13 Weeks (06/28/13)

The past couple weeks have been a whirl wind; the trip to England especially.  We got there on Monday and it was a long day in which Deb hadn’t slept in about 36 hours and I had only about an hour sleep in that time.  M & P met us at the airport to lead us from Manchester to Doncaster.  M checked that Deb was a good driver, and off we went.  That was an experience, driving on the opposite side of the road and traffic circles everywhere, and M weaving in and out and between traffic.  We later learned he is a rally race driver, and we were following that kind of driving.  We made it in one piece; Deb a little frazzled, but made it none the less. 

The flight there was nice to the fact we had three seats to ourselves.  However there was a screaming child that just wanted to sleep and the parents (mostly the dad) kept waking her up.  She was asleep, he took her pillow, repeat screaming.  As the mum is trying to get her to sleep she kept nudging her shoulders or something and disrupting rem.  Once again the girl about 2-3 years old was asleep, and the dad shook her “Are you ok?”  A few people had asked if the mum needed assistant getting the child to sleep and the mum said no.  After the pillow incident, there were a couple guys near the dad that warned him if he touched the child, follow up wouldn’t be good.  We almost had mutiny on the flight.   So of the 8.5 hour flight the last 2 hours were peaceful.  The child just was TIRED and wanted to sleep. 

We were in England for 5 days and travelling for two.  We crammed a lot of things into 5 days.  Of course main agenda was visiting grandma at the hospital.  She was a lot worse that I was originally prepared for.  Her hair was wisped, teeth out, large gash on the forehead, barely able to speak, tubes up her nose for feeding, oxygen tubes for breathing and left side paralyzed.  It was a shock to the system.  Her mind was 100% there though.  Some hallucinations though, probably medication induced though. 

Other highlights included, my cousin’s wedding, P’s birthday, visiting Cusworth Hall and getting a private tour, visiting Chatsworth Hall/Gardens, getting lost in a town called Chesterfield, Doncaster Markets, downtown Doncaster shops, visiting my Auntie, having lunch with my Uncle, and visiting with P & M & J.  Luckily, the adrenaline of keeping busy kept me awake.  Just the week before pregnancy fatigue had me napping at any given/allowable moment.

Once home it took me a week to get over the jet lag.  Once again I needed to randomly nap.  On the slight plus side, even though I can’t drink coffee, I can drink Tea, good old English Typhoo tea.  Mmmm.  Surprisingly I didn’t gain weight in England.  I think it is mostly due to the fact it was my most active week in months, we did have a lot of naughty foods, ie, chocolates, Fish & Chips with scraps.  Not all bad, but more than normal.

The week after we got back I also had my first ultrasound.  It was great to see baby in there, and a bit of a shock, it became a little more real.  The heartbeat was at a constant 163.  All my chromosome markers that they tested for came back great.  At that day I was then technically 12 weeks from LMP, but they ran from insemination date which put me at 11 weeks and 5 days.  Baby measured to be 11 Weeks 6 Days; so pretty much right on par.  Here are some pictures. 

I’m a little behind on my belly pictures, but really no change from outward appearance.  I’ll post them shortly.  

10 Weeks 3 Days (06/07/13)

From the comments on my last post, I would like to note, I am not trying to lose weight.  I know some weight gain is probably inevitable.  The reason I got worried is because I gained 8 pounds in the first 2 weeks of knowing.  My health and the baby’s health won’t benefit from me gaining 80 pounds.  With that being said, I am eating healthy, same as I have been before getting pregnant, but a bit more of it.  I have not had any energy for exercise though, I’m hoping I am able to do light exercise in my second trimester at least, as I am now noticing I am getting winded a little easier than I should be.  So whatever weight gain happens, will be, and I will deal with it in the aftermath. 

General dietary changes have been, No more coffee (Even Decaf), the smell churns my stomach, and I have been eating more fruit lately instead of things like pretzels or crackers for snacks.  Other than that things are about the same, and I am making sure I get enough calories for baby and me.  I will admit, I have not been logging my food in My Fitness Pal lately.  It is pretty daunting, but I think I will return to logging after England. 

