Jayla Update

Jayla's now 3 months 10 days old. Time has sure flown by.
She's rolling over but really dislikes being on her belly for too long. We're practicing though. I think she wanna walks before she crawls!! She loves to stand and sit up. Her favorite place to be is in the new exersaucer.
She coo's and giggles. She loves to laugh at you laughing!! It's so funny!!
She's grown so much... at her last doctor's appointment she was 12lb 9oz I'm sure she's grown more since then.

Here are some of her Newborn photo's








Our First Family photo


Here are some of her 3 month pictures. I had a hard time picking my favorites to post here but here are a few.


We had a time trying to get her to smile for the photo shoot.



She's a beautiful healthy little girl. She's brings a joy like no other to our lives. We feel so blessed everyday to share this life with her. Glad we can share our blessing with you.

With love,

Latest Update

Yes it's been a while since my last posting...this is gonna be a long one!!

Well I've been so busy. I wish I could say I was busy with baby stuff, however work has been taking a great deal of my time lately. This being the end of the 1st quarter with the EPA's new reporting methods and new rules, we've been very, very busy. I've been working nearly 6 or 7 8-10 hour days per week and I still can't seem to catch up. Luckily the end of the month is in the near future...so I keep my fingers crossed we'll get it all done and I'll survive!!

Troy's been busy with the running his business, and as with most small business it has it up and down days but overall he's doing very well and keeping pretty steady. He's up to 4 dump trucks, 2 roll-off container trucks, and a plethora of equipment used mostly for demolition and land clearing. We have been in the process of buying a 3+ acre piece of property for almost a year now. We had to go through some many loop-holes, the big one being the property needed to be rezoned in order to run the business off it. Well the rezoning went through the beginning of April, so now we are working on actually buying the property. We can use all the prayers we can get!! We'll keep you updated on the progress..

In the mean time the guys, Troy, his dad and some friends have been working evenings on the nursery. It seems to be coming along. YAY!! Friday night, I managed to put the cute little swing together. I was actually very impressed with myself!! Today we put the crib together in the room and added the bedding. It's finally starting to come together. Just need the rest of the furniture!!

Well as for me and Jayla (oh yeah, if you haven't heard we picked her name!), we are doing well. I went for a checkup on Thursday and did my glucose test. My midwife, Jenny, says Jayla seemed to be growing well and she had a very strong sounding heart. I gained 3 lbs in 3 weeks...right on track! YAY! Well I've had people tell me I look huge (as in my belly looks bigger than normal for 7 months) but Jenny said I looked normal and actually growing just fine! Whew that's a relief!! We also talked about my carpel tunnel and my fingers going numb in my right hand; it's not painful just very, very annoying, especially when I'm just trying to eat a bowl of cereal!! She suggested I get a wrist splint and wear it at night. Haven't done that yet but plan on getting something as soon as possible. Sleeping at night has become something of the past, getting comfortable isn't so easy these days, my hips start hurting sleeping on my side and my arms go numb!! Ugh!!! It's all worth it in the END!! Overall my pregnancy really has been really great and not too much to complain about. I don't have any major cravings -- well I do enjoy sweets much more than I did before (definitely carrying Troy's daughter -- he's got the biggest sweet tooth I know of) and no nausea or sickness, thank goodness!! My blood pressure, is doing well and seems to be stable with the medication. I've been walking daily, usually take 2 breaks at work to walk around the parking lot and keep my blood flowing --- it's also a nice break from the work load!! Jenny would like me to start stretching and take a Yoga class. So starting May 9, I will be going to a Prenatal Yoga class. I'm exctied to started that! Troy and I also start our Lamaze and other classes in May, definitely can't wait to start those!! Can't believe we're counting down the weeks...11 weeks to go!! WOW!! I have another ultrasound appointment April 29th and return the to doctor for my next check-up on April 30th, I'm on the 2-week checkup schedule now. Here we go ... me 29 weeks along:


