A whole new outlook

Merry late Christmas! This holiday season has had it's up and downs and to be honest, I am happy it is over. Although it was a great time spending 3 days with my parents and family, there was so much to look forward to and if anyone knows me I'm incredibly impatient, so I'm really happy I no longer have to count down the hours until I saw them! I will say that 3 days was not long enough and I hope to see them again very soon. One great thing about being home, was being able to share our baby experiences with them in person. Chris and I were lucky enough to have another ultrasound at 12 weeks and Chris caught our baby on film from his phone. Sorry, but I will not be posting the video in this blog, as this moment is too personal and dear to Chris and I. BUT, I will tell you all about instead! Almost just as good....almost :)

It is so crazy to think that our little plum sized 12 week old baby (now almost 13 weeks) is a full bodied little human, equipped with all working parts. So, as I have yet to show and obviously yet to feel our baby, it's difficult to think that something is actually going on in there (as in, my belly). But, just as quickly our ultrasound started, we witnessed a squirmy, wiggle worm within my tummy. No, not a tape worm, but our baby. Now, let me tell you, our little baby is a mover and a shaker! Wow! Chris is convinced our baby is warming up his arms and legs for those long strides on the track when he/she's older. Watching our baby move was the most amazing, incredible thing I have ever seen. To think that all of that was going on inside of me, was beyond moving. I didn't cry, but instead was smiling ear to ear until the end of the day. Chris and I both said we could of stayed there and just watched our baby all day long.

So, I find myself daydreaming about what my baby is doing and how much he/she is moving today. As some have asked, yes, this makes this whole pregnancy seem that much more real. It gives me a different outlook on the things I'm suppose to be doing, because now I've seen why I'm doing these things and I have a better appreciation for them. These early months have been difficult to connect myself emotionally to the idea of a baby, due to being sick all the time, lack of baby bump or feeling of the baby, so it felt almost like I wasn't pregnant at all. Now, as the weeks progress, I am able to fully recognize the emotional connection between the baby and myself and I know that it will only get better from here.

Surprise!

If you are reading this you must of received our holiday Christmas card or have heard the announcement through the grapevine that we are pregnant! We are so excited to finally be able to share this exciting time with you all! Let me tell ya, keeping this secret was hard!!! But, it's all out in the open now so let the fun and catching up begin!
Hint: It's best to start from the beginning of this blog to fill yourselves in on all the exciting details (some not so exciting, sorry to say).

Week 11: Although it was a difficult time this past weekend to share this kind of news with his family, as Chris' father had surgery on Friday to remove the neuroendocrine tumor from his liver. We hope we were able to share some hope for the future in our news for new life. Chris' father is doing well, while recovery is slow. Please continue to hold him and his family in your prayers. Please visit my newlywed page here for more information on Bill and his progress.

As for Chris and I, we are in week 11 of our pregnancy. Thankfully the light at the end of this first trimester tunnel is in sight! Baby is looking more and more human every day. The most exciting milestone - baby bean (hopefully) has all 10 individual fingers and toes (no more webbed hands and feet!). Our baby is about 2 inches in length and is the size of a fig. Although I can't feel it yet, our baby is kicking his/her legs and moving those arms. Work it out, baby bean!

I continue to have my morning sickness up and downs, while headaches seem to plague my every day. But, overall I feel better than weeks past and I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks! Up ahead: 12 week ultrasound and getting to hear our baby's heart beat for the first time!

What to expect...

Oh...sooooo making Chris go see this with me!

*What to Expect When You're Expecting

Google is the enemy

Week 10: One may think that reaching the end of the first trimester and disappearing pregnancy symptoms may be a sigh of relief, although for me as a constant worrier, it has been a nightmare. These past few weeks I've been praying to feel 'normal' again and the days that I do, I find myself asking for the morning sickness back in hesitation that something must be wrong. As much as Chris tries to comfort my fears by telling me that it's just my "equilibrium resetting" and reminding me that it is normal to gradually lose some of my symptoms as I near my second trimester, I can't fight my anxieties - that and countless hours on googling researching possible explanations don't help my situation. I will admit that so far pregnancy has not been fun. Although, I continue to tell myself to be thankful for this experience, for as miserable as I may feel at times, I know there are plenty of women in the world who would give anything for this experience as their dreams of starting a family may not be fulfilled.

