12 Week Appointment

Today was our 12 week appointment. Jay has his last test before the first year of medical school ends on Friday and unfortunately a review session was scheduled for the same time as my appointment. Luckily, he got out early enough to come anyway and I was happy he could make it.

This appointment was longer than last time, especially as I had a whole list of questions to ask our midwife. I've been keeping a running list on my iPhone as things pop into my mind--I definitely recommend doing that. For example, I was VERY happy to learn she does not do routine episiotomies (in fact, she she has only ever done 3-4 when the baby was in distress and still tries to make it a last resort). If you don't know what an episiotomy is, google it, but NOT if you are at work or easily grossed out! I asked other questions about how she handles going overdue, labor, induction, who her backup is, and how the baby is treated immediately after birth. So far, I am very happy in our choice of provider. I never felt rushed, even though I asked questions for 20 minutes. I feel spoiled when I hear about people who barely get to see their OB during appointments! My goal is to go into labor understanding why/how everything is done and what my options are and our midwife is doing great at helping me accomplish this.

On the medical side of things, my blood pressure was normal and I apparently lost two pounds. I *highly* doubt that trend will continue, as I am starting to feel like a normal person again, but it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The best part--we heard the baby's heartbeat! It was 160 BPM. I was a little nervous because it seemed like it took a really long time to find, but the midwife and Jay both said they heard it quickly, it was just harder to lock on to. I guess that is one benefit of Jay chasing me around with a stethoscope all the time asking to hear my heartbeat! The midwife told us now that we have heard the heartbeat via doppler, our chances of miscarriage are extremely low--wahoo!

Finally, they took blood. I was NOT excited about this part as I really don't like needles, but actually, it wasn't bad at all. I looked away and Jay talked to my while it was going on--they take a good bit of blood, but it only took a minute or two. Jay took a Phlebotomy course a few years ago and it was interesting for him to watch. He said the lady was good, but if she had held the needle in, the insertion point wouldn't be quite so bruised now. (I twitch my arms a lot--drives my mom nuts)

My next appointment is at 16 weeks and should be pretty routine. I've already pre-registered for the delivery and we are going to sign up for a hospital tour soon. I also need to take a pre-baby bump picture soon. Nope--nothing yet, but we keep forgetting to document the "before" and it might be too late soon!

So...we're expecting.

Expecting what? Sleepless nights, loud noises, oh...and a baby!

If you missed the official Facebook announcement, Jay and I will (God-willing) be welcoming our first child into the world in early December. Right smack in the middle of my four sibling's "Annual November/December Birthday Death March to Christmas." Sorry Mom!

We found out the day after I ran my first half marathon. Thank goodness for digital pregnancy tests, otherwise Jay might not have believed me!

I had my first appointment at about 8 weeks, which also happened to be my 23rd birthday. I was blessed with the birthday gift of a clean bill of health (so far) and an image of our little guy/girl chilling out:

He/she sort of looks like an evil Pokemon at this point, but we are pretty sure he/she will get cuter. We even got to see our munchkin do a little wiggle and "saw" the heartbeat! My next appointment is in 2 weeks--it's the "fun" one where I get subjected to half a dozen blood tests.

In other news, pregnancy induced nausea/fatigue/sinus headaches suck! Jay and both got a nasty cold this past weekend, and I'm still recovering. The last 6 weeks or so have been pretty rough with us traveling every weekend on top of my many infirmities. Jay has been a real trooper. Except for the time he said my (sitting-in-rush-hour-traffic-feeling-like-I'm-about-to-barf-induced) moaning was "annoying."

I've finally started feeling better and it seems the light at the end of the tunnel is FINALLY closing in (unless it is a train) as I finally felt good enough to cook AND eat a homemade dinner tonight. Pretty rare occurrence lately!

I'm just about 11 weeks now and my clothes are starting to get tight in the belly--it's probably time to take the "Pre Baby Bump" picture. I think I'll wait until I don't look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, though!

Immortal Beloved

Last night, due to J's fondness for Netflicks Free Trials, I was able to watch a movie I've wanted to see for over 4 years--Immortal Beloved.

The first semester of my freshman year of college, I chose "Understanding Music" as my required "Understanding the Arts" type course. It turned out to be my favorite course...no small feat for someone who managed to stuff 150 hours of college credit (+ additional 30 from high school) into four years. It was the most interesting combination of history and music that absolutely fascinated me. I'm not a musician (and never will be--believe me, I've tried), but I've always loved the way a certain piece can make you feel, or become associated with an event, happy or sad. I think that is why I loved the scene of the movie our professor showed us--it represents perfectly to me where music can take you.

It doesn't hurt that I have a thing for starry nights. Nothing can humble me as much as a starry night--beautiful proof that me and my problems are so small and part of something so much greater than I can ever imagine. Too bad nights like these are far and few between in this part of Texas.

This was the scene that stuck with me for 4+ years, and I'm happy to report the rest of the movie was just as good. I even dropped a quick email to that teacher just to say thanks for her work 4 years ago--it's a large class of mostly apathetic freshman, so she appreciated it.

This April & May, I'm going to mark two items off my "Bucket List" when I see Handel's Messiah and the choral from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 at the Dallas Symphony--I cannot wait.

Our Newest Addition!

GOTCHA!

Life is so much better with a microwave, though--especially a clean one. At the rate we are going, we may never have to clean a microwave again!

Proper Behavior at Target

Will not be covered in this post. And most likely not ever on this blog...

One Sexy Mum

More on my front porch...

We share a duplex with an awesome neighbor--who happens to be our landlord. He bought the place out of foreclosure last year and has since redone the whole thing. He's really awesome about letting me make the place our own and so I pretty much have free reign to decorate and do a little gardening.

I used to absolutely HATE gardening...perhaps it had something to do with the endless hours of weeding I had to do growing up *cough* MOM *cough*...but then something strange happened 2 years ago.

I started to become my mother.

And now I garden, though minimally.

However, I did NOT inherit her green thumb. I'd like to blame a lot of my plant deaths on the hot Texas sun, but in reality, it probably had more to do with my erratic watering schedule. So, I've ended up with a lot of plants that look like this:

Zombie Mum: Half Dead, Half Alive

I do have one pride and joy, though: when I saw this at the store, I thought, "Damn, that is one sexy mum." And then I thought, "Did I just refer to a plant as sexy?" And then I posted it on Facebook, because that is how life is supposed to work.

Too sexy for a decorative pot.

Even the garden gnome hides in its majestic shadow...

Dude we have a blog.

Just like every other set of newlyweds out there. I'm hoping this isn't a waste of time, but the fact that I have relatives over 60 on Facebook (some newly acquired--hi grandparents-in-law!) makes me think I might get some mileage out of this thing.

Someday, we'll post cute pictures of our (not-yet-in-existence-don't-get-any-ideas)kids dressed as gnomes or dancing on the kitchen counter, but until then you'll have to be content with boring everyday updates from our lives.

Coming tomorrow: How we destroyed a microwave with an undercooked chicken and eyebrow wax!

Note #1: When I say "we" will update,  I mean me, M. J may or may not know this blog even exists.

Note #2: I'm using M & J for privacy reasons, at least until I come up with some cutesy blog pseudonym. Suggestions welcome.

Note #3: The design is a mess, I know. I'm working on it.