Relief

It had to be a positioning issue because it has resolved itself. I'm glad he's still small enough to rotate around in there, because I couldn't have taken that much longer. I also had a sore knee for a couple of days that was obviously bruised. The bruising is fading and it doesn't hurt much at all now. It's a relief and I cherish the moments I feel good. I think I'm anxious anticipating what's to come. 12 weeks seems like a pretty long time....

Ouch

It seems the baby has migrated north for the winter. Too far north. He has found a comfy spot right under my right ribcage. Not comfy for me at all. In fact I can barely sit and I have to recline back . It's not a problem when I am laying down at all. In fact my sleep has not been interrupted at all. Today has been the worst so far. I think I've noticed it more because I kept trying to sit while boxing up Christmas decorations. Then while peeling potatoes for dinner I grabbed a stool to sit on and no way. I had to stand. Every time I tried to sit it felt like my ribs might actually break. I've never experienced this before and I'm hoping it doesn't last.

28 Weeks (Tomorrow)

With the holidays almost over I am really started to focus on the baby and get even more excited. When the girls woke up this morning I did not want to get out of bed. My belly feels huge and lugging it around is tiring. I can't really imagine another few months of this. Day by day I suppose. Luckily I haven't had any major complaints come up this week. I think my exhaustion comes more from all of the business that surrounded Christmas than the actual pregnancy.

This week we will pretty much just enjoy Chiggie's vacation. I need to get all of the decorations put away too. Then next week I plan to start the baby room. It's going to be quite the task. I want to get as much done as possible while I can still get up and down the stairs easily. I hate climbing the stairs in the those last few weeks. As I get some work done I'll be sure to post pictures of the progress!

27 Weeks

It is safe to say, at this point I definitely feel pregnant. It's not like I'm having any trouble sleeping, walking, etc. It's just I have a prominent belly and it does tend to get in the way. My whole stomach moves when the baby really gets to going. For the most part he hangs out in the upper right quadrant. The heartburn is back to manageable and I don't find myself really avoiding any foods. I get full fast though and sometimes can't eat all that I would like too. That's probably good though I've gained plenty of weight.

I've accumulated a swing, pack'n'play, several blankets, pj's, more diapers, a baby bathtub, and more new outfits recently as well. I'm amazed at the deals that are out there for baby clothes. I really haven't had to buy any for years because we had so many hand me downs. He still needs towels, washcloths, and some hats to keep his little head warm. It feels good to be prepared. We set the pack'n'play up next to our bed and I can't wait until he's in there.

Seeing the new stuff has gotten the girls pretty excited too. They spent most of yesterday making him pictures and cards which they plan to give to him when he comes home from the hospital. I continue to be amazed at how open their hearts are to a new little one. He will be very loved, that's for sure.

26 Weeks

Today I had my 26 week check up. I had to drink the glucola and it was gross. I actually liked it in the past, so I don't know what changed. I got it down though and it didn't make me feel sick or anthing. I got to the office and I could tell they were rushed. The Doctor came out to the lobby to get me instead of the nurse so the appointment was kind of backwards. I mentioned the contractions I've been having and some other issues which he quickly said were normal. Of course I hope he's right, but I don't really like having contractions at all this early. When it was all said and done I was there less than 15 minutes. $$$$ down the drain.....

25 Weeks

I haven't forgotten about this blog and I certainly haven't forgotten how fast this pregnancy is flying by and how little time I have left to prepare. I keep telling myself I will get in gear after Christmas. As the 3rd trimester approaches I'm feeling that exhausted feeling again. I find myself falling asleep on the couch nearly every night shortly after the girls crash. I'm not uncomfortable really at all yet aside from hideous heartburn/acid reflux. This is new for me and will have to be dealt with at my next appointment in a week. TUMS are just not cutting it. I'm enjoying indulging on anything and everything this holiday season. After all, it is my last chance. Only a little over 3 months and he will be here!

Looking

I've really been thinking hard about what things we really need to buy for this baby. After having 4 babies I know at this point what things I will most likely never use. Tonight while I was out shopping I browsed the baby section and found a pack'n'play I love and will be getting for sure. I love how compact it is for all it does. It's a bassinett, changing table, play pen, diaper stacker, etc. all in one. Now that I know I won't be taking him upstairs to his room anytime soon I think something like that will be convenient to have on the main level. Does anyone else who reads here have any must haves for a new baby? Anything they bought that was a total waste? I'd love to know ahead of time.

Happy Thanksgiving

In honor of the Holiday, here's my 23 week belly shot!

23 Weeks 1 Day

This pregnancy continues to fly by without too much drama. Especially as of late. So instead of talking about what's going on (same ol' same ol') I thought I'd list a few of my favorite foods this pregnancy:

• mashed potatoes and gravy
• rolls
• chili dogs (this one is weird because I'm usually not a fan)
• Burger King (also not usually a favorite)
• Stew made with roast meat
• eggs 'n toast
• milk and chocolate milk
• pink lemonade

Those are just a few of my favorites. With the girls I was much more into sweets. This time I'm all about the real food. I'm so excited for tomorrow. I love being pregnant at the holidays and not having to worry about what I'm eating. Sweet bliss......

More Stuff

Today we did some more shopping for the new little one. It is so fun to look through the clothes. This time of year is really great for sales too. Since he's coming in March there are lots of fall clothes that will work great that are on sale and clearance. Today we bought 5 new snuggly designed onesies, two pair of pants that coordinate with all 5 tops, and an overall outfit for church. He's doing so good on stuff so far.

Tonight as I was laying there kicks could be felt on my belly. Everyone, including Boo, took turns having a feel. It's amazing that even the 5th time could be this exciting, but it is. It is every bit as exciting as the very first time. I think it helps that our whole family is so excited. The other day the girls got into an argument over who would be the very first person to hold him after he was born. I solved that one quickly. It will be me. You can bet on that!