Last Wednesday, we enjoyed at night the theater for our upcoming anniversary. Our Saegner Theater had been under-going renovations for over a year and recently started having shows again, so as some Grand Opening shows they brought in some Broadway shows. I was able to get us some really great seats for the show Stomp. It was our first Broadway show, we were so impressed with all the stuff they used to actually make music and it actually sounded really good. Throughout the show they did these skits and got the audience involved and let me tell you Jayla got involved too, she was a kicking and moving. It was just a fabulous show and really fun experience!! On a final note, at the end of the show we all stood for a standing ovation to get them to come out for one more skit, which they did, and we all sat down. As I sat back I heard some go snap.... OMG... I was leaning towards the isle now... my chair broke!! Yes it was literally hanging on just by the right side!! I just got up and stood off the side while the show finished. The lady that sat people in there seat saw the whole thing happen and felt so bad but I was okay and it was the end of the show ... so I told her it was no problem, it happens. Just thought it was quite funny actually!! Troy tried to give me his seat but at that point I just wanted to stand anyway. But overall it was really a fun night and we enjoyed our first Broadway show experience.

Troy and I also celebrated our 1 year anniversary last weekend. Can you believe it's been a whole year?!?! Our anniversary actually fell on Easter Sunday this year. Which is really quite funny because when I planned the day for us to get married on, it was a goal of mine to try and not have it around any holidays or birthdays!! Hahaha!! Oh well!! I now feel very blessed to have celebrated our 1st anniversary on such a special day, as Easter.
So Saturday (the day before our anniversary), Troy took me to dinner at restaurant in Mobile, AL called Felix's Fish Camp. From the outside it looked like a laid back family style seafood joint. As we were walking up I said to Troy, "I think I'm really over-dressed for this place." He just smiled and walked me inside. WOW, was I wrong. It was a very nice romantic restaurant, right on the Mobile Bay, with candle-lit tables and live music. The food was outstanding and the service unbelievable. I found out later they are owned by the same company that owns Chris Ruth's Steakhouse (now I understood!). They gave us a table with a great view of the sunset on the water. For dessert, the waitress brought us out a Fried Strawberry Cheesecake with a sparkler flaring. She took our picture and later brought us a Happy Anniversary card with our picture in it. I was just awed!! What a great place and wonderful night it turned out!This photo is from our anniversary night & me at 7 months!
We did thaw out our anniversary cake topper and enjoyed a piece of it with some of dearest best friends (Jake & Rebecka). Honestly it was really really good!! I couldn't eat much because of my upcoming glucose test, so I wrapped it back up and plan to thaw it out next week. Hopefully it'll still be good. I was so impressed with out moist and delicious it really did taste. Yum-O!!

Ok well I think that's our update for now!! I'll try to post more often...

Thanks and love to all!!

Family Visit - Ultrasound

A couple weeks ago my mom and my Aunt Jeannine came over to visit for my ultrasound at the school on March 20th. I was so excited for them to get to see my little girl first hand and enjoy all the excitement with me. The students were preparing for their finals...they measured her little bones which we're matching up with the number of weeks I was (@24-25 weeks). They were so excited, the students kept saying, "man she's a good scan!!" -- Not sure what that meant but one of the girls asked me to come back on Sunday so she could get a little more practice time with me before her Monday final. So I did!! Why not?? I got more pictures!!! Here you can see she is really a little girl. The teacher referred to it as her "hamburger"!!!I also got some more videos....I just love it!! She's growing so much. It is such an amazing experience. (They aren't posting for some reason. I'll try again later).

While they were here we also did some shopping -- Go Figure!!! We really got a lot of stuff accomplished. We ordered the baby furniture and got the bedding for the crib. We were able to get the crib later that day but the other pieces will be coming in about a month.
Well lets just say, I come from a crafty family, so while they were here we also went looking for things we could make for the baby. Wow was that fun!! My mom loves to stitch and Jeannine loves to crotchet, so we went to a few of our local craft stores and I helped them pick out items they could make for my little girl. Oh how excited am I!! I can't wait to see the finished products. It's such an honor and joy to have special items made with such love by family and friends.

Thanks so much for all you mean to us.

With love,

Big Changes!!!

