Weeks 11, 12 and 13...

So I'm a little behind in my blogging. The last few weeks haven't been the greatest for me. I was feeling really crummy and to top if all of, we're packing to move in a few weeks and I was getting everything graded for the end of the 3rd quarter at school. Needless to say, my blog went on the back shelf. Good news though...I think that I am finally feeling back to myself again. I have not been queasy in 2 days and tonight I ate P.F. Chang's and pot stickers. Both of those things would have set my stomach on end just a week ago.

Let's see if I can summarize what has been going in in our lives over the last few weeks. You, my sweet baby, have grown quite a bit in the last few weeks (as you can see from the photos of my bump). Having my body get larger is a new thing for me. I'm really freaked out that if I'm already showing at 13 weeks that I'm going to be huge by the end. I need to keep reminding myself that it doesn't really matter. This is all for a VERY good reason.

(11 weeks pregnant)

(12 weeks pregnant)

(13 weeks pregnant)

I had another ultrasound last week at 12 weeks to do some genetic screening. It was amazing. I got to see you squirming all around and I even got to hear your heart beat.

(here you are at exactly 12 weeks-you are so amazing to me!)

We did find out during the ultrasound that the 2 tumors that were left after my surgery a year and half ago have now turned in to 5 tumors, all thanks to my hormones. 3 of them are at least 2 inches and there are 2 other small ones. The high risk doctor that did my ultrasound is a little concerned because 2 of them are growing towards my cervix which could block off my cervix for a natural delivery. They are going to want to see me for regular ultrasounds to monitor the growth of the tumors. This is definitely a major point of prayer right now for me because I really want to do a natural birth. The growth of these tumors could result in a mandatory c-section. They could also grow and exceed their blood supply which means they would die and rot and I would need emergency surgery. I need to them to shrink or to stop growing. I do not want them to harm you or your delivery in any way!

Over the last few weeks you have started moving your arms and legs. Your brain is fully formed and your vocal chords are complete. You are about 3 inches long and are about the size of a plum.

I'm looking forward to hearing your heart beat at our 14 week appointment on Monday. And I am so looking forward to finding out if you are a boy or a girl in just 6 more weeks!

I love you sweet Baby Wedge!

10 weeks...

(10 weeks pregnant)

You've gotten a lot bigger this week and I can sure tell! You now weigh a whopping .14 oz. All of your vital organs have formed and have began to function. You have tiny finger nail and toe nails. You even have teeth!

Pregnancy has always been amazing to me; however, now that it is actually happening in my body it is unfathomable! It is so surreal to see the ultrasound screen and know that there is a TINY little human inside of my body right now!

(These are the actual size of your itty bitty feet right now!)

We had a few important things happen in this week of your life. Your dad sat me down on the couch last week and asked me if I'd like to go on an adventure. I had not been feeling well that day, so my response was, "I think the baby is enough adventure for me this year, so...NO THANKS!" He proceeded to tell me that we had 60 days to be out of our house and into a new one. I spent the next 20 minutes crying and threatening to take our landlord to court (those were just my preggo hormones talking). You'll learn something about your dad...he thinks a few steps ahead and he knows me so well. He knew I'd freak out, so he'd already been looking at houses that day. He had an appointment lined up the next day to look at a cute house only a few blocks away. You'll also learn something about me...I worry ALL OF THE TIME. I think God was trying to teach me something. I think God was almost laughing at me. He already had everything taken care of. We signed a lease for a new place only 4 days after we'd been kicked out! And it's going to be so much better for our little family. I can't wait to bring you home to it.

(Our new house with a few of the bay)

We also had another doctor appointment this week with a new doctor. The last doctor that I had been seeing was a complete moron and caused a few unneeded scares for me! Dr. V is amazing. She spent over an our with us doing a complete family history and physical on me and we even got to do another ultrasound. She is definitely more competent than Dr. Phillips! I must say that you are pretty cute! Every time I get to see you I am more and more amazed at what is going on inside of me right now.

(Your 10 week photo shoot)

The last few days I have been feeling a little bit better. The queasies don't seem so bad. I'm hoping that since I'm nearing my 2nd trimester that you've decided to take a break on your mama!

We're getting ready to tell people this weekend and I can't wait! It has been so hard keeping this secret for he last 7 weeks!

I love you Baby Wedge!

9 weeks...

(9 weeks pregnant)

Here are a few 9 week updates:

1. I had to get some jeans that were quite a few pants sizes bigger than I've ever worn. I can tell that my waste is filling out a little.
2. I had to get a new bra! Apparently I went from a 32 B to a 34 D in only 2 short months!
3. I found a new doctor and your daddy and I will be going in next week for a check-up and to hopefully hear your heartbeat.

You have graduated this week from an embryo to a fetus and your embryonic tail has disappeared. Your eyes are fully developed. I wonder what color eyes you have! Your reproductive organs have also fully developed. I wonder if you are a boy or a girl!