Huge

I knew this was coming. I've never quite been able to escape it. Massive weight gain. This time I made it farther than ever. For the first 18 weeks I lost a pound or two but no gain. Granted I started out overweight so it's not like I was lookin' good or anything. Then this last couple of weeks the pounds found me. I don't know if it was the fact that everyone has been sick and we were so sedentary. It may just be my luck. Either way it's happening. It's a vicious cycle too. The bigger I get the less I feel like doing and the less I feel like doing the bigger I get. Oh well, I keep telling myself, I've lost it 4 times, what's one more?

A Rant

I tend to sugar coat things sometimes. I want to remember things as perfect and wonderful so I convince myself they are. Well in this case they're not. The pregnancy is great. Really it is. I feel great, the baby's growing good, what more could you ask for? Maybe a competent doctors office would be a good start. I like my OB I really do. It's the same doctor I had for both Midge and Boo as well. In the months before I became pregnant with this baby the office made some major changes. Instead of being a private office it combined with a hospital affiliated practice. They moved to a different building and the entire staff changed.

Unfortunately it was not a change for the better. Many services that were offered through the old office are now only offered through the hospital. This is not nearly as convenient as what I was used to. The new nurse is horrible. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt I really did. She is new and I understand that, but she acts irritated and annoyed with any questions I have and I really don't ask many. I have never been a nightmare patient. At my appointment yesterday she didn't take a urine sample, didn't ask how having the flu went, and didn't ask if I had been having any more problems. I would've brought any of this up on my own if I could have gotten in a word edgewise. We had already decided that this will be our last little one but if it wasn't I would be forced to go somewhere else next time.

Long Wait

I love the fact that when I leave after an OB appointment I have the reassurance that things are progressing normally. At this point though, I sometimes find the visits to be a bit of a let down. I don't know what I expect really. Take today for example. My appointment was at 11 am. They require you to arrive and check in 10 minutes early. So the girls and I got there at 10:50 and I was called back at 11:30. I was finally seen by the doctor at 11:45 and out the door by 11:50. A whole hour for a 5 minute visit. I do enjoy hearing the heartbeat, but at this point I'm feeling the baby move, a lot, so it's kind of assumed. At least I only have a few appointments left before I'm in the home stretch. That's when things get exciting again!

22 Weeks

When I look at my ticker in the sidebar I really can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday it said 35 weeks to go. Time it does fly! Pregnancy wise things are still great. I feel movement very regularly and we can now see him moving around from the outside as well. He's strong and wiggly that's for sure. I love him so much already it's unbelievable. I want him here, but I know that this is easier. Especially with everyone being so sick the last couple of weeks.

I have an OB appointment tomorrow and I'll hear his heartbeat again. I'm going to take the little girls with me. They behave so well and they like being a part of things. I'll take another belly shot this weekend since it's been almost 4 weeks since my last. My belly is huge so prepare yourself!

New Stuff

Today my Mom brought by a new outfit for the baby. It's an adorable, newborn sized, baseball uniform. I love it. It's so exciting to get new stuff. I'm hoping I'll be motivated by the new things I've gotten in the last couple of days to work on his room some. I really don't need much of the big stuff. Of course we have a crib, dresser, and all that stuff. I'm mostly working on collecting clothes and stuff. I have no boy blankets, towels, or hats. I'd like to start him a hat collection as it will still be cold when he gets here. Several people have donated items their done with and that's exciting too.

My heartburn is back. Manageable, but annoying. I've also been having more really weird dreams. Even so I've been sleeping good at night. I think my days are so long I'm exhausted and there's not much that could get in the way of my sleep. Hopefully I'll get more of that this weekend.

Motivation? Nesting?

If I weren't feeling movement I would not believe I was pregnant. I'm used to being huge, so that's no big deal. Exhausted, aren't we all? Now, this may sound absolutely wonderful. A pregnancy with no nausea, regular headaches, and sore feet sounds like dream. Well that part is great. The down side is I have none of the motivational type symptoms I had with all of the girls. That clean the house from top to bottom, scrub 'til you drop, organize like crazy but has never hit. Not at all. Sure I want it all done. If someone else wants to do it I guess. I wonder if it will come soon? I only have about 8 more weeks before I know I will feel too huge to do anything major. I really want to get motivated while I still feel good. Sometimes I wonder if I have more energy than I think I do and it's just zapped up taking care of all of the responsibilities I have. I'm sure I'll get it all done, I just don't want to feel rushed.

21 Weeks

Right now, pregnancy wise, things are about as good as they get. Im recovering nicely from my bout with the flu and really feeling good. The little thumps and bumps have turned into very clear punches and kicks. This baby is very active which I don't mind a bit. In fact I always love the reassurance. My emotions are all over the place. At times I just want the baby here, safe and sound. Other times I am perfectly content just being pregnant and knowing I have quite a bit of time to prepare. I think that's normal and definitely follows suit with my previous pregnancies.

I Survived!

Well I worried and worried about getting the flu during this pregnancy and sure enough I did. In a way though, I can say the worry was good. It prepared me in a way. Right when I started feeling symptoms, a cough, sore throat, headache, fever, etc, I got the Tami flu. I've heard many people say it didn't help them at all. For me it made a whole world of difference. It's only been 4 days and I am already feeling better! Whew. Onward and upward I suppose.

If this week slows down a little sickness wise, I would really like to work on the baby's room. We have a great theme in mind. I'll keep it a surprise until I have some pics of the plans. Don't worry it won't disappoint. Other than that I'm just looking forward to having a healthy family again.

20 Weeks *Updated

With my history, it's fairly safe to assume, I am over half way done with this pregnancy. That is unbelievable. In some ways I am enjoying being pregnant. It's so fun to have this little guy growing and moving inside of me. It has also been anxiety inducing this time. Topping my list of worries is this stupid flu scare. I am worried about the girls getting it. I am worried that I will get it. I am even more worried that he will get it right after birth. It's a downer. I know there's a lot of media hype, but it is real and I know real people who have suffered real complications. I don't think the girls will even be allowed to visit at the hospital. This is probably in everybody's best interest, but still different.