It's been a while and goly has stuff been a happening. So we'll start with the BIG Change:

Let me start by saying I should have done a little more research before I decided on an OB/GYN. So that's my fault! I love the ladies in my OB/GYN's office but I never ever saw the doctor that was going to deliver my baby. And the one day I thought I was going to see him, I see an ARNP in-training instead... that was the big bomb for me!! I really wanted a doctor that was willing to get to know me and know what I want. This was apparently not going to happen at that office. So I was on the hunt....
I'd really always wanted a nurse-midwife (I actually wanted to be one growing up... that's what I originally started UWF intending to be. Darn biology taught by a grad-student kicked my butt!!) but finding one was a little challenging. Not really a high commodity in this area for some reason. So I finally found one and low-n-behold while Troy and I were at our hospital orientation class I found out 3 out of the 4 girls in our group we're all using her -- and loved her -- so that made me very happy. The teacher of the class said she was the absolute best! So now I was determined at that point to meet her and see if she fit with me.
So March 11, I consulted with her. It was a little strenuous as she'd had a delivery just before my appointment so that put her way-way-way behind in her office schedule. It happens, I know!! But I was determined to see her, so I waited and waited and waited and waited. My appointment was at 11:30, I finally saw her at 1:40!!! It was well worth the wait, I loved her persona. She is very knowledgeable and seems to fit right with what I wanted for this pregnancy and especially the delivery! YAY!! I was so excited. So as of March 12, I will have changed doctors!!

Update Time & Baby Girl Names

It's that time again....sorry it's been so long since my last post

So here's the Update:
Troy and I went to our Orientation class at Baptist Hospital last night. It was very entertaining and we learned a lot. We were given the GRAND tour of the hospital ... we didn't get to see many babies as most of them were in the room with their mothers. I love that!! There were a couple of babies in the nursery that were just needing a little breathing help and IV's. They were so little and so adorable. During the class we learned a great deal of things that I/we should do throughout the pregnancy, eg. eating healthy, walking and/or some form of exercise, drinking lots of water (I'm not so good at this one!!), being careful around cleaning product & pesticides, etc.. At the end of the class we watched the epidural video and I must say Troy did quite well, he made his funny faces but he managed to watch the whole video. Even when the woman gave birth!!! He must have listened because after the class while we were at dinner, he asked me, "So why don't you want the epidural?". I explained my reasons: I'm choosing to have this baby and God's finally given me this opportunity. With that, I believe that with proper training and God's will I can do this the natural way. The way he intended it to happen. It's also just been something I've wanted for as long as I can remember. I want to do it the good ol' fashioned natural way. Women did it for many many many years. NOW with that said, to make matters a little easier just in case it becomes more than I can handle or she just doesn't want to cooperate I have taken the steps to fill out the paperwork just in case the epidural is needed!!
Before we left class, Troy and I also signed up for the six-week lamaze class, 2 infant care classes and a 2.5 hour breast feeding class!!! They don't start until May though!! I'm so excited.

Besides that our little girl is quite active. Yesterday at work I was leaned back just looking at my computer and she was doing all kinds of somersaults and kicks. Well I happened to glance down while she was kicking on the upper right side of my belly and I saw it... I saw my belly move... Yes it actually was visible!! I was so excited I wished Troy could have seen/felt that. So now when I'm around him and she's active I try to get him to feel my belly... no luck as of yet but I'm sure it won't be long. I know he's excited and can't wait to feel her too.

We finally made it to Target on Sunday and finished up our registry!! Yes that was fun with Troy picking out little pink bows and shoes. So not his style but I know he's gonna love it!!! Too Funny!! Well, I am still having trouble finding the right BIG Ticket items, eg. stroller, car seats, high chairs, etc.. So we are still on the hunt for those. I was gonna go ALL OUT pink but decided it may be best for --- oh uhm the next baby perhaps --- if I kinda went neutral, so we could say.... "pass it down" if it's Boy the next go-round!!! Haha! But we'll see I'm still a looking! Let me know if you have any suggestions for what to get and not to get.

