The Bulging Belly

Today I had my doctor appointment to check on baby and make sure all is okay. Basically just a blood pressure, weight, and heart rate on both of us. Blood pressure is fine, weight is up by 15 pounds (gasp!) and both heart rates are good. Doctor told me "Baby's heart rate is at 155. It is obviously a boy (pause) or a girl!" He thinks he is so funny. I think he and Mark will be exchanging jokes in the corner while I am in labor... Also got to hear baby kick, quite a few times. I have been able to feel baby kick for about the last two weeks, so it was fun to hear it, too.

Isa is quite fascinated with mama's 'ummy' these days. It seems to be growing at an exponential rate lately...

Isa often just walks up to my belly and pats it, or leans in and gives it a quick kiss. She likes to touch mama's belly and then rub her own, and she has even told dad to rub HER belly on more than one occasion.

Once in a while she will point to mama's tummy and say "baby" and other times she will point at herself and say "baby." I have also caught her putting her baby doll under her shirt and walking around the house(!), so I think she gets the concept to some degree, although I do think she is in for quite the shocker come May.

My next appointment is January 2, at which time we will more than likely find out the gender. Boy or girl? What's your guess (and be sure to leave your name, anonymous comments will be deleted!)?

Second Trimester- Here we are!

Last night I had my first second trimester appointment, where the doctor mainly just listened to my and the baby's hearbeat to ensure everything is on track. Baby's heartbeat is right on track at 162 beats per minute, the doctor says baby sounds just fine! We also went over my Fifth Disease testing, which this time, showed I am immune, but that I haven't had the disease in the last 6 months... which means either the first test was a false negative or the second was a false positive. More blood work to follow will give us a definite answer.

Doctor says the naseua should start to get better, but then it will probably come back for a bit and continue this trend til it phases out. Some people have this for their whole pregnancy, but the good news is the pills they have prescribed are working, and I can safely take those the entire pregnancy, so I am not too worried at this point.

Next apptoinment in three weeks to check the heartbeat again, and then three weeks later an ultrasound to see if we can peek at the gender (yes, we are going to find out). So early January we will have another ultrasound! Yeah, those are kinda fun!

Baby's First Picture

It's not the best picture, but the best I could get, considering I was taking a picture of the picture. I had my doctor appointment yesterday and the doctor says everything is on track. Baby measured in at 8 weeks and 2 days, about three days ahead of the original due date. They allow a four day margin of error, so he said it was within reason. I also got to hear the heartbeat yesterday- 163 beats per minute. I should have my blood results back on Wednesday, and if they if come back positive we are fine, but if they are negative I will have to go for more testing. If the test follows up with a positive, that will mean I have contracted the Fifth Disease, and the doctor will decide how we monitor from there.

We have a heartbeat!

I was very surprised (and happy) to find out that the doctor was able to detect Babycakes2's heartbeat this morning! I didn't get to hear it, but it was easy to spot on the screen. Just a little ball of a baby with a big beating heart!

The due date has been slightly amended to May 24 (move over Peyton). But here is what the doctor told me about dates:

I would be a happy camper if baby was born on May 16 (the original due date).

I have a 4% chance of delivering on the actual due date of May 24 (good news for Peyton).

Plan on June 1 and I won't be disappointed.

Tell the mother and mother in law June 15!!!!!!!!! That way they won't be calling me constantly for the two weeks prior!!!!! He claims this will relieve some anxiety on my part!

This doctor is a hoot.

And, he said since we had a heartbeat, we had a 90% chance of making it. But he also said we basically get to hold our breath for another 6 weeks, til we make it past that much desired 12 week mark.

Babycakes #2 Update

This week has been filled with a little stress regarding Babycakes #2. I had called my OB, Dr. Cook, about my thyroid consult coming up. He needed to know the info about and, since I don't have my first appointment with him until October 12th, we were talking about some of symptoms and labwork.
He was concerned because my hCG (the hormone that indicates pregnancy) levels were not very high. My other doctor had said they were fine, but Dr. Cook ordered two blood draws, both of which have come back normal. He also ordered an ultrasound, which I went to today, and it showed that I am a week earlier than previously thought, putting the pregnancy at only 5 weeks, 0 days. Hence the new counter, which is a repeat of last week. This puts the new due date at May 23. Maybe Pey Pey and Babycakes2 will share a birthday...
They were unable to detect a heartbeat today (which to me seems only natural, as baby is the size of a poppyseed!) so I have an appointment next week with Dr. Cook in his office where another ultrasound will be done to attempt to detect the heartbeat once again. I have heard, however, that the heartbeat should be detectable by week 10, so since next week is only week 6, we still may not hear anything. That's all I have for now. Let's hope this next week proves to be uneventful.

Isa's got something to show you

What? You can't see it. Let me enlarge it for you:

What? You still don't get it? It means I am going to be a big sister!!!!

Mama says the baby is supposed to come May 16, but that he or she will probably have his or her own agenda. She also says she knows it is early to be spreading this news, but, since precautions are now needed at work, she thought family should know before co workers.

I am going to be a big sister!!!!!!!!