It's lunchtime on Saturday and I'm still in my PJ's. Matt's playing golf and I slept until 10. Life is good!
We had the 2nd Trimester Ultrasound on Wednesday and according to one of the pictures, my baby is the love-child from the rock group KISS. The ultra sound technician was most impressed with the image that screened so well we could see the baby's eye lenses even through the closed lids - she printed it out quickly and we tried not to look astonished! We are having an alien!
The other images she printed were great. One is a gorgeous sleeping baby. The other image shows the feet. You can count the ten toes! Everything measured in correctly at 19 weeks except for the legs which measure at 21 weeks! (I have long legs and both Matt and I are near to 6 ft).
We saw the heart, kidneys, stomach, lips, ears, eyes, legs, arms, spine etc. She took lots of measurements and assured us that the kidneys and bladder appeared to be working and that things seemed ok. The technicians are always pretty guarded though, I guess they're not doctors and can't tell you too much. I wished she would tell me my child was 100% perfect and healthy and would grow to solve the challenge of world peace, cure cancer and bring back into balance the environmental disasters we are facing. (I don't want much!!)
It was exciting to see the baby on screen but it felt surreal. It was like I was watching 60 minutes and they were showing an ultrasound. It didn't feel like my ultrasound, like our baby we were seeing!
So back to the doctor on Monday and he will have looked at the images and no doubt assure me that I have a world changing young person in-utero.
I told the kids at school this week. Here are two of my favourite responses:
From a 5 year old boy "You should name the baby Princess"
From a 5 year old girl "You know that baby's drinking your blood right now."
All the kids and parents were really happy for me and for Matt. I've been given plenty of hugs, some cards and gifts and lots of well-wishes already. There's much excitement and speculation about the name, gender and due date. Most touching are the Mums who ask if I'll return to work at this school and I've been told "We'd hate to lose you" many times.
This week we test drove a second hand Honda CRV. We are looking for something to replace Matt's ute that only seats two. I drive a little zippy Holden Astra Hatchback which we'll keep for me and the bub, but now we need a family car. The same day I drove home the Honda (a big SUV), a friend gave me her baby car seat and a baby bassinet. I drove home and nearly ran off the road when I looked in the rear vision mirror and saw a car seat and all the baby stuff. I thought "Holy Crap - I'm a soccer mum!"
I'm very tired this week. Kindergarten is a busy place - swimming carnival on Tuesday, Pirate Party on Thursday, Major Assembly on next Monday, Cross Country Carnival next week. Being pregnant has put a bit of a handbrake on my energy levels and by 3:30pm I'm ready for bed.
On Thursday, we visited a friend who has a five week old baby (her first). She was sitting on the lounge, breast feeding with the remote in her hand. And whilst I'm sure she'd had a tough day I was a little peeved when she looked at me, slumped on the lounge and said - "You seem a little stressed, are you worried about how it's all going to go?" And whilst I know she was well-intentioned, I felt like saying: "I have just dealt with 25 kids - helped them make pirate hats and pirate parrots and hosted a pirate party to celebrate the letter P. I did playground duty, tied up shoelaces, dealt with parents and searched through lost property for a hat with no name. This is not stress on my face, it's fatigue. How was Oprah today?" Hmmm - yes and maybe a touch hormonal as I reflect on it now!!
I hope you're all having a great weekend. If not, put your PJ's on. It helps.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
19 Weeks
First of all - I'm sorry Uncle Brad. We had visitors over Easter and it was hard to get a minute alone to post last weekend. Here's a lengthy update....
19 Weeks!
I can hardly believe it. Every morning I wake up and there’s that tiny milli-second before you even remember who you are. Then I become conscious and quickly check my tummy to feel if what I think I know is real!
I have gained 6kgs since conception and now weight 70kgs. My “bump” has completely popped out and I’m beginning to feel less like I’m fat and more like I’m pregnant! Yesterday Matt and I drove to Bateman’s Bay so I could buy some maternity clothes at K-Mart. It felt so good to put something on that actually fit. I’ve been wearing my pants and shorts with one button undone and occasionally, the zip pulled down as well!