On the shopping note, I was invited to a special "First-time Parent" consignment sale called Lullabies and Mudpies. Troy was still working, so Jaime decided to go with me. Neither one of us had ever been to anything like it. My shopping bag was a laundry basket I'd brought from home -- yes this is what they told us to bring!! It was amazing, we were so awed by all the stuff and GREAT stuff at that. I could have spent 100's of dollars in the clothing area. I got a 3Mth beautiful lace cream dressy dress with the tags still on that said $40 for only $3!!! Seriously!! I got a bouncy for $5. Oh and I wanted this baby sling for me to carry her around in and they had one for $7, the same one Troy and I saw at Target for $35!! I did so well at the sale. I was so proud of myself and my purchases. Now I'm addicted to these consignment sales. I found out we have another one coming up called the Mom-to-Mom sale... Hopefully I can find some more GREAT deals. Definitely the way to shop and now I know a fabulous way to sell my stuff too. What a great idea!!

Baby Girl Names:
We are still trying to figure out what to name our little girl. I've added a POLL to the Blog so everyone take a look and vote for your favorite.
Let me start by explaining something: I've loved the name Gianna for as long as I can remember but I must have her name spelled with a "J", just a tradition thing, so I spelled it Jianna. I still love this name BUT --- now I have nothing against my new last name but it is a challenging name -- Templeman! Yes people have trouble with this --- I mostly get Templeton but on the occasion it has been mistaken as Pempleman. Ok now that is just embarrassing, really!!! With that said... I know she will have trouble with her last name so I don't want her to have much trouble with her first, YET we want her to have a unique name BUT not so unique it is a huge challenge for people to understand it and/or spell it correctly. Therefore we are looking into other names!! And we love (most of the time!!) the opinions of our friends and family, so we are polling you guys!! So YES please come check out the POLL and cast your vote for your favorite name. Please don't hesitate to comment with suggestions as well. Believe me we have been through the names online and in the books ... oh a million plus times!!!

Thanks so much for all you do and all your prayers.

She's a kicker & a mover!!

So I'm 20 weeks now... and let me tell you - She's definitely a kicker/puncher or as Steve commented doing the "ninja" chop!! She's mostly active after about 2:30/3:00 in the afternoon until around 9:00/9:30 at night. As my mom said, "A night-owl!!!" Hmmm don't know where could have gotten that from ... uhm well let me think, everyone except my dad & Troy is a NIGHT OWL!!!



I'm so excited to have reached my half-way point. I treated myself to a Motherhood massage last night at a wonderful spa in Downtown Pensacola (Stillwaters Medical Spa). It was so fabulous and totally relaxing. I think I'm gonna have to do that again... Yeah I'm definitely gonna do that again!! It relaxed me so much I do believe last night I actually slept through the entire night. And then on top of that this morning I was still so relaxed, it literally took me until just before lunch to get my energy up again. Well gee ... now that I think about it .... is that really a good thing?!?! Boy did I sure needed it though! I'll take all the pampering I can get now.
Troy and I are heading to Tallahassee tomorrow for the BIG Birthday weekend and my girlfriend, Kristina's wedding. We're so excited to celebrate Kimberly's 1st birthday, wow how the year has flown by. Speaking of that, my nephew, Korbin is turning 7 --- OMG 7!! -- where did the time go?!?! See what I have to look forward too. Gosh I can only imagine how Michelle & Patrick feel watching their babies grow up so fast!! All too soon it will be a reality for us! We truly can't wait!! Well we have a fully packed weekend with parties after parties after parties and somewhere in between all those rockin' parties we hope to fit in some nursery shopping. Girly Girly Girly stuff!!! I'm just excited to see everyone and celebrate all the birthday's and Kristina & Robbie's wedding this weekend! See you soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUT ---
Happy Birthday Korbin!
Happy Birthday Patrick!
Happy Birthday Kimberly!
Happy Birthday Aunt Clara!

CONGRATULATION SHOUT-OUT ---
Congrats Kristina & Robbie ... Best wishes for many happy years to come!!

Emails

I know some of you were having trouble seeing the videos. I wanted to note, if you get emails from the blog and certain things don't show up in the email you can always come visit the blog itself. You can do one of these:
Enter the web address so-u-thought.blogspot.com into your web browser (or click that link)
OR
Become a follower and add the blog to your Google or iGoogle home page
OR
At the bottom of the emails is a link to the site as well. It says something like this:

--
Posted By Jennifer to So U Thought.... at 2/17/2009 03:33:00 PM

Just click on the "So U Thought...." and it will take you directly to the blog.

