It has been a very quiet week. Kylie has been on a band trip so it has just been the two of us. . . I mean, three of us. ;) We have done a lot of napping and a lot of nothing else. We did get the Christmas decorations taken down and put away. However, I believe that our neighbors are going to disown us if we don’t get the tree out of the driveway.

So we listened to the heartbeat again last night. That was only the second time this week. (Johnathan is much better at finding the little booger than I am.) It was very strong and loud. Music to our ears. ;) Tator seemed to keep running from the device because Johnathan had to keep moving it. It was funny.

I am feeling much better these days. Not nearly as much nausea. . . but chicken is still off my list. I haven’t had any real cravings yet, but I am at least able to eat now. I haven’t quite felt that “boost of energy” you’re supposed to get in the second trimester. Either I’m not there yet or it has just been a really lazy week. . . or maybe both.

Christmas was great. Our church provided a devotional guide for us to do Christmas Eve. Johnathan, Kylie and I had some really good discussions over it. That helped us focus on the true celebration of Christmas.

On the less spiritual side, there were lots of presents and family. I had a fairly maternal Christmas. ;) First, I got all the clothes that my mom and Kylie made me try on back at Thanksgiving. Johnathan gave me the Willow Tree statue of a pregnant woman holding her big belly. It’s called “Cherish” and the card says “Awaiting a miracle”. Love it!! And I got a diamond pendant of a mother and child. Pretty fond of that too. I also got a gift card to Motherhood Maternity. . . that will come in very handy, very soon. And I got a pedicure spa. As a matter of fact, I used that today. Johnathan got a brief lesson for later on when I can’t reach my own feet. ;) Tator got some things too. He/she got a couple of blankets (baby stuff is so soft), a bib, a set of picture albums and a duck that will float in the tub and play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. Very sweet!

I think that does it for today. I’m going to lay on the couch and finish out my last lazy day. We need to start the nursery soon. That should provide a lot of fun stuff to talk about, especially since we aren’t going to find out if Tator is a he or a she…so stay tuned.

So as much as I love it when my husband posts, I thought it was important to share my side of the heartbeat story…sort of a he said/she said thing.

We got to the doctor’s office on time – 3:30 (note to self: go early. . . before they have time to get behind).   Around 4:15, Johnathan tells me that he has a conference call at 4:30.  Ummm. . . that threatened to only slightly interfere with my plans.  But he made it all better by saying that if it came to choosing between a conference call and listening to our child’s heartbeat, it would be no contest (yeah, he’s good).  So we were finally called back around 4:45 (yes, he was on the phone).  He continued talking while the nurse did her thing (blood pressure, urine test, etc).   He missed the fact that I have only gained one pound, and I don’t have HIV (whew. . . lol. . . standard test, I guess).  In fact, all of my blood tests came back with good results.  Finally, we are escorted to a room, and the nurse says she’s going to get the fetal heart monitor.  At that point, Johnathan announces to the people on the conference call that he won’t be with them much longer. . . “she’s gone to get the heart monitor.”  (I’m sure they were having fun with that bit of info.)

Then, Dr. Perales showed up with the device.  I was so excited.  If I had smiled any bigger, I think my face would have cracked.  Johnathan dropped the call at this point.  She had me in the room with the “cool chair” (don’t ask).  She reclined me and lifted me up.  Then, she put the thing on my belly and everything is a blur up until the point that we heard “whoosh, whoosh, whoosh”.  It was the most amazing thing.  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  I looked at Johnathan and at that point I think the reality hit us both.  This is real.  Really real.  There is a little life in there.  Living, growing. . . thriving.  Then, it hits me. . . “I need to breathe!”  I had been holding my breath.  So I gasped for air, and the monitor made an awful noise because my abdomen jumped.  While the doctor looked for the heartbeat again, Johnathan called our house phone to leave the beating heart on our answering machine (we listened to it with Kylie later that night).  We have ordered our very own fetal heart monitor.  Once that gets here, we will record it and put it on the site. . . for your listening pleasure.  ;)