Some food smells, other than coffee, also churn my stomach, the smell of raw onions is a no, we occasionally use a sweet chilli sauce on things, I can’t stand the smell of that now.  We used to have broccoli somewhat consistently, but now I haven’t tried to eat it, but it doesn’t appeal to me at all.  Interesting on how some things effect you and others don’t.  Cravings for things haven’t been bad.  The ones I cater to are fruit and veggies.  Occasionally I get a hankering for something, but I haven’t made Deb do a run out for anything yet.  One of my current is Tempura Vegetables, still haven’t caved into that one yet though, or a fruit smoothie/milkshake made at home, (we have done that once). 

The past couple days has been a bit better as far as fatigue.  It hasn’t felt like I want to nap at every given waking moment.  Plus the nausea has been different.  Not as much all day, but when it is there it is a bit worse.  It’s a give take kind of thing I guess. 

Tonight I have my 2^nd pre natal appointment with my regular doctor.  I hope I don’t leave there in total frustration again.  I haven’t done a mid week weigh in, so I’m not sure if I will have gained or lost from my last appointment.

  

This photo didn’t turn out too well.  It was a late night photo, our work center has crashed from the wall, and the Iphone flash wasn’t enough light.  I guess morning photos are better.  

Nine Weeks 5 Days (06/03/13)

Here is a quick update.  The past few weeks have been extreme fatigue, napping whenever I get the chance.  Things on that are getting a smidge better.  Nausea is still a fighting battle, still using Jolly Ranchers, ginger, and crackers to help that. 

On the weight gain, this past week I was down a bit, so that is a bit better.  The ticker is correct now. I go in for my second pre natal appointment this Friday.  I had the mass blood work done, that tests for blood pathogens, ultrasound stuff, and general counts, this past weekend.  I don’t know the results yet. 

This past weekend we had a good trip to Lethbridge connecting with an old friend of mine from high school.  It was a good visit. 

On May Long weekend, my Grandma had a major health incident.  She had a massive heart attack, which caused an ischemic stroke, in which she collapsed and hit her head on the side table, giving her a large gash on the forehead.  At 90, that is a good thing she was able to survive that to begin with.  Recovery has been a bit hit or miss, but it seems things are getting a bit scary for her, and she is hallucinating again, not sure if that is from the stroke or the medications.  So Deb and I are doing an emergency trip to England, in hopes of getting a last visit in, even if sitting bedside in the hospital.  Maybe that will help her spirits for recovery. We are hoping for the best, preparing for the worse I guess.  

Eight Weeks 1 Day Today (05/23/13)

Picture update to start

This was last week’s photo; delinquent in posting. 

And for this week’s photo.  You can sort of see the tummy starting. 

How have I been feeling, exhausted and morning sickness is kicking up a notch.  Still no actual sickness (knock on wood), but the nausea is getting worse, ginger helping, mint herbal tea helping, and the good old standby saltine crackers, god’s gift to pregnant women.  The thought of some food smells just make my green.  Like this morning we were prepping a slow cooker meal and the thought of onion smell was turning me green, however actually cutting them up I did ok. 

As far as weight, I was up as of Friday, but then I did a mid week weigh in, unofficially, and was down again.  The ticker at the top is no correct however.  I have no longer lost 13 pounds, right now closer to 8.  I may remove it soon, as it is discouraging to know it isn’t true.  Plus as I gain more it will be worse. 

For the May long weekend we did a test run in our recently purchased (used) RV.  Before doing a real run we wanted to make sure we had everything and nothing was going to spring a leak.  We camped with Deb’s mom.  (She took one night at home to be able to make it to Church the next day.)  Overall it was a nice and relaxing weekend.  Good thing too, I had zero energy to get anything done. 

Last night we made one of the recipes from the year book.  It almost didn’t make the get made list, as I wasn’t feeling it with being more and more nauseous.  Alas I’m really glad we did make it.  I am going to share the recipe, as I highly recommend it.  This is how we did it, a few modifications from the original. 

Pea Pesto Pasta

Aprox 3-4 servings of pasta - We used six handfuls of we used rotini.  Cook to preferred texture. 

2 cups of frozen peas, thawed, put through mini ninja to chop up/smoosh slightly.  We decided they should be cooked 1-2 minutes in the microwave.