On a lighter note, I have accumulated a few things since finding out we're having a boy. I now have a jacket, an outfit, a really cute t-shirt, and some washcloths. It's a start and so fun to see the different stuff for boys. We've also bought some diapers so far and plan to continue buying a bag every couple of weeks to stock up. By the time he gets here I should have only 1 in diapers. I have another appointment in two weeks and by then it will almost be thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to eating for two that day!

*Chiggie was sent home from school today with a high fever. Boo is now passed out on the couch with a fever as well. Did I jinx myself or what??? Praying this ends soon!

I Like to Move it Move it

That must be this little boy's motto because that is exactly what he does for about 90% of his time. I'm actually shocked at how much movement I feel this early. I think the fact that this is my 5th pregnancy helps a bit there. Every time I eat he starts moving around almost immediately. I'm not complaining, it's very reassuring really. I wonder what he'll do when as his space to dance around shrinks over time.

Along with feeling more movement I have also been feeling swollen lately. My legs and hands especially. I had preeclampsia with Chiggie and I would never want to repeat that experience again. So far I have no symptoms. My face and feet haven't swelled up at all. This has been a great week. No issues what so ever. I am really hoping things stay that way!

19 Weeks

We're almost to the top of the hill now. This is a great time of year to be pregnant. It's such a busy, fun, season that I don't have much time at all to dwell on the small issues. Things are going well. I continue to have spotting, but am trying to stay off of my feet as much as possible. My heartburn is mild and is controlled entirely by Tums. I'm never nauseated, even while riding in the car. I am sleeping well at night. At least nothing pregnancy related is keeping me up. My only real complaint remains daytime fatigue. I don't remember being this tired at this point in past pregnancies, but I suppose I could be forgetting. I enjoy the kicks and bumps and keep reminding myself of what's to come.

Dreams

Every time that I have been pregnant I have considered waiting until the birth to find out the baby's gender. Each time I've come up with some random excuse to find out. I need to buy clothes, get the room ready, prepare siblings, etc. In the end I've never regretted knowing. I'm sure it's a wonderful experience to be surprised, but the birth itself has always been quite enough excitement in one day for me. Something about knowing the gender of the baby changes things for me. All of the sudden I know something so very important and special about this new little being.

Since my Thursday ultrasound I have had the most vivid dreams about the baby. I am holding him wrapped snuggly in blankets. I see him and he's gorgeous. He looks so much like all of the girls. I feel a new connection. I did this with all 4 girls as well. I have dreams for him as well. The baby, boy, and man he will be. It's such a responsibility. One I've never taken lightly as a parent. Right now I'm content to have him snuggly in my belly where he's safe from the world.

18 3/4 Week Belly Shot

Now that I'm definitely showing I thought I'd start posting weekly belly shots. As huge as I look at this point I haven't gained any weight. In fact I'm still 3 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight. I'm growing though. It will be interesting to watch the progression over the next 20 weeks or so.

Relief and Surprise!

I had my ultrasound today. Since I am already over 18 weeks they went ahead and did a full anatomy scan. After the last week and a half it was fantastic to actually see the baby. We had the best ultrasound technician ever and she was very informative. She told us everything she was doing. To answer a few of the questions that the bleeding caused, my placenta is great and right where it's supposed to be. The amniotic fluid levels are perfect as well. Baby is measuring almost a week bigger than our dates, but our dates are accurate so no due date changes. The bleeding is most likely caused by a cervical abrasion and doesn't affect our little one at all. I have to stay off my feet when I'm spotting, but things look really good. I was so relieved I cried.

We weren't really sure if we'd leave today knowing what we're having. Mostly we just wanted everything to be okay, so either way we would've left happy. The tech was great though and she knew very early on. She showed us and another tech confirmed out thoughts. So as promised I can now tell everyone how the intelligender test went. I took the test exactly as instructed. I even held my bladder all night long. First thing in the morning I took the test and it said:

The color code is right there on the bottle. Orange is for girl and the green color indicates boy. We got a very clear BOY result. I've never tried this before and we did it just for fun. We never bought anything or told anyone we knew what we were having.

Well today we know. The test was RIGHT! Yep we are having a little boy. Of course we're all elated that things look so great and he's growing perfectly!

Appointment

I finally got in to see my elusive OB today and the appointment went well. I am right on track with growth and the heart beat was strong at 152bpm. It was very relieving. Even though I've been feeling lots of movement the heartbeat was nice to hear. I'll have an ultrasound soon to attempt to determine the cause of some of the issues I've been having. At that time we should also find out the gender!

18 Weeks

I am almost half way there. A while back in an attempt to scientifically guestimate our newest baby's birthday the King and I came up with a formula.

Chiggie-15 days early
Tea-20 days early
Midge-3 days early
Boo-12 days early

15+20+3+12= 50/4=12.5

So we're predicting the baby will come about 12.5 days early. With a due date of March 23rd that puts the arrival date right at March 10th at noon. Sounds good to me. As far as new symptoms this week there haven't been many. My heartburn has gone from slight to regular. Breathing seems to give me heartburn at this time. I should have very healthy bones with the amount of Tums I've been popping.

I wish I could say that the issues I'd been having disappeared but they haven't. They've picked up if anything. I'll be interested to see if I have a low lying placenta or something of that nature. I've had to resort to self diagnosis as getting in to actually see the doctor is next to impossible. The nurse assured me that even if I was to get in sooner than my scheduled appointment I would probably only get "temporary reassurance" anyway. She's a real sweetheart I tell ya.

