10 weeks

Sorry, no pics yet, I think I'll wait till 11 or 12 weeks - you probably can't tell much. But I can. Just this morning, I could not find a pair of pants to fit! None of my black pants would comfortably button!!!!! So, the pair I am wearing is closed with a safety pin and then I am wearing a baggy sweater - no one suspects a thing!

Lately I have been feeling a lot of comotion in my belly again - similar to the first weeks after I found out - it feels like there is a lot of stretching going on, which makes sense since my pants are too tight! It is interesting, but a good interesting.

Working out - well well well......I thought I would be the picture of health during this pregnancy, but my doctor was right, I just DON'T WANT to workout. Yes, those words are coming from my mouth. It is wierd for me- I am just so tired, though the queasiness has subsided for the most part. I have tried to use the elliptical machine at the gym a few times, but it makes my stomach hurt and I get overheated. So for now I am sticking with walking the dogs, pilates, and the recumbent bike. In PT (which I "graduate" from next Monday), I have to do weights and other strengthening exercises, which aren't bad. In fact, I will probably continue to do weight bearing exercies throughout the pregnancy. I figure that if I can do pilates at least once a week and then have 1-2 weight/cardio/walking sessions, that is PLENTY! I hear swimming during pregnancy is great, so I will probably pay the extra fee at IUPUI to join the natatorium, which is realtively inexpensive to be honest....

I am also out of things to read - I finished my "Active Birthing" book, which was fascinating and has even further solidified my intent and hope to do things actively and naturally. I am still hoping for a water birth, but we'll just have to see how I feel. One week till I go to the doctor and chat with her about it! My aunt, who works at a natural birthing center, sent me some great materials as well - magazines and brochures (Thanks Mary!). Of course, I am just reading enough in "What to expect", but I am not reading into it all too much, that book could cause an ulcer I think! All the problems that you can relate to yourself........no need for that! I am getting daily email updates from a few websites as well, which is cool. And there is a neat website called Indymoms.com that is local and has tons of info as well.

Hope you all are doing well! I am going shopping this weekend for at least one pair of jeans I can start to wear!

9 weeks

Things are moving along - and my belly seems to get bigger by the day.......though no one else besides PJ and I can really tell yet (I meant to post pics last weekend, but forgot - maybe this weekend!)! I think I need to start looking at maternity pants though - April is going to send me a few so I can determine whether I like the full or half panel, we'll just have to see - though hers will be WAY too short for me!

This past weekend was the worst yet - I slept ALL day Saturday and just thought I was going to die, but all for good reason. This week has been better. Of course, I am exhausted all the time, but that's okay! Counting down until the doctor's appt - I am so excited to talk to her!!!!!

We're having a SuperBowl Party I believe - GO COLTS! BELIEVE IN BLUE!!!!!!!

Also - STL - we are coming to visit on the 17th of Feb I think - still working out the details (like the fact that I have to work Sat morning and what to do with the dogs). I'll keep you posted.

Looking at houses the weekend of the 11th with our realtor - so excited about that!

Kyle

Hi Family (and April!)

Hi Family and April!
Welcome to the blog - ONLY YOU ALL CAN SEE THIS! Please don't share - not quite yet.....Thanks! Just so you know, for the most part, it is only immediate family (and not even all) that know now (plus a few aunts in there!). Anyway, enjoy the blog - there may be TMI (too much information) sometimes for a few of you - Sorry!

I am using this blog to document everything - and will post pictures of the belly growth monthly. In about a month, we will blast the news to the world, but for now, please keep hush hush (dad......).

LOVE YOU ALL!
Kyle

PS - if you start at the very bottom, you can see the very first post and work your way up to the most recent

My pants are tight

Just two days since my last post, when I mentioned my clothes fit fine, but all of a sudden last night my jeans were tight, and I can feel tightness in my work pants today! What a quick change! Maybe I am just eating too much, oh well!

Went to a great class last night about Birthing Options at the hospital I hope to deliver in. It is so wonderful b/c the two OBs I will be seeing are both really into the natural approach, as is this hospital. The hospital totally supports the birthing plan on the mother and respects her wishes, with flexibility of course! We were able to tour some various Labor/Deliver/Recovery (LDR) rooms as well. They have 4 with birthing tubs in them, which are first come first serve, but I guess September is not a busy month. It was fascinating to see last night - and made me feel even MORE comfortable and excited about this all!

I also ordered a book online that I recieved yesterday called Active Birthing. It is all about the natural birthing process and discusses positions, breathing, preparation, all sorts of things to help you through. When you think about the typical Western medicine way that women often give birth, you can tell that it is not very natural - our cervix is not flat, nor does gravity go sideways, so sitting up, squatting, using a birthing ball, all of that, moves with the natural positions of the women's body. And active birthing encourages movement - which means not being all hooked up to monitors, but having intermittent monitoring of the baby and mother, which is JUST as effective! I love the idea and philosophy behind it all and feel that this approach will put me very much in touch with the way my body is feeling and the things that I will be going through!

Counting down to see the doctor!

I'm in my eighth week!

