This was written in several chunks.
I just couldn't seem to get anything fully complete, so I just kept adding! The
beginning was all kind of a blur anyway, so it's fitting I guess!
We got a big surprise at our house
in early November! On November 4, 2015 we found out we were going to be a
family of FIVE. I had felt suspicious for a few days that I might be pregnant,
but thought surely not. After one night of heartburn (which I NEVER have except
with my other 2 pregnancies) combined with total exhaustion that had me falling
asleep on the couch at 7:30 (which I NEVER do except with my other 2
pregnancies), I decided to take a test I already had-just to rule it out. When
the test showed positive, I could NOT believe it. Honestly, I was in shock. I
showed Steven, and he felt the same way! I specifically remember him saying,
"I feel so old and tired!" and I said, "Me, too!!" We let
it sink in for several days before talking much about it. (Sorry, baby, but I
know you will totally understand when you become a parent yourself!).
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12/9/15-First
ultrasound with Dr. Murray
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It was kind of weird timing with my
OB anyway. My beloved Dr. Light, who was my doc for both of the other kids, was
retiring! I had already scheduled to try out another OB for my regular yearly
visit, but when I found out I was pregnant, I called his office right away.
The main reason was that I had no idea how far along I was, and it was
driving me crazy! I just had not kept up with all that. They said I could come
in for a blood test to see how far along I was. So, I went back to the UAB
clinic the next week on 11/10. They called with results saying that Dr. Light
wanted to see me himself-I read between the lines and realized that it was
because I was not very far along yet. SO, the whole family went for and
ultrasound and doctor's visit on Dr. Light's LAST day-Tuesday 11/17/15.
Basically, I was about 6 weeks along and everything looked good. I got to sit
down with Dr. Light for a few minutes and tell him how much I appreciated his
care during my other 2 pregnancies. I told him I was so happy for him, but so
sad for me!! He was able to give me a few names of other OB's he recommended,
and I went with Dr. Murray who he spoke highly of and who had studied/trained
under him directly. So far she has been good, but she is just not "My
Delight" as Henry called Dr. Light during my whole pregnancy with Annie.
I'm sure she will be good, and I feel more at ease with all of this pregnancy
stuff in general than I did my first time around, so it's all good. I'm happy
he got me through the first 2!:)
I had a very hard first several
weeks with this pregnancy. I am not going to sugar coat it! I felt yucky and I
was having a hard time processing it all. This is the first time in my life
that I have ever dealt with feelings of anxiety/depression. I knew all my
feelings were rooted in selfishness, but I just couldn't help it! I love having
kids who sleep through the night and who we can leave overnight with family and
who eat real food and who are on a schedule......just stuff like that that
allow me to feel not SO depended on. I always knew if I were to have
kids, I would not want just one, so I think my brain was just settled on 2, but
3 was a shock! All 3 of my pregnancies have been unplanned, but this one just
rocked my world in a different way. Plus I know of so many who are struggling
with infertility, I felt bad being anything but thankful over this pregnancy,
and that just made it all worse. I think it being the beginning of a long
dreary winter did not help my mood either, and I was just SO tired, too! I
would be able to cope OK at school, but as soon as I got home, I would put the
kids down to nap, and I would nap the whole time they did. This would have been
fine if then I woke up feeling rested, but I did not! I was still tired and
just blah. I also struggled with God's timing on all of it. I had just gone
back to work and was having a great year! Why in the world would this happen
NOW! I didn't want to stop teaching, but wasn't sure it would make sense to do
anything else. I finally got to sit down with my principal who was totally
supportive of me wanting to continue teach half days next year, so I felt so
much better once I got all that established. Anyway, luckily I made it through
this phase and started feeling somewhat better once Christmas rolled
around...well, probably January would be a more fair time to say I started
feeling more like I did around this time with the other pregnancies. Maybe 18
weeks or so, whereas I felt better at 14 weeks with my others. I talked to my
doc about it all and was monitoring my "emotional" stuff with her, so
I was so thankful to make improvements. I continue to have "lack
luster" days, but overall, I am much improved. Anyway, enough about that.