Boil a can of rinsed Fava beans for 3-4 minutes (We added the rinsed beans directly and decided it would be better warm.)

With the peas in the food processor, add about ¼ cup of olive oil, a couple spoonfuls of chopped garlic and mix again.

Add the pea mixture to the cooked/drained pasta and stir.

In the food processor add a little over ½ cup of blanched almonds and cut them up (This adds a nice crunch to the meal).  Add to the pasta pea mixture.

Add the cooked fava beans to the mix

Add ¾ cup of parmesan to the mix.

Stir together and serve.  This is a quick meal that is pretty good on protein by itself and pretty good.  We did serve with chicken breast strips though.  For a little extra flavour as people desire we had a little Sweet Chili sauce on the side which went well.   This makes about 6 meals at about 488 calories each.  (Not including the sauce or chicken)

It looks like I have an ADD post today, sorry for the multi topic with no consistency.  Pregnancy brain kicking in I guess.  

Six Weeks Today (05/08/13)

This marks the six weeks of being pregnant, although the frame where egg meets sperm is a few weeks less than that.  So far I have been feeling a bit pregnant but nothing extreme.  In the afternoons I get a slight wave of nausea, my moods have been a little elevated, my breasts are fairly tender (and I’m trying to debate if they are bigger or not), random complete exhaustion at any given moment, and I stress at every cramp in the general vicinity of my uterus.  Every now and then (three times so far) I’ve noticed spotting.  This is the reason I obsess over every cramp.  Two of the times spotting can be slightly explained, but the one on Monday as mentioned during my appointment annoyance, was a bit different.  However it did ease off, and didn’t persist, so I’m trying to just let it be. 

It is now hitting the weight gain isn’t going to go like it should in my head.  In part of my personal persuasion to get knocked up, I had convinced myself that I would be able to not gain too much weight, even maybe keep my current weight by gaining baby, but losing butt/thighs.  But I can all ready see some gain in my face which isn’t a good sign for the vision in my head.  It does give me extra motivation for working out though, but not going too hard.  I have been slack in the exercise department lately.  Between taking it easy to make sure the bean sticks, getting over a cold at the same time (only to get it again slightly arg) being exhausted at most times and Deb being sick, we haven’t been getting any workouts in.  That is trying to change though.  So far I try and get out at lunch again for a little walk.  I am making a stronger attempt to make time for a workout in the evenings.  I am getting concerned I will only be able to wear yoga pants, as Plus Plus size maternity wear seems to be in short supply.

This week babycenter.com tells me

How your baby's growing:

This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil.

I’ve tried to look up specific foods to help with developing mouths, ears, and noses, but nothing came up specifically.  Overall we are trying to eat a lot of vegetables to make sure we are getting a variety of required nutrients. 

Apparently onions help with lung function, so I will try to include extra onions in our dinners to assist with baby developing lungs; however onions are a pretty regular addition to our dinners. 

In our hopes of creating a tall nerd we are trying to include more walnuts in our diet.  Mostly sneaking them into a homemade slaw containing dole bagged slaw, light miracle whip, raisins, and you guessed it, walnuts, it is a great combination.  Upon looking further into the benefits of walnuts I discovered that there are quite a few foods that are good for your brain, some of which I don’t see me eating in a million years (sardines, yuck), but some surprising ones like, sage, oats, flaxseed, and eggs.  I think I will try and incorporate more of these foods where I can. 

Appointment Annoyance Part 2 (05/07/13)

Deb and I took time off work this morning to go to our first prenatal appointment with our family doctor, who was supposed to do the Pap test and pelvic exam, per his instructions.  It was because of the Pap/pelvic exam we had to book during the day so a nurse would be there to assist or whatever it is they need to do when you have a male doctor.  We got there, and he didn’t do that exam.  He figured the OBGYN office would do it.  They took my weight and height; the doctor asked a bunch of questions and took my blood pressure.  That was it.  Once again I was mad.  All of this could have been done in the previous appointment; or in an evening/weekend appointment.

