Growing Pains

This morning, around 4:something, I had the WORST pain in my lower abdomen. Sure enough, round ligament pains have started in full force. I thought I was having them before, I was wrong. I was woken out of a deep sleep with this incredible cramp like feeling. It is not comfortable, to say the least. I know it's all part of making room for things to grow and all but does it have to be so painful?

Another piece of news yesterday - I'm a carrier for cystic fibrosis. That doesn't mean LBH has CF but it does require further testing on Paul's part. He'll go in on Friday for some blood work to determine if he too is a carrier. If we're both carriers, which hopefully we're not, then there's a 25% chance that LBH will have CF (and a 75% chance he/she will NOT). If Paul is not a carrier then we should be fine. Here's to hoping that Paul isn't a carrier.

A great weekend!

We had a great weekend in Panama City Beach (the Redneck Riviera) with our fabulous friends. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. I think I read 3 books, did some crossword puzzles and took several naps. It's interesting to be the pregnant lady in a group of 8. That means that I'm fairly anal about eating meals, drinking lots of water, and I'm stuck as the designated driver all weekend!!! We had a lot of laughs (my friend "sang" Sabotage into a megaphone at a restaurant - maybe you had to be there) and really enjoyed getting out of town. I am down to a very limited wardrobe, many of my shorts don't fit and I spent most of the weekend in maternity gear. I felt quite like a beached whale in my beach chair but such is life!!

Food

I don't think I like food anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm eating like there's no tomorrow but nothing appeals to me. Take tonight for example. I was thinking of making pork tenderloin, it's all defrosted and everything. But that sounds kind of gross. And Paul suggested this restaurant that we like, that also sounds kind of gross. I could really use a big salad. Gross. Eggs? Gross. Pizza? Maybe not as gross but not what I need. I haven't really had these feelings about food until lately. I don't know why now I've lost my love of all things good and healthy. I sure hope this passes....

1/3 down, 2/3 to go

I am now officially in my second trimester!! I can't say I feel any different yet. I slept terribly the "first night" of my second trimester but I'm pretty sure that didn't have anything to do with anything except an over-active mind. I've also taken a couple of naps, a continuation of the first trimester sleepiness. I did make the mistake of not eating enough for breakfast on Friday morning and wow, did I feel ill. I won't be doing that again.

I find with each passing day more clothes that don't fit. I was fortunate to get a huge bin of hand-me-downs from a friend the other day. I need to move some of my regular clothes out and move the maternity clothes in. I may almost have a full wardrobe!!

I've had some weird thoughts over the past week or so around where we'll be a year from now. We went to the Braves game the other night and I thought, "huh, a year from now I'll have a 6 month old and I won't be hanging out at the Braves game." Or how next year at Mother's Day I'll have a little baby. Now that's some crazy stuff.

Moving along

Yesterday I had my first big doctor's appointment. There was lots of poking and prodding, I got to see a video and they gave me tons of free prenatal vitamin samples. It was all very exciting. I did get to hear the heartbeat again, now that was exciting. I did get nervous because it took her a little while to find it but she found it and it was going strong. The midwife said I was moving along nicely and they'd see me again in 4 weeks. Hopefully, after the next visit I'll get to schedule another ultrasound and we can find out if LBH is a boy or girl!!

The downside to a large practice is that I was there for 2+ hours and spent most of the time waiting. Then, when it was all said and done, they wanted me to talk to the financial coordinator, who was with another patient, and I really needed to get back to work. They seemed irritated with me that I wouldn't spend even more time there, that I actually had to leave. I guess the financial lady was going to call me but she didn't. I assume they'll just send me some big, huge bill.

I love technology

Check out Little Baby Holder (LBH)!!! LBH is measuring 12 weeks today and is doing great. He/She has a strong heartbeat that I was able to hear for the first time!! It was so cool, I cried. He/she has little arms and legs and looks like a person, not a weeble wobble anymore. I love the second picture with the legs up in the air. The ultrasound tech was pushing on my stomach today so LBH was flipping around and moving a lot and even flashed his/her butt at us!!! It was soooo cool.

I've decided that the pain in my butt isn't sciatica after all. Apparently I come from a long line of pains in the butts!! No, my mom said that for all 3 of her pregnancies, she too had a pain in her butt. I guess I just come by it naturally.

I've also started having round ligament pain. According to BabyCenter.com, "the round ligaments surround your uterus in your pelvis. As your uterus grows during pregnancy, the ligaments stretch and thicken to accommodate and support it. These changes can occasionally cause pain on one or both sides of your abdomen." Needless to say, getting up and especially sneezing can cause sharp pains in my lower stomach. Eventually they will stretch out and it won't be a problem anymore.

I'm almost 1/3 of the way to LBH's debut!!

A pain in my butt

Literally. Apparently, my sciatic nerve is acting up. My butt hurts and the pain shoots down my leg and it's very uncomfortable. It's worse in the morning than at night but man, it hurts. Oh, and without supplying too much info, my chest hurts. Sleeping is very uncomfortable and I may have to start wearing a bra to bed. And wow am I tired. I'm often sleepier at 7 or 8 than I am at 10 or 11 which makes bed time tough. I think I could have slept all day today, I didn't but I may be awake all night anyway.

Really though, I'm almost done with the first trimester and I should get some of my energy back. One can only hope.