Thankfully my appointment is tomorrow and I will hopefully get some answers. In the meantime we have finally picked out two names that we really like. Keeping with tradition we will wait until the birth to make the announcement, but I feel relieved just to have that part out of the way. I will be sure to update tomorrow when I know more.

Very Reassuring

It is almost as if the baby got the message that I was feeling a little nervous and picked up the pace. I am now feeling A LOT of movement. All the time, I get little nudges and bumps. I'm not even quite 18 weeks yet and just yesterday felt it from the outside as well. I think he/she is trying to tell us that everything is just fine in there. It certainly makes us feel better.

Last night we were out shopping and looking around and took a trip through the baby department. It's so fun to look at all the tiny clothes and to know that not very long from now we'll have clothes that size hanging in the closet. We picked out a couple of outfits for each gender that we really liked with the intent of coming back after the ultrasound. When I'm feeling good and not having any problems I am enjoying being pregnant again.

Relaxing

I honestly think I am feeling better today. The spotting has pretty much stopped altogether and that's a relief. The other physical symptoms remain, but I am relaxing. I've really tried to take it easy the past couple of days. I don't have a whole lot going on the rest of the week so it shouldn't be too hard to keep that up. The hardest part is watching the girls drag all of their toys downstairs knowing I won't get up to stop them. I know the house will still be standing. Hopefully I'll get some answers in a week.

Frustrated

I should start by saying that I debated a good while about whether or not I even wanted to put up a post about this. Finally I decided to go ahead being my ultimate goal in the end is to have an accurate record of the details, good and bad, about this pregnancy.

When I was pregnant for Chiggie I had some symptoms of preterm labor. I never dilated or effaced, but I spend some time in the hospital on IV meds and was put on pill form for around 12 weeks. With Tea I had one similar incident. I had contractions was admitted and spent 24 hours on IV meds. Once released it never happened again. My water broke with her at 36 weeks 6 days and she was born healthy. The next two pregnancies bore no symptoms at all.

Fast forward to this pregnancy. For a couple of weeks I have felt crampy. It's strange to say because I am so early on. I have several painless contractions (BH) a day and sometimes more. Yesterday they were very frequent. I did the usual, drank plenty of water, kept off of my feet, went to bed early, etc. I remember having some cramping in the night, but felt decent this morning. As the day wore on the cramping/tightening came back. I again pushed the water and tried to lay down for a bit. I was fine until I started spotting. This upset me. Alone it would have suprised me a bit, but combined with the cramping I was worried.

It was my OB's lunch hour so I waited it out until I could call the office. I called the King at work so that he could come home and help with the girls. I was pretty sure I'd be going in anyway. Much to my surprise, when I got a hold of the office they didn't want me to come in. They said that since I was only 17 weeks there was nothing that they could do anyway. 20 weeks is the age of viability, which I already knew, but still. Wouldn't they want to make sure there wasn't an underlying cause? What about peace of mind? Maybe just letting me hear the heartbeat would've helped me out in the stress department.

I don't even know what to think at this point. I'm irritated beyond belief. I'm anxious, but I also believe the baby is just fine. I have an appointment a week from tomorrow. That seems like forever right now though. Until then I'll just take it easy . I'll try to stay positive and think good thoughts. If anything changes I plan on just going straight to the ER, even though that sounds like a nightmare. I'd appreciate any prayers you have.

17 Weeks

We're cruising right along through the 2nd trimester. Some less than pleasant symptoms are creeping their way in to the picture but they're more of an annoyance than a problem. They include:

• restless legs at night
• daytime sleepiness (this has lasted pretty much the entire pregnancy but is intensifying again)
• an irritable uterus, frequent cramping, etc.
• leg pain

As the baby grows I'm sure the list will grow as well. I can honestly say that I am enjoying being pregnant. It's going by almost too fast. When I hear of friends having their babies I hope that my pregnancy lingers just a bit longer than I feel theirs have. I got the results back from my quad screen and they were all normal. That is always reassuring.

A Decade

When I got pregnant for Chiggie I was 19 years old. I will be 29 in March. That means that my first pregnancy and this one are nearly a decade apart. I can honestly say that age plays a factor. With my first pregnancy I had morning sickness for 12 weeks, preeclampsia, pitting edema, all topped off with PUPP. It was miserable. I delivered in early June, but it was unusually hot and humid. Our air conditioner wasn't working and frankly I don't know how I survived.

In comparison this pregnancy has been a cake walk. I haven't had severe morning sickness at all, no high blood pressure, extreme weight gain, or bizarre rashes. But I can say that the symptoms I do experience feel more exaggerated. I'm not old by any means, but I really can say that I think I have less of a tolerance over time. If I had a pregnancy this time like my first I would be a basket case, while at the ripe old age of 19/20 I was a real trooper. Now I can also say that having 4 other kids plays a role too. I can't rest whenever I feel tired, far from it in fact. There is no such thing as sleeping in. Even snacking is more difficult. We're on a tight budget and most of the snacks we have are really more for the kids.

I'm really not complaining, just comparing. All pregnancies are different I know that. Sometimes I just wonder if its really the pregnancy or all of the other factors involved. Maybe this pregnancy isn't as easy as I think it is. Maybe I'm just much more pre-occupied. I certainly don't have as much time to dwell as I did in the past. I feel like I'm barely pregnant at almost 17 weeks and with Chiggie by this time I felt as though I'd been pregnant forever. It's all perspective I suppose. It will be interesting to see how I feel in the end.

Bumps in the Night

Okay, now I can say with absolute certainty that I am feeling movement. Usually only at night while laying in bed, but I am assuming because that is when I am most likely to notice. It's a very subtle thump here and there. It feels so low so I am assuming it's kicks, but you never know.