Yay - I am in my eighth week! Only about 4 more before I can blast the news to the world!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I got the opportunity to meet with the nurse of the doctor that I will be seeing. We spent about an hour and a half together yesterday. She is FANTASTIC! Gave me tons of reading material, including a great magazine with color photos of babies in womb at different weeks! She also gave me a fun pregnancy calendar. We talked a lot about my history of course, and also did some testing. She asked me tons of questions, and I asked tons of questions. I am excited to see the doctor - my appt is Feb 5th - not soon enough!

Another good thing - when the doctor goes on maternity leave this spring, I can see one of the doctor's in my family practice, who is also a maternity doctor, since they work together often! What a great plan!!!!!!!!

Pictures this weekend - though not much has changed since the last time, except I have started gaining a little weight, but not really anywhere noticable, at least I don't think so.....

Just a few updates

Ugggg......so queasy all the time! Not fun - but totally worth it :)!!!!!

Okay - so I think I found a doctor. As I think I posted previously, I am really interested in water birth, but my family doctor, also a maternity doctor, has not done one, but gave me the name of a great OB who DOES do them! So.....I called her office. Of course, she is not accepting new patients, but after talking to the nurse, they decided to take me - which is great news! Next week, I go to see the nurse for my intake session. Next week PJ and I also go to take a tour of the Gentle Birthings Center at the hospital where you can do a water birth, where this doctor and my family doctor both deliver. I am really excited about the idea of it. For me, going as natural as possible and as gentle as possible is very important.

I looked up some books about natural birthing and ordered a book called Active Birth, which teaches many relaxation and breathing techniques, and goes through the ins and outs of birthing. I also oreded a book for pilates and pregnancy...which I am looking forward to. In my current pilates class, there is another girl who is due at the same time! So after this session, we can probably do a private class, tailored toward our growing bellies. Good news!

Don't see the doctor until February, but that is okay!

Oh - my new food aversion - white rice. YUCK YUCK YUCK - makes my stomach turn just thinking of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 weeks along!

I went to see my family doctor last week to do a follow up on my IT Band, but of course, we spent most of the time discussing the baby - how I was feeling, how much I should be doing, etc.... I do plan to continue running throughout the pregnancy, at least until the third trimester, when it will be a humid summer and I may take up non-impact swimming! Things are moving along well, the only thing getting bigger, well is not my belly yet.....but another part of my body!

It is really hard to not shout this news to everyone - I want to share it all so bad, but want to wait just about 5-6 more weeks before. I know I can do it, though some people are already suspecting something.......when I choose sprite over diet coke, or decaf earl gray tea over my normal double full-caffeine mocha! Luckily, since I have had this horrible cold, I have not really gone out anywhere socially, but I am sure that will pose more suspicions - especially when I choose water over wine!

This weekend I ran both days - which was great! I have not run essentially since the marathon - so it is good to get back into it all.

This week the nausea has really set in - I have not gotten sick, but just at various times during the day, start feeling really queasy. I need to make sure I eat consistently, which tends to curb the feelings. Last Thursday night at Tucker's dog class, at the very end, I kinda passed out....well, it was really hot in there - I had taken my antibiotic, and then forgot to eat the granola bar that I grabbed. I was standing there in the room, thinking, can I make it to the chair? Well, I did, but that was the end of that - the next thing I know there are tons of people around me - asking me if I am okay, putting cold rags on my head, giving my a sprite and food, asking me to "stay with us!". It was a little scary to say the least. I started sweating like no other....PJ came to get me that night, and then I got the lecture on making sure I eat consistently. And I am trying, but believe it or not, I just don't have much of an appetite most of the time. I am eating less at meals, but more often I guess.

Even though I have not been very hungry, I have been extremely thirsty! Usually when we buy a case of water, it lasts a few weeks, but it has only been a week and we only have a bottle or two left. Of course, I could refill the bottles, which I do at work, but at home, I get lazy. I know, it is wasteful, but at least I recycle!

Finally - debating on the doctor issue. Do I go with an OB-GYN or stick with the family practitioner.....I know most of my friends have used an OB-GYN, but I really like the idea of using my family doctor - he specializes in maternity care.....and uses a very natural approach, which appeals to me. Since I am low-risk, I can't imagine why it wouldn't be fine. He delivers at a hospital, and not matter what happens, is always with you - of course, there is an OB on call, should one be needed. I hope to tour some hospitals soon, and am very interested in a more natural/gentle approach to birth - such as a water birth. The place my family doctor delivers does have that option....so we'll see!

Counting the weeks (includes pics)

Here I am - 5 weeks along, just over one month! It looks like I am showing, but I am not - just have a little pooch I guess!

I have found it very confusing to determine how to count the weeks of my pregnancy - do I start with possible conception date or with last day of period? After reading a few things, and considering that most women give birth 38-40 AFTER the first day of their last period, I think I will count from that point. That being said, I am just over 5 weeks along at this point. Still very early in the pregnancy - in fact, this blog is still totally private and only PJ and I can view it! We are going to take monthly pictures to document the changes in my body. I had a friend that did that, and each month we got to see how much bigger her belly got - it was fantastic to watch!

I imagine that the last few months will not be pretty. My mom mentioned that when she was pregnant with me - hot summer - she retained quite a bit of water..... oh well, thank goodness for flipflops!

Thursday I head to the doctor for bloodwork and a follow up for my IT Band - hopefully I'll be able to move away from the illiptical machine and back to running soon! My goal was today, but this cold is making it near impossible to even consider working out! Soon, soon.