. My super smell is ridiculous. I can smell everything in a 10 mile radius. Perhaps this adds to the nausea...

My boobs hurt like crazy, I didn't have this last time. I pee often, but mostly at night while I am supposed to be sleeping. I am exhausted. I was tired last time, but I would take naps. This time I have two precious, active little boys that don't allow me to nap. I go from fine to so hungry I could eat my arm off many times during the day. It is so weird, I feel fine and then it hits me and there better be food around. Food cravings- orange juice. So weird because normally I don't like it. I drink 2-3 glasses a day. I love it now. Last pregnancy I wanted cottage cheese and yogurt, this time I have no desire for that stuff to touch my lips. I am just so surprised at how much eat pregnancy is so different and yet I am still me!

A Trip to the ER

Toby and I were going to go out on a date night. Mini church was canceled and we were going to have a night out, just the two of us! Maybe out to dinner? Maybe a movie??

Well, things didn't go exactly as planned. We went out, just the two of us... to the hospital. I started to bleed, heavily, so we went to the ER. Luckily Sunday night is a pretty quiet night there, so we were taken right in. It still took 3 hours, but it was the fastest it could have been. They have no idea why I bled, but they said the baby is fine and we were able to see the heartbeat. It was such an emotional night. We were praying the whole time that everything would be fine. It was so scary. We are so thankful that the baby looked good. I definitely wish I knew what happened, but I since I don't, I am going to take it easy today. I hope we don't have any more scares like that!

This Week

This Week

How far along? 8 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 0
Maternity clothes? Not yet
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep? Ok, I do have to get up to go to the bathroom 2 times. I can still sleep on my stomach, yay!
Food cravings: Carbs, cheese, McDonalds, Burger King, Ginger Ale, toast
Belly button in or out? In
Movement? Not yet
What I miss? Lunch meat, sleeping through the night, not being nauseous all the time
What I'm looking forward to: not being nauseous, not being as tired
Weekly wisdom: Nap when the boys nap
Milestone: Seeing the heartbeat last week

8 Weeks!

I am 8 weeks today! Yay! Toby and I went to Cooper yesterday for an ultra sound. It was so fun to see the baby. He/she is really starting to look human. :-) The little heart was beating away. So far my levels are good, the sac size is perfect and so is the baby size. My progesterone is a little low, but nothing to worry about.

I am still very nauseous. I am so ready to be over this part of the pregnancy. I hate feeling so ill all the time. The only up side is that I am pretty sure I haven't gained a pound, nothing sounds good to eat.

I am very surprised at how fast things are going this time. It is going to be 12 weeks before I know it. I guess I don't have time to sit around and think about being pregnant like I did the first time.

Heartbeat

Last week I had an ultra sound and saw the heartbeat. It was so wonderful. That little flicker made my heart smile. I am so thankful that I get to go every week.

I love seeing the baby grow, it changes so much in the beginning weeks. Last week it had a head and what looked like arms. I go again this week and I can't wait to see what else has developed.

Nauseous

This pregnancy is already so different from my first.

For one, I am not having twins this time! It is also different because I am so nauseous. I feel sick all day. Not sick enough to actually throw up, just sick enough to think about it all the time.

I am also so tired. I remember being tired before, but I would just take a nap. This time I have two precious boys with me all the time and I can't nap whenever I feel like it.

I have another ultra sound tomorrow. I am hoping to see the heartbeat! :-)

1st Ultra Sound

Today was my first ultra sound at Cooper. I went by myself because the only time they had available was during the day and Toby was at work.

At first I totally expected them to say that they couldn't find anything. For some reason I am having such a hard time believing this is really happening! But, the tech lady found the sac and said it was in the right place. Yay!

I met with a nurse after the ultra sound. She told me that my lab results were great and my cultures were superior. Wow! She confirmed my due date is July 15, 2011.

I am going back next Monday for an ultra sound, hopefully I will get to see a heartbeat!

TIRED!

Today is the Thursday and I am exhausted! I went to MTO (Mom's Time Out) this morning and had a wonderful breakfast... with decaf coffee! Ugh. I miss my regular coffee.

I am ready SO for the weekend and Toby to be around the help with the boys. :-) Although I am not sure how much help he is going to be since he and his dad are putting up a new ceiling in our family room.

Anyway, I had another blood test yesterday and all my levels are where they are supposed to be. It is so crazy. Every time they call I think they are going to say that it is all a joke, but they don't. This is really happening! :-)

I am going tomorrow for more blood work and then an ultra sound on Monday. Yay!

Questions???

Wow, yesterday was pure excitement... but today was more reality and many questions.

What are we going to do now?

Are we going to move or can we all fit in this house?

If we are going to move, where can we afford to go on one salary?

Should I go back to work?

The answer to all of these questions- God gave this baby to us and He will provide for it.

Day 1- Surprise!

We received the surprise of our life on Monday, November 8... we were pregnant! No doctors, no medicine, nothing but us! We are thrilled, shocked, scared and overwhelmed. We wanted a third child, but this wasn't quite how thought it would go.

We had it all planned out, we would get pregnant in March/April (through the help of doctors), we would sell our house and buy and bigger one and I would go back to work in September. Then I would go out on maternity leave later in the year. Well, God had other plans. In the past we were NEVER able to conceive naturally, so clearly this was a miracle, a gift from the Lord.

So, how did we find out? Well, I had a feeling that something was different this month. I didn't feel quite right and yet it was familiar. So, I bought a home pregnancy test. Four days later I finally worked up the nerve to try it out. Two lines! I burst into tears. Luckily Benjamin and Jacob were napping so they didn't have to witness my crazy, emotional outburst. I instantly took a picture of the test and emailed it to Toby. I then waited anxiously by the phone for him to call. His shocked, but happy response was exactly was I needed to hear.

Once I talked to Toby and calmed down, I realized that I needed to call a doctor. I needed a blood test and prenatal vitamins. So, I called and went right over. They called me a few hours later and confirmed that I was pregnant and all was well. Yay!

When Toby got home from work we hugged, prayed and decided we had to tell our parents right away. We called them and invited them over for dinner. Before they arrived we put "Big Brother" shirts on both boys. Our moms arrived first and we waited for them to notice the shirts. Confusion, shock and joy came from them! Then the dads arrived, more confusion, shock and joy! We had a great night celebrating our surprise!