I went on Wednesday for my quad screen, which I hate, but at least it's over with. I'm not expecting to hear anything back but with the high rate of false results I wouldn't panic if I did. I would refuse an amnio anyway. My next OB appointment is a week from Wednesday. I am so excited because I will be 18 weeks. Time to schedule an ultrasound. More than anything I am looking forward to seeing this babe again. I have an ultrasound pic from 6 weeks and it is amazing how clear the baby is in that picture. It makes me that much more excited for the changes we will see.

16 Weeks

I don't know why but 16 weeks has always seemed like such a big deal to me. With all of my pregnancies. I guess being that close to half way just makes it more real or something. It's hard to imagine that in less than a month we will most likely know the gender of the baby and be able to get started on the room. How exciting is that.

My stomach has been a bit more sensitive lately. Not in a nauseated way or anything, just much less tolerable of junk. I don't like the way I feel when I eat first thing in the morning. I also have a seasonal habit of eating my own weight in candy corns every fall and this baby just isn't having it. I always feel strange after eating them. Kind of light headed. It's sad really. I guess I'll just have to double my intake next year.

I have dreamt of the baby several nights in a row. Last night I had the weirdest dream that right after the baby was born we adopted a little girl from China and were taking care of two babies. Don't get me wrong that would be great, just a strange thing to dream when we're not in the adoption process or anything. In another dream I had the baby and immediately began dreading going back to work. I don't work outside of the home so I found that a little strange.

I don't really feel like I have any major pregnancy symptoms anymore. Aside from an ever growing belly that is. No real sickness, headaches, or excessive fatigue to speak of. I'm tired, but I think that's to be expected. I continue to be amazed at how natural the girls are about this pregnancy. It's like they just always knew there would be more. They don't act jealous or nervous at all. Chiggie talks quite a bit about where she will be, what will happen if she's at school etc. We just reassure her that as the time nears we will make all of the appropriate plans and she'll know exactly what is going on. At this point I can't imagine being close, but I know in due time.

Nesting?

I can't say that it's nesting for sure, but I have definitely gotten the organizational itch as of late. Why didn't anybody ever tell me that pregnancy, 4 kids, and organization don't really go hand in hand? I'm often frustrated by my lack of ability to get things I want to get done, done. I need to try and stay focused more often. I work myself like crazy one day and then do nothing the next. There has to be a happy medium. I just keep reminding myself that in the end the baby is not really going to care too much about what the house looks like. That can't see that well in the beginning right?

Update

My back feels much better. I'm so relieved it was short lived. Last night I used a heat pack and that helped a lot. I'm wondering if back pain might be a recurring theme this pregnancy though. My belly feels so heavy and I'm not even 20 weeks. The girls have even commented on how "huge" it is. Fortunately for them, at this point, I take this as a compliment.

My Achin' Back

Aside from the very end, my back has never bothered me during pregnancy. Even with massive, and I do mean massive, weight gains. My feet sure, but my back never. Until yesterday that is. The only thing I can think of was that I sat in a hard kitchen chair leaning forward for too long. Weird I know, but that's when it started hurting. I'm positive it's muscle pain. I have no other other symptoms and the tenderness is constant. Heat seems to help and I was able to sleep okay last night. I tried to take it somewhat easy today with the result being a messy house and bickering girls. I really hope this is short lived and I'm going to be more careful throughout the remainder of the pregnancy.

15 Weeks Wow!

I hate to have so much time go in between updates, but seriously not a whole lot changes from day to day. I'm still feeling good, still starving, and still tired most of the time. I am 90% sure that I feel fluttering at this point. I can't wait to start feeling the more distinct thumps here and there. I am loving my maternity clothes this go around. I had some very generous relatives help me out and I actually have more clothes now than I think I ever have before. It's so nice because I really have to get out quite a bit and having something nice to wear helps so much.

I went to breakfast this morning with a friend from church who is due with her 2nd baby boy any day now. It was fun to chat with another pregnant person. It also amazed me that while I am very excited for her I really am glad I have a ways to go. It's not just that I'm not ready at home, I'm not quite ready mentally either. It's amazing how much having a newborn around changes your schedule. For now I'll just enjoy the frequent meals, naps, and waiting.

14 Weeks and an Appointment

Aside from being tired, which I can't even blame entirely on the pregnancy, we are sailing along on very smooth waters. I'm enjoying this while it lasts but hoping it does indeed last. Today I had my 14 week Dr. appointment and things are progressing normally. The heartbeat is 140 bpm and I measured right on. Shocking to me was the fact that I have lost 4 pounds. Even with my recent eating binges. I guess the walking back and forth to school and jogging the sidelines at soccer have made a difference. I'm certainly not on a diet or anything. In fact I am very much enjoying eating whenever I feel like it. I don't want to gain a bunch of weight though, so losing a little in the beginning is never a bad thing.

Midge came with me today and I was so proud of how quietly she sat in the waiting room. The office was running behind and we had to wait 45 just to be seen. Of course I bought her and the other girls happy meals afterwards. She kept asking if the baby was going to come out today. She loves to hear the heartbeat and get a sucker when the appointment is over. It's fun to have her there too.

Starving

A new symtom has manifested in the last few days. I am famished 99.9% of the time. I even find myself waking in the night for a little snack. This is very unusual for me even during pregnancy and I'm wondering, not worried, if it is a symptom of something else. I take my vitamins so I don't think I'm lacking or anything. At church today I could barely make it through the service I was so excited for the bagels at intermission. Oh the shame. Even more shamefull is when Boo said she was done with her donut after only one bite and I proceeded to eat that as well. My weight check on Wednesday can't go well.

Feeling Huge

My belly that is. It is out there that's for sure. I can't even lay on my tummy anymore at night. When I lay on my back there is a very obvious bump. I love it. At times though it can be a little uncomfortable. The girls are slowly beginning to understand that they can't just pounce on me anymore. They are very protective of the baby.

