13 Weeks

Here I am at my desk!

Bebs: Baby is the size of a shrimp this week...which is probably fitting because I've been craving seafood lately! This past week I've had crab cakes, crab legs, crab dip, shrimp and lobster bisque...oh my! :) Bebs now has fingerprints on the tips of his/her tiny fingertips! Veins and organs are also clearly visible through his/her thin layer of skin. Bebs' head makes up just a third of his/her body size now. Bebs is 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce. I still don't believe I've felt any definite movement yet, but I can tell something is going on in there!

What's going on in there?

 Hebs:  I felt pretty sick this week. I stayed home from work on Monday due to some morning sickness issues and an intense migraine. Hubs and I went to the beach over the weekend with my family and I wonder if I got over-heated or dehydrated? So I spent most of my time Monday in the bathroom or on the couch. I also called the chiropractor a few times (with no answer) to see if I could get in to get adjusted to help relieve my headache. I am going to call back later this week and hopefully get through so I can make an appointment. I've been having headaches everyday and Tylenol just isn't doing it for me, and I am unable to take anything stronger.

Aside from feeling a bit sick, Hubs and I had a great time at the beach with my family! We played games under the "E-Z Up," got a few slices at "Macko's," and enjoyed time on the beach, boardwalk, and mini-golf!

Sequential Screening, Part 1: July 10

Bebs had a photoshoot last week! We went to the hospital to the Maternal Fetal Medicine department to do the first part of our two-part sequential screening. A sequential screening is an ultrasound and bloodwork that is done in your first and second trimesters to determine if there is a chance your baby may have a genetic disorder, such as Down's Syndrom or Trisomy 18. The ultrasound tech measures the thickness of the baby's neck; the more fluid in the neck, the higher the chance of the baby having an abnormality. The ultrasound results, as well as bloodwork from the Mommy, are then sent to a lab to be analyzed.

Bebs at 11 weeks 6 days. Big difference than the first ultrasound!

The ultrasound tech and the doctor both said that everything with the Bebs was looking great! S/he was SO incredibly wiggly in there! S/he kept moving around, kicking its tiny legs, and kept trying to cover his/her eyes with his/her hands! It was really adorable. We got to hear the heartbeat again--165 beats per minute--which the tech told us was normal. I then had to have one vial of blood taken to be tested. Thankfully, I didn't pass out! I may be getting better at this! :)


"Hi Mommy and Daddy! I'm doing ok in here!"
(Hubs's favorite picture)

OB/GYN Check-up: July 12

My visit to the doctor last week was pretty uneventful. They took my weight and blood pressure (both normal) and said the ultrasound from the sequential screening looked good! The doctor also used a doppler to listen to the baby's heartbeat. It took her awhile to find it, since the baby kept squirming around and moving too much for her to get an accurate read. Once she found it, we heard the heartbeat loud and clear. I love hearing that sound!

Only 51 days until we find out if we're having a boy or a girl!! But, who's counting? ;-)

**Big thank you to Jeff, the photography guru, for editing the ultrasound pictures!**

11 weeks

I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July! I'll post some pictures next week from our family picnic at my Uncle Mark's house. (No "belly" pic this week, but I'll definitely have one next week!)

Bebs: The baby is the size of a fig now; s/he's just over 1 1/2 inches long and is now almost fully formed! Hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under his/her gums, and some of his/her bones are beginning to harden. Bebs is already busy kicking and stretching, though, unfortunately I still can't feel it.

Fig!

Hebs: This week was a little rougher than last week, unfortunately. All of my issues seem to stem from food: if I don't eat enough, if I eat too much, if I look at something that's unappetizing...I feel sick. There are a few things that I can still eat no problem--pickles, cheese and crackers. Mmm. Haha. Eating meat has been a challenge, but I'm trying to just suck it up and eat it for the sake of Bebs. It's sad, but pretty much the only foods that sound appetizing to me lately are anything that's been processed or pizza. I could probably eat pizza or processed macaroni and cheese for every single meal now...with a side of pickles!