The emails are a way of letting you know I've made a post to the blog and to come check it out!!! I hope this helps and you really enjoy the videos.

Love always!

Almost Forgot!!

I nearly forgot to mention this. During our ultrasound session yesterday, while the students where doing all there scans and following the baby's organs around, we got to see the kidney's, stomach, and the bladder. Now let me tell you about the bladder... I laughed so hard at Troy!! As I said, each student did there scans and would pass over the bladder, well it was the instructors turn to show the students some other things on the next quiz they had to take and well she passed over the baby's bladder again and said "Well the bladder was full" and Troy said "What??? Was full?? You mean she peed?", the instructor replied "yes hun, they pee in utero!" Oh My Gosh, I had to hold back my laugh!! If only we'd gotten a picture of his face when she said that!! Troy just does not handle, shall I say, bodily functions very well!! WOW it was so funny! I'm still cracking up about it. So then I tried to explain that they also build up poop as well during this process, and there is a possibility that they can poop in utero as well. Which isn't usually a good thing but it can happen!! He was just so amazed and really not sure how to take it all.

Gracious what a new world this is going to be for my loving husband. He is so great with kids, well he himself is a BIG kid!! Just ask our nephews...they all love Uncle Troy!! The whole new baby thing is going to be interesting and definitely a very new experience for him. It just cracks me up how squeamish he is though as this is typically a female trait, but my husband can definitely get down and dirty when needed, however there are some qualities that without a doubt make him my "pretty boy"!!! I love him so dearly!!

Ultrasound School Day!!

Today we went to the Florida Institute of Ultrasound school for another ultrasound of our little baby. I just love the idea of helping these students with hands on learning, what better way to learn!! Apparently a couple days a week they have classes in the morning and then have volunteers come in the afternoon to practice on. This was a new experience for us but we thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot as well. We had four students and the instructor in the room with us, as well as Troy and Jaime....each student had to take a quiz, of sorts, basically they had to find certain parts of the cervix and on the baby itself. To starters we got to see the baby's clavicle, then they measured one of the baby's ulna's, and then they followed the spine down through to something else (can't remember the medical term) showing the spine ending, then they measured one of the femur bones. Each student did this!! The baby was all fine and still for the first one, hahaha, that didn't last long!! Throughout the session they took some pictures for us and put them on the thumb drive for me. Here's some of the pictures they took:
We have some more confirmation that she is a girl... Definitely no boy parts!!!




























This photo shows her hands.









After the ultrasound I was at work showing a lady at work the pictures when I discovered they gave us some video as well. OH MY GOSH!! I can't tell you how excited I was....
This first one is of her sucking her thumb literally!!! I watch it over and over again. Hope you Enjoy!



How amazing is it the details...the umbilical cord!! WOW





Here she looks like she punches me...

Boy OR Girl????????

What an exciting day!!!
Today was the big ultrasound day!!

The ultrasound tech called "Templeman" and the entire waiting room stood up!! I do mean the entire room.... everyone there was with me for this special day! Troy, Helen (Troy's sister), Jaime and Rebecka all came to see the baby today. Helen came sporting her pink. The ultrasound tech did her thing, taking measurements and the normal checks for the doctor. Then it was time for us to look and see the baby. And here's a peak of our little bit.


Profile 1















Profile 2













Sucking thumb














Hands together swinging up towards the face and notice the legs crossed (right side of image)













Legs still crossed











Okay well the little baby didn't want to cooperate with us today. After moving around, nudging, getting up walking around, squatting, it was either flailing its legs around or had its legs tucked under it. Troy made the comment, it was sitting on its feet like I always do!! Too funny! Well it made determining the gender a little challenging but she was not able to see any boy parts that stood out. We slightly saw the 3 lines that typically indicate a little girl. So the ultrasound tech decided to finally call it and say 95-98% a baby GIRL!!! With that we are very excited it is more than likely a little girl but we're holding off on painting the room for now.
I was able to get in with the ultrasound school here in town. So I'll be going for another ultrasound on the 17th. Hopefully she'll cooperate with us and we'll get a 100%. So two more weeks ... waiting again!!