No News is Good News

I'm going to say it. I'm going to go ahead and jinx myself. This is absolutely by far the easiest pregnancy I have ever had. I feel good. I look good ( I dare you to disagree lol) and I feel overall very easy going. The girls and I have been taking 2 walks a day, to and from school, and I think that's helping. I'll be interested to see what my weight is next Wednesday. I do need to get some better shoes because my feet have been hurting. No more flip flops for a while I suppose.

I've also been getting very excited. The other night I had a strange dream. I dreamt we were showing the baby to people and it was clearly a Cabbage Patch Kid, not a human baby. Not really sure what to make of that one. I've looked at baby pictures of all of the girls and fantasized about what this baby will look like. The girls talk about the baby all the time and I am amazed at their excitement as well. They talk about what they will share and the things that they will help the baby learn. I love them so much and I can't wait to have another one to hug on.

Worry

I spent the last day or so agonizing over getting the flu. Fortunately that wasn't the case, but still I am even amazed at how much I worry. You would think that this pregnancy thing would get easier by the 5th time around. The truth is it doesn't. More routine, sure. Easier, no. It's kind of like having kids. You worry about all of your kids and their health, not just your first couple. I've also become much wiser with age and am very aware of the things that can go wrong. I'm trying to stay positive and relax, but it's hard, it really is.

12 Weeks

Tomorrow I will be 12 weeks. Time flies I guess. I definitely feel pregnant at this point. I haven't felt even slightly nauseous in a while. Most of the time, unless I really think about it, I just feel like my "normal" self. I'm pretty sure I've gained some weight though and I hope it's not much. I think our busy lifestyle has been a blessing this go around. It keeps my mind off of the monotonous and I don't really have time to dwell on every little detail. My next appointment in on the 23rd and I'll be excited to hear the heartbeat again.

All for Nothing

The past week or so I was so nervous for school to start. I was terrified that the early hours and busier schedule would throw my already tired and worn down body further into a funk. Surprisingly that hasn't been the case at all. In fact I would even go as far as to say the busier schedule is making me feel better. The last few summer days just drrrruuuugggg by. I found myself spending the whole day ready for bedtime. Now I don't really have as much time to think about how tired I am. Plus with the girls being much busier during the day as well they are falling right to sleep at night. We're all getting more sleep than we were and better sleep too. I love when things work out so well.

Decisions

I took the gender test, just for fun, on Saturday. It was a fun and easy test to take. We'll now pretty quick if it's accurate or not. The King and I decided that we will be revealing the new baby's gender as soon as we know for sure. It would just be too big of a secret for us to keep. I couldn't never make the girls wait that long to find out if we already knew and once they had the news everyone would know. On that same note I'll let everyone know what the Intelligender test said after we find out the results of the ultrasound. That way we'll know the accuracy. I took pictures to document the moment, don't worry.

Just Couldn't Resist

I'll let you know what we find out. Maybe.....

10 Weeks and a Doctors Appt.

Yesterday I had my monthly check-up with my OB. Everything seems to be progressing normally and that is always reassuring. I actually lost a pound and I was excited about that. I don't want to gain much weight at all with this pregnancy since I started out on the heavy side. I also got to hear the heartbeat with the doppler for the 1st time. It was 152 bpm. Midge was with me and she thought that was pretty cool.

He said I can take Sudafed for my allergies until I am 13 weeks and then any antihistamine past that point is ok. I've actually been feeling a little better, but we've also been staying inside to protect my sinuses. This weekend was rough but this week has been great. I've had a bit more energy again and haven't felt sick at all. I can't believe I'm already 1/4 way through this pregnancy. I'm looking forward to the 2nd trimester, that's always been my favorite.

Fluctuations

I might as well be trying to journal about two completely separate pregnancies. It seems every time I post an entry things change. One day, or several, I feel great and then not so much. This weekend I felt awful. Exhausted, headache, lethargic, you get the picture. It is so hard to watch everything around me crumble when I feel this way. I get up to try and pull things together but don't make it very far before I feel like I'll faint if I don't sit back down. On top of that my allergies are going crazy. I never have seasonal allergies in the fall. I have no idea why this year would be different. I'm constantly sneezing and rubbing my eyes. It feels like a perpetual cold. Two weeks and I will be done with the first trimester. Good riddance first trimester, good riddance!

What's in a Name

We've been talking about names quite a bit around here lately. We had been set on a boy's name for a while when we both changed our minds. It was the same name Chiggie would've had if she had been a boy. It just doesn't sound right anymore. Maybe too feminine, maybe a bit of a tongue twister to say. Bottom line we don't like it anymore. We've come up with a new one we love and it sounds great. So, if it's a boy we have him covered in that department.

If it's a girl she just might remain nameless. Seriously, who's idea was it to end all of our children's names with the same letter. Oh yeah, mine. At the time I had no idea I might have to come up with a 5th girls name. Sheesh who would've thought? We've got time though. We'll just have to keep thinking......

Great

Sometimes I think it's too good to be true how easily this pregnancy is going. I have had little to no nausea since the very beginning. I'm getting my energy back and overall feeling really great. This is absolutely, by far, the easiest early pregnancy I have ever had. Who knows what the 2nd and 3rd trimester will bring, but for now I'm just enjoying feeling well.

I think about the baby all of the time. I look at the girls and wonder who the baby will resemble the most. Will she/he have blonde or brown hair? Dark or light eyes? I'm really leaning towards thinking the baby is a boy. I don't know why for sure, just a guess. We'll find out soon enough. This time we're debating keeping the gender a secret. I'm not very good with secrets though so we'll just have to see.

Wardrobe

The last couple of weeks I have been in quite a clothing pickle. See, I gained a bit of weight before I even got pregnant. So, my pre-pregnancy clothes have been getting tighter and tighter. Lately I've been finding myself standing in front of the closet with nothing to wear. Finally I decided to just buy some maternity clothes already. Even though I usually don't start wearing them until the 2nd trimester, it's better than what I have. While we were school clothes shopping for Chiggie I picked up some fall outfits for myself. It' s nice to actually want to shower and get ready because I have something to wear. It was a good decision.