The absolute most exciting thing is the movement. From 16 ½ weeks I’ve been feeling little kicks and rolls. The very first flutter I ever felt was at 14 weeks, but back then I couldn’t be sure. It was like a bird was flapping in my uterus! Now, I’m certain of what I feel. Sometimes I can (and Matthew can) even feel the little punch on the outside. It reminds me of popcorn – like a little piece popping up to touch the lid of the saucepan. I love it when I feel it – I get this goofy smile on my face and it’s nearly impossible not to touch my stomach and ask others – did you feel that? It’s like my own private mini-earth tremor and I can’t believe everyone around me doesn’t have the same sense of wonder on their faces when it happens!
I also feel it roll sometimes. The first time that happened I was laying in bed and I thought an alien was going to burst up out of my skin. It was the strangest sensation. Now that I’m more familiar with it, I can enjoy it more. After it rolls I can usually feel with my hands where it is. Sometimes I’m sure I can feel something harder and rounder like maybe a head or back and other times something just small and firm like maybe a leg.
Last week I had a scary moment. It was Thursday and I was at school. I had had some twingey pain under my right rib all day but I wasn’t in pain, just a little uncomfortable. My class were about to go to Library, it was lunch time and I popped down to the loo (toilet) only to find two tiny spots on my undies – reminiscent of the whole spotting-bleeding saga back at 7 weeks. I panicked in a full Lady MacBeth kind of way (out damn spot) thinking that something terrible was beginning.
I left my kids with the teacher librarian and called Matty and went straight to the doctors. They fitted me in straight away. For some reason, even though I was worried I didn’t have that deep worry that I had back at 7 weeks. I could feel the baby kicking me as I drove along and I knew somehow that everything was going to be okay. At the doctors, he immediately did an ultrasound scan and reassured me that everything was fine. We saw the four chambers of the heart – beating away healthily. There was a student doctor in the room too and I think she was more excited that me to see the heart chambers! I was just so relieved. The spotting did not continue (and I wonder now if it really was spotting) and the pain was put down to ligaments shifting, pressure on the bladder, changing shape etc. I have felt some twinges of pain since then, but nothing to worry about.
So today the big news is going in the school Newsletter. A kid at school (local mouth from the south) has already asked me if I’m pregnant and I’m sure some of the mothers are looking at me knowingly!!
We’ve started gathering up all the bits and pieces people are lending us and giving us – cradle, blankets, clothes, bootees and so on. It is a lovely and exciting time. Last weekend I started crotcheting a baby rug. The child may be 21 before it’s completed, but it’s the thought that counts!!
On Wednesday we’re having a long ultrasound that takes about an hour. It is done at Radiology and I can’t wait. People have told me the medical imaging is amazing. But, then again, this whole experience is amazing. With each passing day I’m becoming more and more excited.
19 Weeks!
I can hardly believe it. Every morning I wake up and there’s that tiny milli-second before you even remember who you are. Then I become conscious and quickly check my tummy to feel if what I think I know is real!
I have gained 6kgs since conception and now weight 70kgs. My “bump” has completely popped out and I’m beginning to feel less like I’m fat and more like I’m pregnant! Yesterday Matt and I drove to Bateman’s Bay so I could buy some maternity clothes at K-Mart. It felt so good to put something on that actually fit. I’ve been wearing my pants and shorts with one button undone and occasionally, the zip pulled down as well!
The absolute most exciting thing is the movement. From 16 ½ weeks I’ve been feeling little kicks and rolls. The very first flutter I ever felt was at 14 weeks, but back then I couldn’t be sure. It was like a bird was flapping in my uterus! Now, I’m certain of what I feel. Sometimes I can (and Matthew can) even feel the little punch on the outside. It reminds me of popcorn – like a little piece popping up to touch the lid of the saucepan. I love it when I feel it – I get this goofy smile on my face and it’s nearly impossible not to touch my stomach and ask others – did you feel that? It’s like my own private mini-earth tremor and I can’t believe everyone around me doesn’t have the same sense of wonder on their faces when it happens!
