Let the body analyzing begin!

So, just out of curiosity, I went to my first blog to see pictures of what I looked like around this time in my first pregnancy.  Man, it's a vast difference.  First of all, I was in really REALLY good shape to start with before Alexandra. This time - not so much. I was also able to exercise pretty well the whole first trimester with Alexandra. This time - I'm lucky if I got in 1-2 workouts a week due to my overwhelming nausea.  Ok, with that said, I look now like I looked like at 18 weeks back then. Wah-waaaaahhhhhh. :-/  

The good news is that the past two days have been substantially more tolerable and I'm hoping it's going to stay that way. And today (this is exciting, y'all) I had my first NORMAL BM in 7 weeks!! Hooray!  I also was able to eat a bowl of cereal and drink a latte for the first time in 7 weeks (milk has not been kind to me), but it still made me feel a little icky afterwards.  I don't want to get my hopes up that my second trimester will be kind to me…but I sort of have already. 

In two days I return for another check up. I'll hear the heartbeat and learn how much weight I've gained in the past month. I'm guessing I went from 137 to 145 at least.  

More to come…and yes, I'll post a picture or two soon. :)  Mostly I just look soft and flabby. No real baby bump yet.

Still preg-a-rito

There's really not much new to report except that today marks week 12 of this pregnancy and I am still rocking the nausea and constipation. Admittedly, it's gotten more tolerable - meaning I actually have maybe 1-2 days a week where I can almost forget I'm pregnant, at least for most of the day. However, by the end of the day, after eating 3 full meals and snacking in between, I'm usually laid out on the couch or in bed wishing for the sleep gods to take me away.  They told me last time that nausea stops around week 12-13 usually - and it didn't. But I'm seriously praying that this time it does.  

Unlike the first pregnancy, I have had no actual cravings. Instead, I really just want to eat all the foods you are not supposed to:  pizza, burgers, fried foods, soda…etc.  When I try to be good and eat vegetables, I always end up worse off.  It's a wonder that I haven't gained 20 pounds already!!  

With this impending move in the next few weeks, I truly hope my nausea subsides enough so I can pack without having to rest every hour to gobble down Buttermilk Ranch Pretzel Bits.  

Overall, though, I could have it MUCH worse. My friend, Lindsey, who is about 4 months along, is having excruciating pain from a fibroid cyst that's growing along with her baby.  So, I will count my blessings, for sure!!  

That's a first

So, with this pregnancy I have been blessed with even more nausea than the first.  Last Tuesday I came down with a head cold and proceeded to feel even worse from swallowing so much phlegm. Then, the vomiting started Wednesday and Thursday nights. Meanwhile, I've been taking Zofran to try to quell my nausea, but it does not seem to help. What is DOES do is constipate the living hell out of me. I think I was getting even more nauseated because the food in my body had backed up to my stomach, literally. In two weeks I think I pooped about as much as I would have in a normal 1 1/2 days. SO, I began to research different ways to empty myself out and get my GI tract pumping again.  I stopped taking Zofran. Then I gave myself an enema. Yep. That's right. That's how desperate I was. It was a first for me and I was scared, but oh my god I felt so much better after.  But there was still all the other poop left in my small and large intestines that needed some coaxing into the good old rectum. So that's when I started with my Smooth Move tea and taking PruneLax at night. By night two my guts were gurgling good and cramping with style. And BAM - the following morning I was cleaned out! My stomach looked normal again and I could eat without wanting to vomit. What an adventure. I'm still off the Zofran - I've traded more nausea for more bowel movements. Thank goodness I only have 2 more days of work, because I basically want to vomit on my patients all day long.

I don't think I've ever thought this much about poop.

Week 9 Ultrasound

Today marks week 9 of my pregnancy and this little parasite is slowly sucking the life from me. No, I'm happy to be having so much nausea and vomiting only because it gives me reassurance that everything is going well. And, today at my first ultrasound appointment, that was confirmed. Everything is looking as it should, and the little bean is snug as a bug in a rug.  I'm hoping to God that this continuous sense of impending barfing passes sooner rather than later, however.  Jacob is so patient and supportive as I lay on the couch and avoid moving as much as possible. He's the best husband ever.

I had a feeling about Alexandra that she was a girl, and I have a feeling this one is a boy. We shall see...

No more roller coasters, wine, or sushi.

Today marks the day that I have to stop drinking my nightly glass of wine (or two), and start eating more vegetables.  I feel very confident that this little bean will stick - just look at how strong that line is!!  I am excited to know I'm still fertile. I'll just keep praying that this one stays put and Alexandra can welcome a baby sibling next August. :)