Now at almost 24 weeks I have embraced all of this craziness and just realize
that it is God reminding me yet again that he is in control; He knows best and
not me. His plan is for us to be a family of 5, and I can embrace that!
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2/24/16-20
week anatomy scan.
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One of the sweetest things about
expecting again is the sheer joy and excitement Henry shows toward his
"new baby!" as he calls it. The look on his face when we told him at
the appointment in December was totally precious and priceless. He was THRILLED
and immediately went out into the waiting room to report to everyone, "We
are having a new baby!!". He would tell total strangers at the grocery
store the same-with so much joy and enthusiasm. He loves to tell people about
the hierarchy in the family-"When the new baby gets here, I will be 4 and
Annie will be 2! I will always be bigger than Annie and the new baby."
He's come up with some interesting names like Duck, Chair, Isabella, Violet,
Chuck. We weren't planning to tell him at the 9/10 week ultrasound, but the
tech just started talking to the kids about being a "new big
brother/sister", and we could see him trying to think it all through, so
rather than leaving him confused, Steven gave him the news there. We told him
we wanted to wait until Christmas to tell the family, so he would need to keep
it a secret. He reported to every stranger, but surprisingly was pretty quiet
about it to everyone else we knew.
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2/24/16-20
week anatomy scan. The bottom pic says, "It's a girl!"
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I was really hoping to keep it
under wraps until after Christmas break at school, and with the exception of
his Tuesday teachers at school, he was able to do that. They came to me saying,
"We don't know if this is true or not, but Henry said you guys were
expecting a new baby?"....of course I could not lie, so I just asked them
to keep it hush hush. For our family, I wanted to tell Steven's when we
gathered at our house for our Christmas celebration. I had wrapped the
ultrasound picture under the tree and put the 3 cousins names on it. They came
in Friday, and Henry didn't say a word. He made it all Saturday morning until
about 10 minutes before we were going to gather to open presents. As we all
started to gather in the living room, he was running around and just blurted
out, "We are having a new baby!!" People didn't know what to think I
don't think...they kind of looked around and at us and said,
"really?" Once we confirmed it, everyone was congratulatory of
course!:) It was just a funny way to break the news. Then we let Henry call my
mom and dad and Steven's grandparents in Iowa to share the news via his little
voice. My folks were totally shocked! They were both so happy. Then I signed
our Christmas card Love, Steven, Kelly, Henry, Annie, and Baby #3 (due this
summer) and sent it out to friends and extended family to further share the
news. Lots of people were surprised! We got many congrats notes and comments
from our Christmas card.
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Posed
reveal to cousins/family the week before Christmas:)
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Once back at school in January, I
told my class after my doc appt. on 1/6. I think I just told them I had a
Friday surprise for them (normally they get a treat of some sort on Friday
mornings from me). Then I told them about the new baby and they were thrilled
as were all of my co-workers and boss. I am blessed to work in such a family
friendly environment.
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Another
from 20 week ultrasound. These always amaze me. Such an awesome thing to see
such detail at just 20 weeks!
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I've had all the normal beginning
pregnancy feelings I had with my other two (nausea, no appetite, etc.) at the
beginning. No major cravings, but lots of diversions. SO many things sounded
yucky to me-especially anything I cook myself, so we ate out way more than we
should. But it got me through, so it was worth it. The cravings I do have are
one time cravings...Chinese food, Rosie's enchiladas, fettucine...or for a few
weeks I wanted Dr. Pepper (this one is so funny to me because I don't really
want that or any soft drinks really under normal circumstances, but I craved it
with Annie), or sour candy (also funny bc I'd never choose this over something
like chocolate normally, but I craved it with Henry). Overall, though, I've
wanted bland, blah food like chicken and rice or noodles or bread or CARBS like
that, although I also crave a good salad I don't make myself. I also had the
cold wind to contend with for several months-it would make me gag, gag, gag! I
remember this with Annie's pregnancy, too, I guess because it was during
similar winter months. It's just funny to walk outside and get a gust of wind
and almost loose it! And of course changing her diapers has been gag city just
like it was when I was changing Henry's 2 years ago wile pregnant with her! And
I could barely hold it together while brushing my teeth...but overall I think I
am luckier than many pregnant women who struggle with nausea. I also
experienced such scatterbainedness just like with the other 2! I don't know how
else to describe it, but I'm already forgetful, so for it to be worse is really
bad! I did several crazy things to begin with-one of which was making out our
mortgage check to our church and sending it in! Ha! And several other things
that I won't go into!:)
I really didn't have a strong
feeling one way or another on the gender. My brother AND Steven's sister both
have boy and 2 girls in that order, so everyone in our families just assumed
this was a girl. I could see it both ways, but was certainly ready to find out!