I also feel it roll sometimes. The first time that happened I was laying in bed and I thought an alien was going to burst up out of my skin. It was the strangest sensation. Now that I’m more familiar with it, I can enjoy it more. After it rolls I can usually feel with my hands where it is. Sometimes I’m sure I can feel something harder and rounder like maybe a head or back and other times something just small and firm like maybe a leg.
Last week I had a scary moment. It was Thursday and I was at school. I had had some twingey pain under my right rib all day but I wasn’t in pain, just a little uncomfortable. My class were about to go to Library, it was lunch time and I popped down to the loo (toilet) only to find two tiny spots on my undies – reminiscent of the whole spotting-bleeding saga back at 7 weeks. I panicked in a full Lady MacBeth kind of way (out damn spot) thinking that something terrible was beginning.
I left my kids with the teacher librarian and called Matty and went straight to the doctors. They fitted me in straight away. For some reason, even though I was worried I didn’t have that deep worry that I had back at 7 weeks. I could feel the baby kicking me as I drove along and I knew somehow that everything was going to be okay. At the doctors, he immediately did an ultrasound scan and reassured me that everything was fine. We saw the four chambers of the heart – beating away healthily. There was a student doctor in the room too and I think she was more excited that me to see the heart chambers! I was just so relieved. The spotting did not continue (and I wonder now if it really was spotting) and the pain was put down to ligaments shifting, pressure on the bladder, changing shape etc. I have felt some twinges of pain since then, but nothing to worry about.
So today the big news is going in the school Newsletter. A kid at school (local mouth from the south) has already asked me if I’m pregnant and I’m sure some of the mothers are looking at me knowingly!!
We’ve started gathering up all the bits and pieces people are lending us and giving us – cradle, blankets, clothes, bootees and so on. It is a lovely and exciting time. Last weekend I started crotcheting a baby rug. The child may be 21 before it’s completed, but it’s the thought that counts!!
On Wednesday we’re having a long ultrasound that takes about an hour. It is done at Radiology and I can’t wait. People have told me the medical imaging is amazing. But, then again, this whole experience is amazing. With each passing day I’m becoming more and more excited.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Nearly 17 weeks
WOW - that last post was so sad. I've come a long way in just a few days!
I was hoping to post an exciting 16 week update, but my doctor didn't do the scan I was expecting - so stay tuned for the 2nd of April. That's when I'll have the big scan. They check the heart, kidneys etc. I don't care. I just want to see the little critter on the screen!
I've been feeling pretty rough, but the last two days I seem to have "come good" (gee I'm sounding Aussie tonight!). Boobs are still growing and doing weird things (details not necessary), no pain or bleeding from any of the other bits (thumbs up), occasional debilitating headaches and the odd morning of heaving up bile.
Last night I dreamt (you'll love this Brad) that I had twin...... puppies!! Oh they were so cute and their little eyes weren't open and they were making that smoochy noise. And the love I felt.... oh - wow!! Yes I know, I know - stop laughing. But it was a nice dream, in a strange canine kind of way.
Other than that I feel fat (and not cute basket ball in the tummy fat but blobby wobbly tummy, rolls on rolls kind of fat). I've been madly crunching numbers, looking at our finances and trying to work out my work situation for next year. I don't want to tell the kids and parents at school until I can answer their questions about my arrangements for next year. I think some Mums are already suspiscious... the big tum's a dead give away!
More soon.
I was hoping to post an exciting 16 week update, but my doctor didn't do the scan I was expecting - so stay tuned for the 2nd of April. That's when I'll have the big scan. They check the heart, kidneys etc. I don't care. I just want to see the little critter on the screen!
I've been feeling pretty rough, but the last two days I seem to have "come good" (gee I'm sounding Aussie tonight!). Boobs are still growing and doing weird things (details not necessary), no pain or bleeding from any of the other bits (thumbs up), occasional debilitating headaches and the odd morning of heaving up bile.