Okay, so I had a really bad day yesterday.  My nausea started again on Wednesday, and yesterday it was awful.  Plus, I have been battling some sort of sinus thing.  It’s been great.  Well, we were supposed to go hear the heartbeat yesterday.  (did you notice the “supposed to”?)  Johnathan had the bright idea of calling first because of the first time my appointment was canceled.  It was actually a great idea because Dr. Perales had just been called away and wouldn’t be back.  I almost cried right there.  My heart was broken.  All the build up and no punch line.  It really stunk.  With extra time on my hands, I wandered around a few stores before meeting Johnathan for dinner.  My first words were, “I’m having a moment, and you are just going to have to let me have it.”  While I was reading the menu, everything sounding mucho gross, I just started crying (stupid hormones).  My precious husband wanted to hold my hand, but I couldn’t (I would have totally lost it).  I choked down some mushroom soup and called my mom to cry all the way home.  See, right now, aside from feeling sick and tired, I don’t really feel pregnant.  I wanted, needed, something tangible.  A heartbeat.  A picture.  Something.  Something to tell me that everything’s going well.  But I guess I’ll have to wait until Monday (rescheduled the appointment).  Maybe this is a blessing.  Sometimes, you can’t hear the heartbeat at 10 weeks because it’s not strong enough or the baby’s not close enough to the instrument.  Maybe the 4 days will make a difference.  In any event, God knows better than I do so I will just have to trust.

I think my belly doubled in size over the weekend.  Is that possible?  Especially this early?  The bigger pants that had extra space last week, are snug this week.  Ugh.  I weighed sometime recently. . . I’m so tired my days run together. . . and I was up 2 pounds.  Of course, that could have changed. . . one way or the other. . . since then (judging by my belly this morning, I’ll lay odds on upwards).  As far as feeling icky goes, the last few days have been much better.  If I was the “worrying sort”, that might have me concerned (now everyone that knows me will be calling to make sure I’m not worrying myself sick).  Most women would be elated, but I’m nervous.  I am having a little tummy trouble right this second, but that could be attributed to the leftover kung pao shrimp I had for lunch (sooner or later the spicy food has to go, right?).   The cramps have subsided.  I firmly believe it was a digestive thing.  Nothing to panic about (got that, Dad??).

Donna and Barry bought Johnathan a book called “My Boys Can Swim” (yes, he loved it. . . was there a doubt?).  All I wanted to know was did it explain to him that he needs to rub my feet more and not argue with me. . . even when I’m being unreasonable?  It doesn’t. . . but it’s still a cute book.

We bought the official, live Christmas tree last night (the artificial one is in the bonus room).  After riding home with the smell of tree sap on Johnathan’s hands, we went through the arduous task of getting it in the tree stand.  At the conclusion of those 30-45 minutes of my life that I will never get back, I said, “Well, that was an irritating process.”  And Kylie said, “Only for a pregnant woman.”  Smart aleck. 

Yeah, no puking yet, but sometimes I really want to.  I’m miserable. . . but it comes and goes.  It has to be the worst thing ever to sit in front of a plate of food, knowing that you have to eat, and really, really, really not wanting to.  Ginger ale and Preggie Pop Drops have become my best friends (Kylie bought me the drops as an early Christmas present).  I’m making shakes for breakfast with a protein mix.  That’s going pretty well so far.  So I’m getting at least half of the protein I am suppose to get on a daily basis (hey, I’ll take what I can get). 

I am really looking forward to getting this first trimester behind me. . . for many reasons.  First, the risk of miscarriage goes down.  Second, this nausea will end (at least I pray it does).  Third, I’m supposed to get some energy back.  I haven’t run in almost 2 weeks.  I’m starting to feel like a big slug (although I still haven’t gained weight. . . I fluctuate up occasionally about 1 pound but then come right back down).  I fell asleep on the couch last night around 8:30.  Having a really long weekend for Thanksgiving was great.  I slept a lot.  (I wonder if my boss would allow naps at work.) 

I guess the only symptom that has me a little baffled is cramps.  I have them almost daily now.  Sometimes they’re sharp, sometimes a dull ache.  I have read that this isn’t exactly rare so I’m not worried.  It’s just weird.  I haven’t had any spotting so it can’t be all that bad.  For now, it gives me a good reason to lie down and put my feet up.  ;)

Before I forget (because apparently I’m having issues with that right now), my mother took a little offense to my comment about wanting to “take her out” (read Protein and Pants if you need to catch up).  She wasn’t truly “offended”; she just asked me about it 3 times on the day she read it.  So sorry, mom.  I do love you, honest. . . even when my blood pressure shoots through the roof.  ;)

Okay, I think that’ll do for today.  By the way, someone tell my husband that if my memory is getting so bad, stop asking me what we bought people for Christmas last year.  It makes my head hurt.  ;)

