Pregnancy Update

I'm just a little over 6 months along now, and 25 lbs heavier.
I will take 25 lbs over 60 or 80.
I am still not used to my new fuller face.
I am enjoying the rounder belly, but not the rounder face.
I suppose that makes me vain.
I have come to the harsh realization that not a lot of stores carry maternity wear.
But I am doing my best to look cute and fashionable while pregnant.

I love watching my belly grow, bigger and bigger. It's a beautiful thing!

I feel our little girl move around constantly. She's an active one.
We have a named picked out. Isabel Dorothy.
After my husband's grandma (Isabel) and my grandma (Dorothy), who both passed away several years ago.
I know that they would have loved meeting their great-granddaughter.

I have tried to go off Prednisone 3 times now (3 months, 4 months and 6 months)
but every time my Hyperemesis kicks in full gear and I get horribly sick.
Like puke my guts out 7 times in 12 hours sick.

So I am resigned to staying on Prednisone for the rest of my pregnancy.
Which is no harm to the baby.
It would just be nice to know that I was rid of my Hyperemesis
at 6 months...or 7 months...without the aid of steroids.

But again, I am SO THANKFUL that there is something I can take to keep my Hyperemesis at bay.

The crib arrived the other day and the hubster and I plan on assembling it this weekend.
I can't wait to dress the crib up with the bedding I got from Target.

I have also started the hoop art project for above the crib. I will post pictures once it's all up.

We also ordered the glider and ottoman,which take 8-12 weeks to make.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed they arrive before the baby does!

So the nursery is slowly taking shape. And I am getting bigger by the day.
I promise to share pictures as the nursery comes together.

Jenny

Thoughts On Being Pregnant

On Sunday, I will be 4 months 3 weeks along.

I find it too hard to count in weeks. Math is not my strongest suit.

I can't believe I'm half way there.

I swear my belly grew 10 times in size overnight.

Is there a gremlin in there?

I keep hearing about this flutter I will feel the first time I feel the baby move.

I can't wait to feel the flutter.

I love that my belly finally looks like a baby bump, and not a beer belly.

And now that I have a belly, I am finding bending over a bit challenging.

My husband is already putting on the sympathy weight. Because he feels obligated to drink my share of the wine.

I'm still on steroids for my hyperemesis. I've tried to taper down twice, but got real sick again. So I guess I need to stay on them a little longer.

Without the steroids I would likely be in the hospital or on home health care at home, so I am thankful for them. 

And because I am on the steroids I feel GREAT. 

And no, I do not have any super power strength. I'm not taking those kinds of steroids.

I love being pregnant and can't wait to meet our little girl come January.

xoxo,

Jenny

Linked up at

We're Having a Baby!

Source

 
I feel like shouting that from the top of the highest mountain.

We're having a baby!

This has been a long and difficult journey for my husband and I. When I married at 24, I had it all planned out. Spend 4 years getting used to being husband and wife and build or home. At 28 try for our first child, and then at 30 try for the next. I wanted a boy and girl. It sounded easy enough. Well at 28 I had my first of 4 miscarriages over the course of 10 years. 

Not only did I have the heartbreak of miscarrying, I also have a rare condition while pregnant called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Less than 2% of woman are burdened with this condition. Why I get to belong to this exclusive club, I don't know! The only way to describe it, is it's like having food poisoning 24/7. At 6 weeks I could not keep any food or liquids down and was vomiting 7 times a day. At my worst I was vomiting every 30 minutes. I lost 20 lbs, was hospitalized over a month and went without eating anything for a month straight. I couldn't work. I had no energy. It was basically hell.

After my 4th miscarriage last year, we decided that we needed to seek the help of fertility specialist if we were ever going to make our family a reality. Because of my Hyperemesis and how sick I get when I'm pregnant we decided to try IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and selected to have the embryos genetically tested for any chromosome abnormalities. We felt that this was our best option for guaranteeing a healthy embryo be planted in my uterus. Out of the 9 eggs they retrieved, I had one normal egg. ONE. The other 8 were no good. I was so thankful for that one perfect little embryo. But even with all the extra steps we took, I still worried about miscarrying. For those first 12 weeks I was optimistic yet cautious. And at 6 weeks my Hyperemesis hit. However this time we tried something new. My doctor had me start Corticosteroids to control the vomiting and anti-nausea meds (Zofran) for the nausea. And it worked! It has been like a miracle drug. For the first time I am able to function. It's been a real blessing, almost a miracle.

My husband and I are ecstatic that after 15 years of marriage we are finally going to have our own family unit other than our two very spoiled dogs. And I get to decorate the baby's room! A new project!

Thank you for letting me share our good news with you.


 xoxo,
Jenny

P.S. It's a girl (they can tell you that with genetic testing, pretty amazing!) and I'm due 1/2/12.