Last night I dreamt (you'll love this Brad) that I had twin...... puppies!! Oh they were so cute and their little eyes weren't open and they were making that smoochy noise. And the love I felt.... oh - wow!! Yes I know, I know - stop laughing. But it was a nice dream, in a strange canine kind of way.
Other than that I feel fat (and not cute basket ball in the tummy fat but blobby wobbly tummy, rolls on rolls kind of fat). I've been madly crunching numbers, looking at our finances and trying to work out my work situation for next year. I don't want to tell the kids and parents at school until I can answer their questions about my arrangements for next year. I think some Mums are already suspiscious... the big tum's a dead give away!
More soon.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
15 Weeks
Not much tonight.
I've had quite an emotional weekend, travelling up to Evans Head to see my neice and nephew for my Neice's 21st birthday. Emotional because these are my brother's children - he suicided 17 years ago, when they were very young. They have grown to be such beautiful people. I am proud of them. They are both so excited about my baby.
Sometimes there are no words.
I've had quite an emotional weekend, travelling up to Evans Head to see my neice and nephew for my Neice's 21st birthday. Emotional because these are my brother's children - he suicided 17 years ago, when they were very young. They have grown to be such beautiful people. I am proud of them. They are both so excited about my baby.
Sometimes there are no words.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
14 Weeks
Hello World - I'm back.
I hadn't anticipated how strange things would be once we went "public" with our news. There's been much joy and celebration. My Mother-In-Law (think Maree from Everybody Loves Raymond) said "Well we've been waiting a long time for this." I tried not to look took scathing as I replied "You have, I haven't."
But overwhelmingly the feeling is one of happiness and excitement. People tell me what a great Mum I will be and I try hard not to look astonished (because truly I haven't really thought that far ahead, not in great detail, just to the point of getting it out really!).
The best response was from my colleagues who I told at about one mintue to nine before the bell rang for lessons to start. By 11am, there was a full morning tea for me including flowers and gifts! They are such lovely people. All of them are parents, some grandparents, and yet they all give me the same advice - don't listen to any advice!
Matthew and I have started a list of names and we even bought a little baby outfit yesterday! Cluck cluck cluck! I vacilate between extreme happiness and extreme saddness. I am either anxious or relaxed. I can't seem to settle on a happy medium, so today I've rewarded myself with a day off to chill out. Bloody hormones.
A big BIG thank you to all the excited well-wishers who left me happy and encouraging messages. I'm not sure about projectile lactation and I'm not sure I really want to know... but thanks again!
A cyber hug to my Uncle Brad who I know is thinking of me. I've been thinking of him too and imagining his bitchy reply to my local shop owner who asked me outright if I was preganant because "You look like you've put on a lot of weight!"
More again soon. Assume no news is good news.
I hadn't anticipated how strange things would be once we went "public" with our news. There's been much joy and celebration. My Mother-In-Law (think Maree from Everybody Loves Raymond) said "Well we've been waiting a long time for this." I tried not to look took scathing as I replied "You have, I haven't."
But overwhelmingly the feeling is one of happiness and excitement. People tell me what a great Mum I will be and I try hard not to look astonished (because truly I haven't really thought that far ahead, not in great detail, just to the point of getting it out really!).
The best response was from my colleagues who I told at about one mintue to nine before the bell rang for lessons to start. By 11am, there was a full morning tea for me including flowers and gifts! They are such lovely people. All of them are parents, some grandparents, and yet they all give me the same advice - don't listen to any advice!
Matthew and I have started a list of names and we even bought a little baby outfit yesterday! Cluck cluck cluck! I vacilate between extreme happiness and extreme saddness. I am either anxious or relaxed. I can't seem to settle on a happy medium, so today I've rewarded myself with a day off to chill out. Bloody hormones.
A big BIG thank you to all the excited well-wishers who left me happy and encouraging messages. I'm not sure about projectile lactation and I'm not sure I really want to know... but thanks again!