Yes we have some names picked out...but are keeping on the hush hush for a little while longer.
Girl name starts with a "J" and boy name starts with a "T"!!!! Wonder why???

Thanks for all congratulations and best wishes.

18 weeks

So here we go .... 18 weeks! Forgive me my face was not very attractive today, so I just got tummy shot!!
Here's a snap shot of some of the baby stuff we've gotten lately!! So awesome!
Please notice the bassinet, this was used by my grandfather when he was a baby and has been passed down through the years....what a special blessing to have this heirloom piece from my family to use with my first born. Just thinking of my grandparents and how I wish they could be here with us to share this special time with us. I know they are up in heaven watching and praying over us. Love you guys! Miss you dearly.


Thanks again everyone.

WOW the week is here!!

Thursday we go to the doctor for our ultrasound to hopefully, fingers crossed, find out the sex of the baby. I'm on pins and needles! I'm so excited to finally know what it is. We can finally start planning things. I so ready to go all out in the nursery, if it's a Girl--> Pink or Purple (no theme picked yet) or Boy-->All-Sports theme or Jungle theme!! YAY! We are so ready!

Lately I've been having pains mostly on my right side lower & mid abdomen areas. I've heard that its just the ligaments growing but man it sure does take my breathe away at times. Today I really felt the baby move ... what a crazy, weird feeling!?!?! It was like a little bubble was moving from my lower area up towards my belly button. Just so neat!!

Well, as some of you know, I tend to over think things at times and well this pregnancy is no different. I watch shows and see all the good and bad things that can happen and it just gets me thinking more and more. Oh my, speaking of thinking if you haven't seen Marley & Me... Great movie but be prepared to cry! Man, woman, sensitive or not... this is an emotional movie in parts! It was especially for me as I'm such an animal lover and it has also got some parts in it that I relate to very closely.
My BIGGEST fear is to go in for this ultrasound and they find something wrong ... say the baby's heart is not beating or something. I mean it is possible and it can happen. Not that I worry myself too much about it but I definitely think about it.

I'll try to get some pregnancy photos of me up soon. For the big picture taker that I am I've been very bad at taking pictures of myself this pregnancy. I'll try to get better at it and post some 'prego' shots!!

I also want to say "Thank you so much for all the little baby things I've been getting lately. "
We thank everyday for all the special people in our lives. "Thank you, Thank you!"

Just a litte side Note!!

Okay all you Bloggers out there!! Are you ready for this one?! Danielle, from Blogs by Danielle, is giving away a Blog Makeover for FREE!! That's right, people, you read correctly ~ FREE!! You have to check it out if you've not seen it before. She does fabulous work!!! I'm so jealous! I've posted her Buttons on the sidebar but you must go check it out for yourselves!! I know, as I'm typing this I'm wondering why I am telling all of you about this, because this will lessen my chances of winning. However, this is such an awesome find and Blogs by Danielle is definitely one of them! So, read the following post, but then click on her link and check it out! :)

"If you would like to enter to win a FREE basic blog makeover, please leave a comment. You must become a follower of Blogs by Danielle to enter. If you post about this on your blog, I will enter your name a second time. Just let me know in your comment if you would like to post about this contest!I will announce the winner next Friday! Good luck!

**Please note that the winner is responsible for paying the cost for any digital files needed for the makeover."**

Another hurdle down...

Those all too familiar blood work tests are becoming more and more fun and from what I understand the Glucose one is the really fun one!
I got my latest test results back today for the AFP quad-screening and my nurse gave me a little scare when she called to give me the results. I missed her call and so she just left me a message. Well you have to understand this is what I'm used to hearing: "No news it good news!!" and when I got her message that she had my test results... my heart fell into my stomach ... and of course I didn't get her message until after 5 so I couldn't call her back yesterday. Golly that's probably why I didn't sleep well that night! And on top of that they aren't open every Friday... so I didn't know if I was gonna have to wait until Monday to get he result or not.
Well I called at 8:30 Friday morning, low and behold they were there and the nurse, Shannon answered the phone.
"Shannon it's Jennifer ... everything okay??? "
"Girl everything's fine ... the results all came back negative"

Okay big huge boulder was now lifting off my chest...everything's NEGATIVE. Whew!!
Okay so I know this is just a screening so its not 100% but it's at least a good sign for now. I always try to stay positive but there is always that little noise at the back of mind telling me "Well what if ..." or "Could still be ..."