What's going on in there?

Hubs: Dexter and Hubs have been quite active lately! Hubs has taken up golf and seems to really enjoy it! He has been using one set of clubs from my brother and pretty much golfing once a week. He's been out on the golf course with friends, at the driving range, and even hitting balls in our backyard...which Dex then loves to chase and attempt to gnaw on. I'm really happy that he's found a new hobby that gets him outside!

Dex retrieving a ball for Daddy. Getting him to give it back is another story!

Hubs chipping and putting on Father's Day

Our little pug also has a new hobby--swimming! Hubs took Dex in the pool at my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Bill's house. Watching him "doggy paddle" around the pool was the cutest thing ever! At first he didn't seem to like it, but he was able to swim back and forth between me and Jason a few times! Playing with Dexter in the pool just made me all the more anxious to have a baby to take in the water!

Dexy-doo doggy paddling!

Watch out Michael Phelps!

...and baby makes three

...and baby makes three





We have an announcement to make...Hebs and Hubs are having a baby!!! To say we are thrilled, or excited, or "over the moon," is an understatement. There are no words for the sheer joy we are feeling right now. We've been on cloud nine since May 15, 2012, the day we found out that our world and our life together was expanding.

I decided that it would be fun (ha!) to keep track of my pregnancy journey through my blog. Don't worry, there will still be plenty of posts about our mischievious pug, Dexter, and he will still write his own posts, too. (I would love to hear what he thinks about having a baby in the house!) ;-)

My goal is to write at least one post per week, hopefully every Wednesday, and accompany it with a picture of my growing bump!

I just have one request of you, the three people who read this, if you have a comment/suggestion/tidbit, could you leave it as a comment on here? It'd just be easier for me to keep track of. I'd greatly appreciate it! :)

Check back later this week, as I will post my first "Pregnancy Journey" update on Wednesday, when I will be 10 weeks along.

The baby's due date is January 23, 2013!

26 before 27

So this post may be a month late, but I stumbled across an amazing blog the other day and got inspired for this post....

26 Things to do Before I Turn 27

1. stress less, smile more
2. yoga once a week
3. make homemade Christmas gifts
4. host Summer deck parties with best friends
5. train Dexter to STOP peeing on our furniture
6. watch every James Bond movie with my husband
7. be more productive at work
8. STOP the gossip
9. stay in better touch with my brother, who lives across the country
10. judge less, accept more
11. show my parents how much I appreciate them
12. paint and decorate the downstairs bathroom
13. tell people how I truly feel
14. gamble in Las Vegas
15. learn to sew on a sewing machine
16. eat strictly Paleo for one month
17. read the manual and get better acquainted with my camera
18. clean out and organize our scary basement
19. let my hair grow out
20. spend less, save more
21. redesign my blog...and blog more!
22. do a real girl's get-away weekend--spa, hotel, dressing up, drinks--the full works!
23. start writing a children's book
24. paint and create art again
25. tell the Hubs one thing I love about him every day
26. get pregnant ;-)

I know this list isn't crazy or necessarily exciting, and is by no means my "bucket list"...but they are all real goals that I would like to reach while I'm 26. And that makes me happy.

Original idea found on this awesome blog.

two years

Two years ago today I'm proud and happy to say that I married my best friend.

Love.

I would choose you over and over again. You love me in a way no one else could.

"I'm Yours" through and through.

gluten?

I've decided to try a new approach. With my next visit with Dr. Lacey coming up on Jan. 23, I figured I'd spend this upcoming weekend attempting a gluten-free diet in addition to the food and stress journal I started on Monday.

From the research I've done on gluten-free diets, while difficult, it is definitely something I think I can handle. When Hubs and I did our Paleo diet over the summer that seemed more strict. With the gluten-free diet I'll be able to eat some grains in addition to the food I ate while doing Paleo. However, those grains need to be gluten-free, which can be difficult to find.