A cyber hug to my Uncle Brad who I know is thinking of me. I've been thinking of him too and imagining his bitchy reply to my local shop owner who asked me outright if I was preganant because "You look like you've put on a lot of weight!"
More again soon. Assume no news is good news.
Monday, February 11, 2008
12 Weeks
Taaaa Dum!
I did it! 12 weeks and an ultrasound today. A little babe floating and waving and wriggling inside me. No wonder I'm tired!
I feel truly special.
ps Sorry Uncle Brad I just... kinda got busy. I wanted to post but also wanted to wait. I won't leave it so long next time. Thank you for just being you.
I did it! 12 weeks and an ultrasound today. A little babe floating and waving and wriggling inside me. No wonder I'm tired!
I feel truly special.
ps Sorry Uncle Brad I just... kinda got busy. I wanted to post but also wanted to wait. I won't leave it so long next time. Thank you for just being you.
Friday, February 1, 2008
11 Weeks
Ok here's how I feel at 11 weeks pregnant.
*Boobs aren't that sore any more, just at random times.
*Feel a bit sick in the mornings and occasionally have a gagging fit which includes terrible retching noises but fortunately, no vomit.
*I can smell anything. Something in the pantry smells odd, but I can't track it down. Other times, I open the cupboard and it smells fine.
*Not really fussed about any food (and I'm usually a foodie).
*Lazy - but that's pretty close to my normal behaviour/feeling.
*Nervous, particularly when going to the toilet.
*I now have veins on my boobs and hips that are kind of fascinating but also a bit horrifying.
*I can become ferocious, like VERY BAD PMS. Also weepy and I don't like reading or hearing anything sad - especially related to babies, motherhood, pregnancy etc etc etc. Super sensitive.
*Frustrated. I'd like to be able to have another ultrasound and check eevrything's ok and I'd like to tell everyone, but I also want to wait until I'm at 12 weeks. My next Drs Apptmt is on the 11th of Feb. We'll tell husband's parents, his sister, my sisters & friends after the 16th.
*I have the most vivid and whacked out dreams. I've had lots of sexual dreams, like a threesome and sex with an old man who was a truckie (? I know???). I dream about confronting people I dislike and all kinds of other weird stuff. It's like I'm on a trip every night.
*A tiny part of me is bursting with hope. I can see myself holding a little one and feeling blissfully happy. I can imagine a child running up to my husband and saying "Daddy!" I have a vision of a child growing up to become someone worthwhile and a sense within myself that I created that wonderful person.
*Boobs aren't that sore any more, just at random times.
*Feel a bit sick in the mornings and occasionally have a gagging fit which includes terrible retching noises but fortunately, no vomit.
*I can smell anything. Something in the pantry smells odd, but I can't track it down. Other times, I open the cupboard and it smells fine.
*Not really fussed about any food (and I'm usually a foodie).
*Lazy - but that's pretty close to my normal behaviour/feeling.
*Nervous, particularly when going to the toilet.
*I now have veins on my boobs and hips that are kind of fascinating but also a bit horrifying.
*I can become ferocious, like VERY BAD PMS. Also weepy and I don't like reading or hearing anything sad - especially related to babies, motherhood, pregnancy etc etc etc. Super sensitive.
*Frustrated. I'd like to be able to have another ultrasound and check eevrything's ok and I'd like to tell everyone, but I also want to wait until I'm at 12 weeks. My next Drs Apptmt is on the 11th of Feb. We'll tell husband's parents, his sister, my sisters & friends after the 16th.
*I have the most vivid and whacked out dreams. I've had lots of sexual dreams, like a threesome and sex with an old man who was a truckie (? I know???). I dream about confronting people I dislike and all kinds of other weird stuff. It's like I'm on a trip every night.
*A tiny part of me is bursting with hope. I can see myself holding a little one and feeling blissfully happy. I can imagine a child running up to my husband and saying "Daddy!" I have a vision of a child growing up to become someone worthwhile and a sense within myself that I created that wonderful person.
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