End of First Trimester

Week 12, last week of the first trimester. I don't really feel any different, except I'm having some kind a sciatic nerve issue in my lower back and left cheek. Makes sitting uncomfortable, but I'm working through it. I am still tired, though I do manage to take Tess for her daily walk to the park and around the block. If I don't, she's more hyper than usual for the rest of the night. So, for both our sanities, I walk her, so I can rest.

The baby bible says the fetus is 2 1/2 inches long and weighs about 1/2 an ounce at this point. I haven't gained any weight yet, but I feel more gushy and soft. I think due to the constipation and bloating that have become the norm in my belly, it does protrude, but I've always had a Buddha belly so no change there.

Next week Wednesday it's back to the Dr. This time for genetic screening. Due to being over 35, I have a higher risk for Down Syndrome and other genetic issues. It's precautionary and voluntary, but my Midwife says it's a good idea. The bonus is, we get to see an ultrasound earlier than we thought. Regularly we would have to wait until week 20 for the 1st ultrasound, but this genetic screen requires an ultrasound, so we get to see it 7 weeks early. There will be pictures, I already asked :) But you know how those grainy, black and white things look. See that black blob that looks like a spider? Yeah, that's my kid.

Beto's coming with me, I'm lucky he's so into all this stuff. I think he's read more of the baby bible than I have. He will start posting too, he's more excitable than I am, so I'm looking forward to what he has to say on here.

Spilled da beans !

Last Wednesday, I had my first appointment with the Midwife. These are the nurse people that take care of the pregnant folks. There was good measure of poking and proding, lots of blah, blah, blahing, short version - everything is as it should be. I'm am progressing as expected. The best part of the hour long appointment came at the very end. We got to hear the heartbeat with some kind of dopler contraption. The Midwife lady squirted some goo on my lower belly, (no, I'm not showing yet) and ran this dopler thing over the goo. At first she cautioned us that we might not be able to hear anything. She found my heartbeat, which was not too exciting and then she moved the thing over to the left side and we heard it! Thump, thump. Oooo, it was fast 160 bpm.
But as soon as she found it, it went away :( The fetus ran away, it had enough of us invading its space.
We had made plans with my Mom to have dinner after the appointment. I had to lie to her to start with, so she wouldn't be suspicious as to why both Beto and I were in Fremont together. So I made up some work related thing, she went with it.
I had an idea to "spill da beans" with some kind of baby gift. I was thinking a bib or something with "gramma" on it. We finally found a cute little outfit.
We got to the restaurant, gift bag in tow, met Mom and was seated. I had already decided that Beto was the one to tell her, he's much better with the story telling, I was sure he'd say something clever. So he started with you want the good news or the bad news? She said bad. He said, looks like there will be a lot of hard work ahead and you'll be tired. The good news...he handed her the gift bag. She didn't even take the thing out of the bag and all hell broke loose. She was crying and hoopin' and hollerin'. Yes, people were staring. There was not a person in that restaurant that didn't know she was going to be a gramma!! All the while, I kept eating my salad. I knew she would lose her mind and I was right. She immediately called Aunt Nancy and told her. I don't think I've ever seen my Mom smile so much, honestly. So it's out there, Mom knows.
Now...how do I tell my Dad and brothers?

The Current Grand"babies" situation

These are the grand babies my Mom curently has. The Lab is Puddy, that's my brother's pup.
The Greyhound is Cowboy, that's my sister's.
And the sweet-faced Border Collie is Tess. She is my baby and she is going to be really jealous when she has to share me.
Last but not least, my brother's talking orange kitty, Holden.

Week 11 - Heartbeat

This Wednesday I have my first real Dr. appointment. I am told this will be the longest appointment as we will cover both families histories/ailments, choose my Ob/Gyn, decide which tests my insurance will cover and the most exciting part, we get to hear the heartbeat. Just the sound for now, we don't get to see the ultrasound picture until week 20. I'm hoping this will help my brain realize that this is real.

I am also contemplating telling my Mom on this day. My sister is urging me to do this sooner than later. But I let the Dr. scare me into keeping the secret until the 12th week. I told Beto he has to tell her with me and he's fine with it. He's even anxious to do it. He already told his Mom, even though I cautioned him on the week 12 milestone, but since she lives in Los Angeles and he doesn't see her as often, he told her last time he was there with her. She thinks I'm crazy for worrying and is mad at the Dr. for trying to scare me.

My Mom, I fear will lose her mind. As with all expectant Grandma's, I'm sure they are excited, but I really can't stress the level as to how badly she wants grand-babies. It's a lot of pressure to put on one little fetus. She will be over-the-moon.
Stand by with some smelling salts and/or paddles. -CLEAR-

Week 10 - Symptoms & Feelings

So I am in week 10 and according to the baby bible, the FETUS is the size of a prune. It has officially graduated from embryo to fetus. I have the same symptoms every day, all day since the day I found out - fatigue and sore boobies.

The more I talk about it, the more real it seems, but I am still weary of the 12 week milestone. For the Dr. says I must pass that to decrease the chance of losing it. I haven't had any bizarre cravings, althought one day last week I simply couldn't stop eating. I was a bottomless pit. I am doing my best to eat healthy because of my age, I can get gestational diabetes. So, I am maintaining my food journal and trying to be good. I am still riding my bike and will do so until the Dr. tells me no. I want to find a pregger yoga class. I took a few classes before and enjoyed it. It's a good workout but you don't feel like your working out. It's very calm and fluid, your muscles are working but your brain is relaxed.

Mood today: optimistic

Oh Crap! Is this really happening?

The day is September 16th, Mexican Independence Day and I'm tired, really tired and achey. Can I be coming down with something? Probably. But as I sit in my cube wondering how it is that I've gotten sick while it's 90 degrees outside, I have a revelation. My monthly flow has not arrived. I break out the calendar and start counting days. Oh Crap! Is this really happening?

I leave work and am headed to grocery store as usual for the nightly din-din and decide to stop in the "lady aisle". I find a kit, seems easy enough, grab some pork chops for dinner and I'm off. Straight to the bathroom to pee on a stick. Only 60 seconds for results to appear. One pink line=not pregnant, two pink lines=pregnant. 60 seconds? What do I do for last 60 seconds of my free life? Go let the dog in.

I return to the bathroom to find two very pink lines staring back at me. I literally am sitting on the bathroom floor, oh crap! I think I cried a few tears, I can't remember. I get up and call the Doctor.
Jen: "I need to see the Doctor, I just saw two pink lines."
Appointment Lady: "Congrats"
Jen: "Uh, thanks?"
Appointment Lady: "Yes of course, come in tomorrow"
Jen: "OK, thanks, bye."

Beto gets home and I have no idea how to tell him. Should I surprise him with a gift? Should I kick him in the balls? What I did do was drag him by the arm into the bathroom and shove the pee stick into his hands with something like a grunt, here look. All I can remember saying is, "I'm scared" He wants be thrilled but sees terror in my eyes and isn't sure how to react. He, unlike undecided me, has wanted this for a long time. I just never thought it would happen. But it has, is and I'm still scared.