I stopped at the grocery store last night to pick up some gluten-free pasta, and after scouring the shelves in the pasta aisle for 10 minutes, I realized everything I was going to need was going to be in the miniscule gluten-free section of the store. Five tiny little shelves, no wider than I am, filled with gluten-free products that I had no idea if they would be good or not. I bought some penne and a bag of gluten-free crackers (hey, I need a snack to try too!). The penne was ok. It would have been better if I didn't cook it as long. But in terms of taste, it tasted like regular, ol' noodles. Less cooking time would have made it taste more like the right consistency, I think.

I've been finding some gluten-free cooking blogs, have been emailing an old friend from high school for tips on a gluten-free diet, and my wonderful mom bought me some gluten-free cookbooks that I am eager to try. :)

I'll keep you posted how things are going!

hebs' health update

I got my bloodwork results back from my gastro office. Everything was "within normal limits," which I am super happy about! No thyroid issues here! :) I guess I was just made to be short. :)

However, that most likely means I have an IBD. I still obviously have to go through both procedures for the doctors to know for sure what it is and hopefully they can determine what is causing my issues. An IBD is a chronic autoimmune disease, but there are medications and dietary changes you can make to help you control it. So that will be good to know. Because this whole going to the bathroom 24/7 is getting really old. Also, there is a sharp jabbing pain that keeps happening in my lower abdomin off and on.

Anywho.....

Hubs and I had a great weekend playing outside in the leaves with Dexter and at a Halloween party with friends! :) Those posts will be coming up later this week.

Looking forward to this busy weekend coming up, too! Hubs' older brother and sister-in-law are staying with us this, I'm celebrating my favorite aunt's birthday on Friday night with a girl's night in, crafting Christmas presents on Saturday with Dexter's Aunt Heather, confirmation class reunion on Sunday, followed by celebrating Hubs' younger brother's birthday. Hopefully I can keep up with my schedule! :)

LOVING this Fall weather, too! Definitely puts me in a productive, feel-good mood.

third time's a charm

This is actually a post written by Hebs today. Dexter needed the day off to rest up for his wellness vet appointment tonight. :)

This was not supposed to be a blog addressing all of the health concerns of my pug and myself, but it seems like that's what it is turning into lately...

Just wanted to give you guys an update on what's going on with me.

I met with a new gastroenterologist yesterday morning, and wow is she amazing! What a wonderful doctor--incredibly thorough! I addressed all of the issues I've been having (bathroom issues, blood, lower abdomin pain, inability to gain weight) and she outlined a course of action. I'm going to have bloodwork done (ugh! needles!) to test me for Hyperactive Thyroid, Celiac's disease, Anemia, and to see how my blood clots. Next month I will be having my third colonoscopy and first endoscopy. Slightly freaking out about going through all this again. And then freaking out slightly more about the endoscopy part because I haven't had that done that before.

My doctor is hopeful we will figure out what is causing my problems and can determine what medications may help and what foods I may be allergic to. They will be looking at my colon, large intestine, small intestine, and even my esophagaus. Hopefully they will find the knife that feels like its been floating through my intestines!

My doctor thinks I may have an IBD, an irritable bowel disorder (not to be confused with IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, which I was diagnosed with after colonoscopy #2). An IBD (diseases like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease) is an autoimmune disease. IBS is more related to outside influences, such as diet and stress (just to name a few causes). She thinks I may have a form of Ulcerative Colitis, coupled with an overactive thyroid. The thyroid issue comes in to play since I haven't grown in height and weight since middle school age, I have lost weight recently and haven't been able to gain it back, and have had some anxiety and feeling "jittery" for no reason.

I don't know who is reading this other than my friends and family, but if you are having any sort of "bathroom issues" I urge you to consult your doctor. It may be embarassing to talk about and to have any sort of procedures done, but if it will answer your problems in the long run, it is completely worth it! Trust me. I am the shyest person ever (I wouldn't even tell some people the name of this blog because I am too embarassed to have them read my ramblings) and was able to go to not one, not two, but THREE doctors about this over the course of 6 years. You can do it. :)