I can't wait to tell everyone about you! We're waiting until March 26th, which is now only 3 1/2 weeks away. I'll be so excited when everyone can enjoy this journey with us!

BeTheMatch...

My uncle is dying. He has an extremely rare form of blood cancer called chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis. My uncle Dick has to get blood transfusions every month now just to keep his energy level up. He has a young 13 year old son. The average survival rate of this type of cancer is 3.5-5.5 years. Chemotherapy and radiation do not help this type of cancer. The only thing that has a slight chance of curing it is a complete bone marrow transplant. Even at that it isn't a guarentee.

Why am I writing this blog? I'm asking for help. My mom and my other uncle are not bone marrow matches and my grandparents are too old. The cancer is bad enough now that they are looking for a bone marrow match. I would get tested, but I can't due to medical reasons. There's a really quick and painless way to find out if you are a bone marrow match for anyone on the transplant list. It's called BeThe Match http://marrow.org/Home.aspx. You register on their website and they mail you a kit. All you do is swab the inside of your mouth and mail it back to them. I've never thought about doing something like this until it struck this close to my family. If this were your brother, uncle, father or mom wouldn't you want everyone possible to get tested? I know I do.

(My uncle Dick)

8 weeks...

(8 weeks pregnant)

There is not much to write about this week except that you've been doing a number on my tummy! It amazes me that something so tiny...you're only an inch long and the size of a green olive...can have so much control over my body. I won't get into all of the nasty details but my stomach has been topsy turvy this week!

Your liver, spleen and gall bladder are developing this week. You are also starting to move a little. I can't wait for the next few months when I'll actually get to feel you move. Your daddy and I enjoy laying in bed at the start of each week reading about how you are growing and developing.

One thing on my list to accomplish this week is to go buy a new bra :)

I am still enjoying my daily 2 mile walks and having fun experimenting with yoga. I know that it will be getting interesting soon once I have a baby bump.

I love you sweet Baby Wedge and I pray for you every night when I lay in the bath tub.

7 weeks...

(7 weeks pregnant)

To my sweet Living Miracle,

Your cousin, Emma, gave you that name and I think it is so fitting. First of all you happened really quickly and you happened after I had surgery only a year ago for some very large fibroid tumors. I think it is also fitting due to what has happened over the last week. Let me give you a little background...

(Here is a picture that she made me. She is quite the ham. She said she was going to call you Zoe, even if you're a boy!)

I went in for my first OB appointment at 5 weeks and 3 days. The doctor did an ultrasound and all we could see was the gestational sac since I wasn't very far long yet. She had me go in for some blood work 48 hours apart to make sure that my HCG levels were rising. A few days later she called me and said that my hormone levels looked great but that she was concerned because she couldn't see you on the ultrasound. She told me that I could be experiencing what was called a blighted ovum, which meant that you hadn't developed past fertilization. Needless to say I was devastated. I had only had the thought of you in my mind for about 2 weeks, but I couldn't imagine losing you. You'll find out sooner or later, but your mommy is a HUGE worrier and over-thinker. The next 2 days were horrible for me until I could get into the hospital where they had better ultrasound equipment. Your daddy and I went in for another ultrasound on February 10, which put me at 6 weeks and 4 days, and guess what?...we saw you and we saw your little tiny heart beating. It was one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen. Now it actually feels real.

(You are that little tiny white blob in the middle of the black sac)

(Getting the ultrasound done)

Today I am 7 weeks pregnant and I have 33 weeks left to go until I get to hold you. I've felt a little queasy here and there but nothing too bad. I can't believe how exhausted I am all of the time. Naps are my new best friend. I'm crazing Taco Bell, but I've only given in to that craving once so far.

Your upper lip and eye lids are forming this week. Your fingers and toes are starting to form. Your brain is developing and circulating spinal fluid. I know you are going to be perfect my sweet Living Miracle.

Love,

Your mommy

Patience for a Type A...

pa·tient

\ˈpā-shənt\ - not hasty or impetuous

A Type A individual is describes as ambitious, aggressive, business-like, controlling, highly competitive, impatient, preoccupied with his or her status, time-conscious, and tightly-wound. People with Type A personalities are often high-achieving "workaholics" who multi-task, push themselves with deadlines, and hate both delays and ambivalence.

I do not possess all of the character traits under a Type A personality, but the ones I know for a fact that I possess are: controlling, impatient, tightly-wound, and hating delays and ambivalence.

Let me just say that the next few weeks or months are not going to be very easy for my Type A self. I'm in a season of my life where the act of being patient is going to really test me. I'm going to have to give in to the fact that I cannot control things and that time may not work exactly how I want it to.

As I think of having patience in a situation, the words to an old Music Machine song come to mind that my mom used to always sing to me when I was little.

Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient
You only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
Just think of all the times when others
Have to wait for you

So over the next few weeks or months I am going to be reminding my impatient, controlling, tightly-wound, Type A self to sit back, enjoy the ride that God is taking me on, have fun in the journey, and relish in all of the experiences that come with this season.