ON ANOTHER NOTE:
I was thinking (I do a lot of that these days!)... my due date falls awfully close to my miscarriage last summer. Wouldn't that be something if the baby was born on that or around that day. One of my girlfriends, Amanda, said "Yep you never know that may be GOD's way of giving you a happy memory for that painful memory." Well I guess we'll just have to wait and see what GOD's plan is as we come closer to the time.



COUNT TO THE ULTRASOUND:
10 DAYS

Latest Doctor Checkup

So I went to the doctor Wednesday and they we're so thrilled my blood pressure was WAY down (108/68) ..... WOOHOO!!! That's great news. Now to just keep it down without raising my medication doses would be great. Currently I'm taking a baby dose of Aldomet, so she's hoping to keep me on that. They also think I'll need to be monitored after the baby to make sure it goes down. Fun Fun!!
Well on to more exciting news.....
I was laying on the table so we could do the Dopplar thing and hear the heartbeat. She had the wand right over top of the baby and we were hearing it's heartbeat really good. When all of sudden I nearly jumped off the table ... that little booger kicked/pushed at the wand!!! It was an interesting feeling but painful at the same time. She said yeh they can feel something on the belly so they'll kick/push at them. After that it had flipped over to the left side and she was able to get a good heartbeat reading of 154 bpm. That was actually very exciting to feel it do that. I still laugh about...

I also have to go have the AFP blood work done to check for Downs Syndrome. That's always a little nerve racking...so just pray for the best!!

Not too much else... that was the excitement for the appointment!!!

Oh yeah on a finally note: I'll be going back February 5th for the ultrasound to hopefully determine the gender!!! BOY or GIRL?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
YAY THREE WEEKS -- We can't wait!!!

Ultrasound Pictures

I finally got the ultrasounds scanned in.

This is from my first ultrasound. You'll see two gestational sacs present. This was a huge surprise to us!! Twins....What??? Well the ultrasound tech warned us that the 2nd one on the left looked a little off. The following weekend I ended up in the hospital for bleeding. Apparently this is called a vanishing twin, the body rids itself of the unhealthy sac. Needless to say, this was a very scary moment for me. I was so afraid I was miscarrying again. Finally, the ultrasound tech was able to show me the healthy heartbeat of the one baby. Whew!! What a relief.....




These are from my 11 week checkup. It was so neat for Troy and I to see the baby moving and kicking around. This first one was a top of the head and arm shot. The others are pictures of the babies head and hand.






Now as soon as I get the ones next month I'll be sure to post... hopefully we'll know if its GIRL or BOY at those!!!

2nd Trimester is Here!

So I'm so EXCITED I've made it to the 2nd Trimester. I know, I know, I still have a long way to go but it feels like such an accomplishment. I've waited so long for this time in my life and it just feels so good to make it to every milestone. They say this is supposed to be the 'honeymoon' phase... Ha! I'm more tired now because I can't sleep, or shall I say I can't get comfortable. Definitely something I'm trying to work on... pregnancy pillow, please work!!

I'm still trying to figure out how to get my ultrasound pictures scanned in, so I can get them posted.
I'm growing more and more. I look like I should be about 5-6 months when I'm only 3 1/2 months!!! I'm really scared to see how big I do get. Hahaha!!

Well everything else seems to be going well for now. I was put on blood pressure medicine just before Christmas for Pregnancy Induced High Blood Pressure, my blood pressure was 140/88. Yekes!! I've since bought a blood pressure monitor and keeping track of it. Lately it's been doing much better.
I go back for another checkup a week from today. So I'll be sure to come check-in with my update.

Troy and I are still working through baby names. Boy names seem to be difficult for us, so I'm trying to get some ideas flowing. I bought the 100,000 Baby Names book and we've gone through it a few times letter by letter but it's almost overwhelming at times. I may take a poll later..... hahaha!!
Troy really wants to wait until we find out what it is... hopefully February 19th!!!!
But you know me I'm anxious to get on the ball... be ready for whatever! :)

Well that's my update for now...