The receptionist then gave me a bunch of requisitions for ultrasounds and blood work to be done between 9-11 weeks pregnant.  Once those results come in then I go back for the second prenatal appointment to go over results then they will refer me to a maternity clinic, because per the nurse, I am not high risk due to IUI, but the doctor doesn’t agree.  I tried to state that I was high risk due to my weight, should I be seeing an OBGYN sooner she said no, it is the doctor’s call.  I also tried to mention that I probably won’t qualify for a maternity clinic low risk referral, she didn’t comment on that.  Another wasted appointment, other than picking up my paperwork for three weeks or so from now, and to show I’m all ready gaining weight.  I asked if we needed to get the beta tests done and they said I can if I want, so they gave a requisition for that in case I want to go before my blood work between 9-11 weeks.

While in the appointment I asked about the spotting I had yesterday, and he said “If a miscarriage is happening, there is nothing they can do.  If the bleeding gets a lot worse, go to the hospital.”

This morning I was fed up to no end.  I woke up with a throbbing tooth, a major sore throat (I caught Deb’s cold) and just feeling pregnant tired.  After this appointment I was once again disappointed with the process.  

Appointment Annoyance (05/02/13)

Yesterday was supposed to be the first of many happy prenatal doctors’ appointments. What actually happened was far from it.  The purpose of the appointment was to get a referral to an OBGYN.  The reason is, our doctor does not deliver babies.  This is a question we covered ages ago.  Everywhere I called and asked on what I need to do, ie maternity clinics, and OBGYN offices, was to go to my family doctor and get a referral.  It was what should have been a simple task.  It ended with me vibrating from anger for wasting both Deb’s and my time, which we had to take off work. 

Our doctor knows we were trying to get pregnant via fertility clinic, as we had some hassle in the beginning of this journey getting the required referral to the fertility clinic from him in the first place.  His original stance was that, we don’t have any fertility issues per se, so he couldn’t refer us to the clinic.  Even though I had talked with the fertility clinic and they assured me I did need a referral, and I mentioned this to our doctor point blank.  He just said, you don’t need it, so I won’t give it to you.  “Just give them a call” he said.  Well when I called the fertility clinic back they assured me I needed the referral, our technical fertility issue is we DON’T HAVE SPERM.  So we had to go back to our doctor, explain again that we did need a referral.  The second appointment he gave us one.  Talk about annoying start to the process. 

At some point last week, Deb and I were in our doctor’s office getting refills of prescriptions.  At which appointment we discussed the most recent insemination and the fact that hopefully we would be coming in for a referral for a doctor that deliver’s babies.  It was at this point he could have mentioned what was needed to be done.  Alas, he did not. 

That brings us to yesterday’s appointment, and I’m positive a lot of my anger is enhanced by the pregnancy hormone.  That doesn’t change the fact that I left fuming. 

We book the appointment for first thing in the morning so both Deb and I could make it to the appointment to discuss which doctor I was getting referred to, etc.  Even though it was early, we both had to miss work to make it to this appointment.  But in our heads it was worth the time off.  We wait for our appointment, which was delayed because our doctor took a personal call on his cell.  Not a big issue, we were excited to be talking about baby doctors, so it didn’t matter at the time. 

Once we finally got to the appointment and told him I was pregnant, and we needed a referral to an OBGYN.  This is when he said he needed a letter from the fertility clinic saying they did the IUI, to deem this pregnancy as high risk.  I explained that the IUI does not automatically deem this high risk, there are unfortunately a few factors that he can choose from (weight, asthma, crohns), but the IUI does not.  He was then raising his voice saying he NEEDED the letter or certificate from the fertility clinic saying they did the IUI. 

I tried to move past that and said, do you want to order blood work to show that I am pregnant, or something.  He then said I need to book my first prenatal appointment with him, which he will do the Pap test, and exam and all the blood work order, and ultra sound order.  But he needed the letter from the clinic first, and he won’t order the blood work until after he does the exam. 

This is something he could have easily explained on our previous visit, but didn’t.  He raised his voice unnecessarily.  I tried to remain calm throughout that appointment, but as we left I was vibrating with his demeanour, and the waste of our time.

Before leaving the office we booked our first “prenatal” appointment for Tuesday, once again having to miss work. I also have two calls into the fertility clinic (one today and one yesterday) to try and get this letter he wants, but no one has returned my call, as of yet.