8 Weeks

So far the time is going by pretty fast. I think it will go by even faster once school starts. I can't believe I've know I was pregnant for a month now. So far this pregnancy has been pretty mild I would say. I've been a little nauseous occasionally, had a few headaches, and been pretty tired, but I've also maintained a normal schedule. For me that hasn't always been the case so I'll take it. I think about the baby a lot. The girls talk a lot about their thoughts too. They change their guesses from boy to girl on a regular basis. My next appointment is in two weeks and I'm looking forward to hearing the heartbeat again!

Questions and Answers

Pregnancy seems to be a time when people let their guards down, if they ever even had one, and ask you those questions they're just dying to know the answer to. The questions baffle me, annoy me, and make me laugh. Here's some that I've gotten so far in no particular order:

• How many kids are you guys gonna have??? Hmmm. I'm not sure really. I've said different numbers at different times and obviously things have changed. I've been "done" before.
• Are you going for a boy? This seems an obvious solution to the perplexity of my multiple pregnancies. Clearly we're not insane, we would just never feel our family was complete without a male offspring right? Wrong. Sure a boy would be great, but I didn't get pregnant as a "one last shot" type of deal. We're well aware of the odds. Sure there's a chance we'll have a boy, but there's the same chance we'll have a girl. Either way we'll have a baby.
• How do you afford all of those kids? Honestly probably the same way most people afford their families. Families much larger than ours do just fine on similar incomes. We are blessed to have what we do and try not to focus on what we don't. It's not always easy but it's not always tough either.
• Do you just love being pregnant? Quite the contrary. I'm not really a big fan of being pregnant myself. It's the result not the process that I enjoy. I'm a private person that doesn't like a lot of attention, so it's certainly not a ploy for that.
• Don't you know what causes that? We're pretty sure. After this baby I plan to drink only decaffeinated beverages. We'll see what happens.

How about you? What's the strangest thing someone has ever said you when you were pregnant?

Wishful Thinking

I think I was really starting to believe that I might just get lucky enough to escape the dreaded morning sickness this time. That fantasy sadly ended this week. It seems 7 is not my lucky number. Fortunately, so far, I don't have the miserable all day sickness I had with Boo, but it's enough to make my stomach turn on and off throughout the day.

It seems much worse when I have to get up early and start moving right away. If I'm able to sleep in and move slowly I still feel nauseated but I'm able to keep my stomach contents where they belong. I'm also having the foggy hormonal headaches I love so much. I can't really take anything for them that doesn't make my stomach feel worse so I just try resting when they get too bad.

The good news is time is passing quickly. Early pregnancy can be tough when you have many little ones already, but I'm finding I don't have the time I had in the past to dwell on it. The second trimester will be here before I know it.

Exhaustion

No creative, catchy title, just telling it like it is right now. My first official, major symptom, is in fact utter exhaustion. It doesn't help that we are just so busy right now. I know, this is supposed to be the relaxing time of year right? I can't tell you how much that worries me for the fall. Just today I had to be up bright and early for church, worked in the nursery, and stayed after church for a meeting that lasted until after 2pm. Once home I had to make our dishes for tonight's pool party. By the time that was done it was time to get ready for the party.

It was relaxing to be at the pool because we got to eat dinner there with very little clean up. The girls had a fabulous time swimming with all of their friends and I'm hoping they will sleep good tonight. The hardest part about being so tired is not being able to find much time to rest. I just keep reminding myself how quickly this part of pregnancy passes. I find myself literally feeling like I could fall asleep standing up. Speaking of sleep, I'm off to try and get some.

For Breakfast?

One thing that I can say that is different for me as far as this pregnancy goes is my appetite in the morning. In all 4 previous pregnancies by the time I hit about 5 1/2 -6 weeks, food was not anywhere near my thoughts first thing in the morning. In fact I suffered quite severely from morning sickness. Now I have had moments of queasiness just nothing too severe yet. It's not just that I'm hungry in the morning it's that I am not hungry for breakfast food. Cereal, toast, pancakes, nope none of that sounds good. So this morning I just went with it and I had a chili dog. For breakfast. I know this is wrong in so many ways but yet so satisfying. I wonder what weird craving I'll have in the end????

Results

This morning I got the results back from my Wednesday blood tests. I was surprised to hear back so soon and relieved that everything came back normal. I'll have my blood drawn to check thyroid levels periodically throughout the pregnancy and then after the baby is born. The odds are fairly good I'll have postpartum thyroiditis again. The only difference is this time we know to watch for it. I'll also be able to take medication to shrink the goiter. I'm so glad I'll finally get treatment and that the pregnancy most likely won't be effected at all.

Early Visit

Today my worry came to a head. After several days of not feeling the side ache pain that I had been having, I woke up this morning feeling it stronger than ever. When I pushed around on my abdomen it felt very tender. I called my OB's office and left a message for the nurse. It took her a bit to call me back and I started to worry she might not call until the end of the day. I made the girls some lunch and just waited. All the while analyzing every possible thing that could be causing my side cramp. Before I could think of anything too terrible the phone rang and I had an appointment at 1pm. It was 12:15.

I hurried the girls through their lunch and whisked them off to my Mom's house. Luckily we live in a small town and I was there on time no problem. I filled out the standard stack of new paperwork and waited in the lobby for what seemed like forever. By the time they called me back into the exam room I was feeling nervous. I kept second guessing myself. I wondered if maybe I should've just waited. Bottom line, I didn't want to hear any bad news.

The second my Doctor came in I felt at ease. He was so friendly and upbeat. He assured me he would do an ultrasound. The second the screen came on it was clear that everything was okay with the baby. I could see the sac right away. He zoomed in and at 6 weeks 1 day the little heart was beating fast and strong. He found the baby no problem right in the uterus where he/she should be. Whew. The relief brought tears to my eyes. It turns out I have a very small cyst on my ovary. Nothing to worry about at all. I never claimed to have a high tolerance for pain.