Henry wanted a brother (he already has a sister, after all!). Other
predictions? Boy: Sarah, Jessica, and 8 of my students Girl: Robin, Julie, Bush
family, me/Steven, Annie, 3 of my students. I think I asked others, but that's
all I wrote down! Anyway, at my 20 wk appt on 2/24 our whole family went to the
ultrasound and saw pictures of a perfectly healthy baby....GIRL! We were
excited to know! I love finding out. It just helps me bond with the baby and
feel prepared. We called family and let Henry tell everyone. I made a math
puzzle for my class, and they had to crack the code to read the secret message
that I was having a girl. I brought pink butterfly little Debbies to give in
celebration, too. When I texted out the news to several friends, it was so
funny to get responses from all the friends who say having a sister is so
wonderful, and they are so happy Annie gets to experience that. I agree-I know
they will fight and all that, but I always wanted a sister, so I am excited
they get to experience that, too. I think I would have been a little sad/happy
either way. I would have loved another boy, too, but then I would have been sad
about not having another girl since this is for sure our last, but it's not our
decision and there is peace in that! Two daughters will be a wonderful blessing
I know!
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3/23/16-24
weeks
I had to have another ultrasound at 24 weeks because my cervix and
placenta were measuring too close at my 20 week appt. Luckily at this
ultrasound, everything looked great and there was no need to further monitor
it. I got to see the baby's details all again which was fun, although she
wasn't cooperating enough to let us check her girl parts again, so the tech
got good pics of her hands and feet instead...just trusted that 20 week appt
was accurate and was thankful for no further issues and a healthy baby!
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Now I am 28 weeks and feeling like I
have finally hit the "good part" of my pregnancy! I don't have to
take a nap everyday, and I generally feel pretty good. I am getting big fast,
and I am feeling everything sooner than with the first 2. She is lower, and I
am more achey/sore than I remember being at this point before. BUT, I have not
had any back pain OR weird sciatic nerve pain like with Henry, and no pneumonia
like with Annie, so I would say so far that part has been MUCH better! I have
pretty consistent heartburn (things like peanut butter and bananas sound
terrible due to the heartburn they cause). There for a while I was waking up in
the night for an hour or two...just not able to sleep...and I remember this
with the other 2. The first half of the pregnancy I had no desire for sweets,
but now I want chocolate ice cream everyday!! Specifically chocolate
milkshakes...I had a sore throat for about a week and a half, and that just
sounded so good on my throat. I guess I just got hooked! Oh well, it
could be worse...or could it?:/
We are working on names...we are so
bad at that! We both have a decently long list, but we are at a bit of a stale
mate now. Steven's favorite is not mine and vice versa. We'd kind of like to
decide so we can go ahead and start saying it to the kids, so maybe we can
figure it out soon. Her middle name is decided at least! :) It will be
Jane-Steven's grandmother's name.
More updates...I am now 34 weeks and
continuing to do well. All my doc appointments have been uneventful. I am
measuring right on and the baby's heart rate is good (ranging from 130s to
150s). The doc always comments that the baby is active/enjoying it in
there/something along those lines. At my 34 week check up, she helped me figure
out that the pain I have on my actual stomach (left above my belly button) is a
pinched nerve. This explains a lot! This is new-I didn't have it with the other
2. It is like my skin is burning right there! It's bearable, just weird. I also
talked about some swelling that had developed since my last visit...she said
just to watch it...but it has already been better. The last week of school and
leading up to Annie's bday party/family visiting for the weekend was crazy, and
I was on my feet nonstop. My body was telling me to take a break, yo!
More to come...next week I start
weekly visits to the doc. Crazy how time is flying by with this
pregnancy.