So with enough salsa, I was able to eat the entire breakfast burrito this morning.  And at lunch, the mexican pizza from Taco Bell went smoothly.  Those bigger pants are going to come in handy.   ;)

Protein is disgusting.  All of it!  Steak, chicken, eggs. . . all nasty.  Well, they are good until I get about halfway through my meal, at which point they become absolutely repulsive.  On the upside (at least for the baby), I can’t stomach the thought of coffee anymore.  But what’s a pregnant woman to do when her body is rejecting things that the baby needs??  Sonic shakes seem to be going down pretty well.  My next endeavor involves going to GNC for protein mix and flax seed.  I’ll be making shakes at home I guess.  Four more weeks of this part, right??

Finally. . . the tight pants had to go.  Kylie was tired of me having to unbutton them on the way home.  My mom brought me 3 pairs that are just a bigger size.  Those should last for at least another week.  ;)  But then mom and Kylie ganged up on me.  The dragged me to a maternity store, kicking and screaming.  Okay, it wasn’t quite that dramatic, but I did complain a lot.  Eight weeks is not pregnant enought for maternity clothes!  The salesperson was laughing at us and wouldn’t get into it.  I was content to leave with the stretchy thing that she offered me to help me keep my unbuttoned pants up.  But the two females in my house wouldn’t stop there.  They started grabbing pants (I flat refused shirts. . . no need to start wearing those tents yet) and shoved me in a dressing room.  It was so overwhelming (except that little belly pad thingy so you can see what the clothes will look like months from now..that was fun).  They kept piling on the pants.  I must have tried on a hundred pair.  At one point, my mom told me to hurry.  (I think that is the closest I have been to wanting to take her out since my adolescence.)  I eventually had to suck it up and admit that there were some cute pants, even the adjustable ones that start with a yard of bunched up material to give you “room to grow”.  But what got me to agree to purchase them was the fact that I could actually breathe in them (amazing concept).  The salesperson was still stifling her laughter as she folded two bags of clothes.

The word “argh” comes to mind.  One thing stops and another starts.  God has an amazing sense of humor. . . unfortunately, I’m not laughing.  The blah feeling has been better for the last couple of days, not completely gone, but better.  Now, I have this nasty taste in my mouth.  I tried to describe it to Johnathan this morning.  It tastes like I just woke up and haven’t brushed my teeth yet, but now I’m thinking it’s more like I woke up with a hangover and haven’t brushed my teeth (or what I remember that tastes like. . . it’s been a long time).  So drinking my orange juice this morning was a mixture of that and orange juice, which, I have to tell you, was worse than orange juice and toothpaste.  It’s pretty gross.  How am I supposed to eat and sustain this miracle growing in my tummy, when nothing tastes good?  Maybe this is God’s way of making me appreciate the delivery more. . . .I’m not sure that it’s going to help. 

When I got to work this morning, I made oatmeal.  Just the smell told me that it wasn’t going to mix well with this rankness going on in my mouth.  It’s in the trash in the break room.  I was forced to go to McDonald’s and get a McGriddle and a hashbrown (it’s a hard life).  But now my teeth all feel like they’re wearing little sweaters (don’t complain, you chose to read this. . . take the good with the bad).  Good news is I won’t have to eat anything again for a couple more hours.  The bad news is the only lunch I have left in the freezer is salmon in dill sauce.  We’ll see how that goes.

Okay, so I made the call yesterday to ask my dentist to come in on his day off. I felt really bad about it, but apparently, it was a good idea. Is it bad when a dentist says “Yeah, this is a really sick tooth”? Well, if you think that’s bad, just wait.

At first, I’m laying there, he’s squirting water on my tooth, and all I can think is, “Man, if that feels funny, what is the drill going to feel like?” (Adrenaline rush comes to mind, but sounds a little mild) He had to deaden me a couple of times (silly me, I have opted out of the stuff that has the potential to cause birth defects). But eventually, he started on the root canal. Once the nerve was gone, it was smooth sailing. Oh…right up to the point where he said, “Angie, I was hoping we were going to be able to finish this today, but…” Yep, in the middle of a root canal. Apparently, the tooth canal was full of blood and…well, I’ll spare you the details. If he sealed it up right then, I would be in even more pain. So he packed it with medicine and put the temporary crown back on. I’ll continue the antibiotics and go back on Monday to finish it up. Now, I’m just sore (duh, I had a root canal…or at least most of one). But the right side of my face is no longer throbbing. Woo hoo!