Aside from the fact that I now know things are progressing, there is another reason that I am so glad I went today. My Doctor was concerned about my thyroid levels. The last time I had them checked was the beginning of the year and they were normal, but he still wanted them ran again. He said my goiter is "huge" and needs to be shrunk. I'm glad I had all my blood work done today vs. three weeks from now. I'll know the results in just a couple of days.

So, I left the office completely different then I arrived. Relaxed and with a picture of our new little Jelly Bean in hand. For some reason I can't scan it right, but you really can see the baby. The girls love it and I think it makes it that much more real to them. Me too.

Feeling Worse, Feeling Better?

Maybe I should count my yo-yoing emotions as a symptom. When I feel good I feel bad and when I feel bad I feel good. Confusing I know. I was so relieved last night to lay in bed feeling sick to my stomach. Very weird. Pregnancy does strange things to people I tell ya. I felt a little better this morning. I've been able to eat just fine, made it to church, and helped out in the nursery with no problem. Still, I am definitely starting to feel the hormonal surge. I'm tired. Really tired. Mildly sick to my stomach in the afternoons/evenings, and feeling emotional to boot. To top it all off, this makes me really happy. Plus the side cramping is gone today which makes me feel so much better. We'll see what this week holds....

Every Day

It's hard to really think of much to say at this point. More accurately what to actually type at this point. I have so many thoughts. I must admit I spend a great deal of time worrying. Every cramp, twinge, side ache, etc. drives me insane. I'm sure this was true in my past pregnancies but really I've forgotten much about the beginnings. In that way the Internet is way more harmful than helpful. Google is not my friend right now. Every day. That's what I keep telling myself. Every day is one day closer to hearing the heart beat and having some reassurance that everything will indeed be okay. I know worrying is useless. It's never ending as well. There will always be something I could worry about I just have to choose to trust that worrying is not the way to go.

Sleeping In

I think the first symptom I've noticed with every pregnancy has been exhaustion. It usually comes on fast and it's the I need to lay down right now kind of tired. Even though I have definitely noticed myself tiring more easily I couldn't be happier to be experiencing early pregnancy during summer vacation. Sleeping until 9 is amazing. I think because of that I never really get the full blown exhausted feeling. We'll see what happens in the weeks to come, but I think that by the time school starts back up and early mornings are a part of everyday life, I'll be far enough along to handle it just fine.

Hmmmm

I saw this while browsing some pregnancy info and found it kind of interesting. Might be fun. I'm not sure how reliable it would be. Has anyone ever tried one of these or do you know anyone who has?

Changes

Today I called my former OB's office to make an initial appointment. I was surprised to find out that he is no longer solo and is now part of a group practice affiliated with the hospital. This is different, but I'm not bothered. He was my doctor for both Midge and Boo and missed both deliveries so I know in the end it won't matter much.

My first appointment is August 17th. As far off as this seems now, I know it will come soon enough. Plus by then I'll get to hear that heartbeat and that will make the wait worth the while. I'm still feeling "normal." I think I've finally got myself to just enjoy feeling well and not worry too much.

The baby also received his/her first gift today. My little sister bought a set of baby wash clothes with money she earned washing cars in her neighborhood. This makes me happy and teary all at the same time. Too sweet! Before I forget, when I first told Chiggie we were going to have another baby she was very excited. A little later in the day she came up to me and asked me how many more babies we were going to have. I told her I was pretty sure this baby would be it for us. She nodded and said "I was just wondering if we were going to be like the Duggar family." Nothing against the Duggars' at all, but I laughed pretty good at that one. I reassured her we weren't going to get our own t.v. show!

Feeling Great

I think pregnancy may be the only time that feeling great actually worries me. I know every time is different but I worry when I feel too good. I don't think I could get lucky enough just to have a whole 9 months of bliss. I guess I just expect any day now to wake up green in the face and unable to roll out of bed. While I hope that doesn't happen, of course, at least it's reassuring that everything is moving on. I'm a bit of a worrier anyway so that's magnified during pregnancy. I doesn't matter how many times you go through it. You still question and wonder about every little thing.

Moving on, we have a lot of work to do around the house to get ready for the baby. Sure we have a good bit of time, but still I'd like to get started so we're not overwhelmed at the end. We need to clean out the extra bedroom upstairs and turn it into Boo's room. She has a corner of our room (which is really big) right now that I will eventually turn into a baby nook. It's going to be a real job to sort through baby stuff and clear out that room. Pace myself, that's what I need to do.

Sounds So Good

I've have some morning sickness with every pregnancy. In two of my pregnancies it was 3 months of constant, can't get off the couch, nausea. I'm hoping it's not like that this time. So far I've had some very mild nausea but nothing major at all. It's still really early though. One symptom I have that I've always had is my eyes are way too big for my stomach. I'll plan a dinner I'm excited about, sit down to eat, and after a few bites I'm done. It always sounds so good, but I can't eat much. I'm hoping not to gain nearly as much weight this time as I usually do, so maybe this will work in my favor. I'm taking my vitamins and drinking extra milk, so I know I'm nutritionally sound. I just hope this isn't a precursor to the major nausea.

We are very excited. The girls know and they're excited too. I try not to spend much time worrying. All the what ifs and wonderings just aren't very productive. I'll see the doctor next month and hopefully get to hear the heartbeat. That will be exciting and reassuring.

Here We Go Again

The title of this blog is in no way meant to imply that this pregnancy wasn't a planned one. It's more that I never would've have imagined I would be expecting our 5th child. I wanted to create a 2nd blog as a way to chronicle even the minute events of pregnancy. I didn't want our family blog to become a pregnancy blog I suppose. So feel free to follow along on this journey which I am sure will prove to be exciting in many ways!