[kbpeanut]

Beautiful pics!!!!

I say boy. No idea why, just a gut feeling

And thanks for the prenatal info - I ended up ordering a trial of the Rainbow Light Minis - mostly because they were so much cheaper...but if those work, I may end up switching to yours, I like the sound of them a little better. In any case, thank you!

[junie22]

Originally Posted by kbpeanut

I say boy. No idea why, just a gut feeling

That's what everyone keeps telling me!

[junie22]

12 weeks & 3 days

Last night we were watching TV. I was lying on the love seat. DH was on his couch. He had the laptop in his lap, which is pretty typical in the evening. Out of nowhere, he just says under his breath, "I love him so much." I looked over at him, and his eyes were sparkling as he looked at the computer. I asked, "Did you just say, 'I love him so much'?" He said that he was looking at the pics of our baby and just couldn't help himself.



I also find it interesting that he said "him." He'd been referring to the baby as a girl up until that moment.

Since everything was looking good with baby yesterday, I decided it was a good time to tell my workplace and post on Facebook.

I wanted to tell my boss first, so I caught her first thing this morning. She was very happy for me. Her own daughter had a miscarriage only about a month before mine. And her daughter is also pregnant again, due in September. My boss is going to be very supportive. I'm planning on taking at least 12 weeks maternity leave, and I know that will put my college in a bind at a busy time of year. She told me that they would find the funds for a consultant to work in my place, if I can make some recommendations to her. So I'm hoping that will be a smooth transition.

We normally have team meetings on Wednesday morning, but this week's meeting was only with the deans. My boss (she's the VP) popped her head into my office beforehand, though, and asked if I wanted to tell them the news. She started out the meeting by saying that there was an announcement. Everyone's faces got nervous. I think they thought I was going to announce that I was leaving. They said, "Good news or bad news?" I told them I was pregnant, and they all clapped. And I got a couple of hugs. And one of the deans banged her fists on the table and shouted, "Baby shower! Baby shower!" Then, of course, they wanted to know due date. So it went really well.

I posted on Facebook right after that. It feels so wonderful to finally just have it all out there!

[JennyLee]

How nice to finally have it all out there!

[fromustobaby]

You are finally starting to pop a little bit, awesome!
I agree with a BOY for you!

[Belita]

A day earlier than planned! Glad it was so exciting! Must be fun and nice to be out of the pregnancy closet.

[blueeyes25s]

Sounds like he news went over really well! I was thinking boy to for some reason

[junie22]

12 weeks & 4 days

In good news, I had my monthly OB appointment today. Yay for the handheld doppler! It's never going to get old hearing that baby's heartbeat.

In not-so-good news, I have a low red blood cell count. My OB said it's not alarmingly low, just lower than it should be. She specifically told me not to worry, that this happens to some pregnant women. I've never had a low blood count before, so she's thinking that's probably what's going on. However, she wants to send me for more blood work just to rule out a couple major things.

This would definitely explain why I've been weak and have had shortness of breath. I'm in very good shape, but sometimes walking up our stairs at home will wear me out. I've been jogging again, and I do okay with that. However, I find that my muscles feel so weak afterward. I've just chalked it up to being pregnant, but I guess it's more than that.

Since it's not alarmingly low at this point, she's not recommending that I change anything. She wants to see the further blood work results before deciding on a plan of action, if any. I'm thinking probably more iron, since she's basically telling me I'm anemic. She told me to just have that blood work done at the same time as my second round of genetic testing blood work, so they don't have to stick me twice. I'm doing that at the end of this month. It's not cause for concern enough for her to speed up the process, which I suppose makes me feel okay. I just wish everything was perfect.

And to end on a positive note, I wore one of my new maternity purchases today. It's a dress, and it's so cute and comfortable. No more constricting my belly or sucking it in!

[Belita]

I hope the red blood cell thing is easily addressed. I'm glad everything else is looking good!

[junie22]

Thanks, Robyn. I'm sure it will be easily addressed. A slew of women in my DDC said they became anemic with previous pregnancies. It's just remedied by an iron supplement. My doc didn't even mention any supplements yet, so I'm not going to start one on my own. I am, however, going to focus on getting lots of iron through food and see if that makes a difference when I go for blood work in 2-3 weeks.

Of course, the problem with iron is that it constipates you, and I really don't need things to get any worse in that particular area.

[kbpeanut]

Hoping that it's something "easily" remedied by iron...I've gone through bouts of anemia in the past, mostly because I would avoid red meat at all costs (for some reason, in my younger years, I just didn't like it!)...but the supplements got me back on track, several times. Anyhow, just wanted to drop by...I'm sure things will be just fine.