Well, my anxieties were put to rest just as Chris and I were heading out the door to the zoo just this past Saturday, when I suddenly decided I should eat something and noticed I couldn't stomach the idea of eating. Then the nausea hit. The glorious pregnancy symptom was back and I was strangely relieved.....for about an hour. Then I said out loud, "Okay, mommy gets it! You're doing good in there!" as Chris glances at me in his 'Why don't you believe that I'm always right' look. A moment for my husband to enjoy when I admit that yes, he was right. I would like to think I had a breakthrough in my hypochondriac ways (minus my google search of dyseusia last night - note previous post) and my mind is finally at peace...for now.

Just as this blog entry turns into a novel, I continue on with baby Gannon's progress. Still no baby bump, but I have noticed a difference in the feeling of my belly - a bit of a tightness when I push on it, so I hope the bump is coming soon! :) Now don't quote me on this and remind me in several months when I wish the opposite. Now, baby's joints are beginning to form and so are my baby's teeth buds. He/she is currently the size of a prune and (t.m.i coming up) my uterus is the size of a small grapefruit.

*Coming up on the Gannon schedule: another ultrasound next week and a drive home to Kansas to spend Christmas with the Noriega's!!!

Check and check

Just when I thought that I had every possible pregnancy symptom in the book, I was unpleasently surprised last night when I noticed another difference in my everyday life. As I tried several attempts to relieve my back again morning sickness (note post above), I noticed that all the foods I was eating tasted funny: strawberry toast, melba toast crackers, even pears! Everything tasted bitter and just plain "wrong". I couldn't finish anything I started after the first bite. So, as you all can guess - I googled it. Turns out, I had missed this common symptom from whattoexpect.com, called dysgeusia. Dysgueusia is described as having a change in taste buds and an occurring metallic-like taste in the mouth. Although I do not have an occurring metallic-taste in my mouth (thank goodness), food does not taste the same. So to add to my list of occuring pregnancy symptoms:

1. Morning Sickness - (All day) nausea

2. Food cravings/Food aversions

3. Lack of sleep/Fatigue

4. Restless leg

5. Dizziness

6. Headaches

7. Dysgueusia

8. You get the picture and I choose to spare you from the more embarrassing ones (hey, I am pregnant!)

Now, for an even more exciting bonus, here is a list of foods and smells in which I may never be able to view the same again:

1. Pears and cottage cheese

2. Chicken Noodle Soup

3. Saltines

4. Gingerale/Sprite/7up

5. Peaches

6. Soups from panera

7. Dial body lotion

8. Saltines (yes, twice)

9. BBQ beef from the crockpot

Yes, I am sure these thing will change and subside over time, but that time can't get here soon enough!!!

Just truckin' along....

Week 9: This last Friday was our first OB appointment. We have been fortunate enough to get in to see the doctor we originally wanted when we thought they wouldn't take our insurance. Come to find out, they have recently contracted with BlueCross BlueShield and we are now in the clear! Meeting with our doctor went well, although she is also pregnant (16 weeks) which leaves me with concerns, but for now we'll see how things play out. Chris was able to make the appointment, which was great, although awkward during examination time!!! In the end, everything looked good and my doctor was able to write me 2 prescriptions for my nausea! I was so excited I was practically skipping to my car from the doctor's office! We are set for our next appointment in 4 weeks and another ultrasound at the 12 week mark to take a double look at a solid mass on my right ovary which the ultrasound lady didn't tell me about (apparently she's not allowed to). Good news is that whatever it may be will not affect the baby. More news to follow.

Our baby bean is now a fetus!!! Baby has ended the embryonic stage and is starting the fetal stage, where he/she now has all the organs and body parts of a human being (no more tadpole tail!). Of course these organs and body parts are in the early stages and need plenty of fine tuning over the next few months. Bean is now 1 inch long which is about the size of a grape and is weighing only a fracture of an ounce. Of course I'm not anywhere close to showing yet, but I will admit that sweats are my new best friend as my jeans have begun to add pressure to my belly. Imagine you've finished your latest Thankgiving meal: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, cranberries, sweet potato casserole, and a piece of pumpkin pie with a side of jello and whipped cream . You know the feeling. The feeling directly after where you can't move from your chair and you unbutton your pants just to breathe. You're uncomfortable, sleepy, and have a belly ache. Welcome to my life. Although, without the luxury of actually eating. I started my prescription pills today and so far have felt minimal nausea, but still have little appetite. Not complaining - I will any relief that I can get! Only 3 more weeks until the end of my first trimester, where I hear the fun really begins and I can't wait!

*Note: I did not take this picture, nor does it belong to me.