[Belita]

That sounds like a good plan, Adrienne. Oh, no! No more constipation!!!

[Wishinfor2ndblessing]

I bet it feels so much better no hiding your pregnancy and being able to let everyone know... I am so happy for you hun!!!!! I wouldnt worry to much about the low red cell count, it prob is just iron supplements that would be needed... i had that with DD... if it was a major concern the dr would of had you do the test the same day.... KUP

[Kissthegirl]

I just stalked this entire thread...

LOVE your weekly belly pics. You don't even look like you've gained anything! Love reading your stories... It's so sweet your DH says he loves "him". Can't wait to read more! Thanks for sharing with all of us here, and yay for being Facebook official.

[junie22]

Ah, thanks for stalking, Michelle! I hope one day soon I get to stalk your baby bump too.

[junie22]

12 weeks & 5 days

I'm not going to post much today because I'm just so darn tired. I felt off today, and I still do. Nothing that is worrying me, just strange. I just really don't feel well at all, and I'm looking forward to sleeping a lot tonight.

In good news, the maternity clothes that I ordered online (minus two dresses that were back-ordered) arrived today! I'm going to have to return the pair of dress pants, but the two pairs of crop pants will work just fine.

Now to fall asleep on the couch, while we watch TV.

[junie22]

12 weeks & 6 days

I'm feeling a lot of stretching in my uterus. I felt that a lot from 8-9 weeks, and then it subsided. It's definitely back again. My OB actually told me that I would feel a lot more cramping from the uterus expanding in the next month. That and round ligament pain. I haven't experienced it yet, but I've heard it's not very pleasant.

I went to Whole Foods today and stocked up on produce and red meat! I'm making a black bean soup tomorrow (high in iron), and I'm also going to slow-cook some beef short ribs. I'll munch on that this week, as well as some spinach salads. And I've been eating Grape Nuts every morning for breakfast (90% of required daily iron in each serving). We'll see if I can get my blood count back up before my next round of blood work in a couple of weeks.

While I was feeling better today than yesterday, I'm still really tired. I fell asleep on the couch at 8 o'clock last night, and I slept until about 6 o'clock this morning. And I'm about ready to repeat that pattern tonight.

[junie22]

13 weeks

I added my Week 13 pics to the first post.

I'm tired. I don't know if it's just the pregnancy in general, or the low blood count. I suppose it's both. The downside of falling asleep on the couch at 9pm last night, though, was that I was awake at 5am. I messed around on the computer, checked email, etc. And then I went out to grab a few grocery items. I was back home by 8am, which was nice.

I have a pot of black bean soup simmering on the stove. I was also going to slow cook short ribs to munch on this week for added iron. I think I'll put them in the crock pot tomorrow morning instead. And I'll make pork chops for DH tonight. Yesterday, I bought a some fresh strawberries from a local farm. I hand-dipped a bunch in dark chocolate. So we've been enjoying those. And I'll have fresh strawberries with breakfast all week, which will be so nice.

After I wrap this up, we're heading out to jog/walk our 2 mile route for the day. William actually suggested it today. He said that he read online that walking is really good for pregnant women, both for exercise and mental well-being. And the article he read said that walking with one's pregnant wife is a good way to be supportive. I sure am a lucky girl.

[Belita]

You look clearly pregnant in both of your photos this week!

[junie22]

13 weeks & 1 day

I've been suffering from allergies for a couple of months now. I have them year-round, but they are worst in winter. The past few days have been elevated to a whole new level. I have literally had a headache since Friday afternoon, non-stop. Sometimes it's worse than other times, but it has not gone away at all. Unfortunately, it's the worst when I'm sleeping, due to the sinuses blocking while I'm lying flat. So I woke up at 2am with a splitting headache. I know people use that term all the time, but it literally felt like my head was splitting open right in the middle of the forehead. Totally a sinus headache. It was difficult to fall back asleep. I did, though, and my day has just been miserable.

My doctor told me that I could take Claritin, but I just hate doing that. I've been medication-free (minus the occasional Tylenol or Tums or stool softener) this whole pregnancy. Heck, I've been med-free since before we officially started trying to conceive in May, so 9 months! I was on the verge of taking some today; I just might not make it through the week without it. However, I used the neti pot when I got home from work, and I'm going to use it morning and night indefinitely. I'm really hoping that it will provide relief.

Unfortunately, the headache makes my stomach hurt, and it also makes me incredibly grumpy. And all I want to do is close my eyes. Work was rough today, but I have a deadline and had to power through. I'm just really hoping the neti pot will help until I get through winter allergy season.