The countdown is on!

I have gone way too long without posting. Time has just flown by. We've been so busy with a lot of things that I just haven't taken the time to post. We had another ultrasound done on Thursday, March 11th. Little sweet pea was just sound asleep but that heart was beating so strong! We couldn't get him/her to move, but that heartbeat was enough :)

I have officially lost my shopping stamina. I feel great out of this first trimester, but the tiredness remains. After a weekend of some serious shopping (and I mean serious)-I started on Wednesday and then finally ended up yesterday, I was exhausted at the end of each night. Today I have been even more worn out. But...so worth it. I bought a lot of cute unisex clothes for baby and even cleaned out and organized the baby's closet. It's sad that I plan ahead this much!

I've been busy planning away for the gender revealing party we're having on April 10th. I have ordered the most adorable balloons ever for the party and can't wait to see them. Already made a list for the food that we need. Invitations were mailed last week and turned out so so so cute! Now just waiting on the date to get here! The jury is still out on whether or not Joseph and I will wait until that date. Our appointment is for that Thursday, the 8th. He wants to wait and open the envelope up with all our friends and family. I, of course, want to know that day. I can't imagine having an envelope in my home for over 24 hours and not being tempted to opening it. Regardless, it will be such a surprise to the wonderful friends and family we've invited to share in our happiness.

I can't believe how close we are to finding out. It seems just like yesterday that 16 weeks seemed like a lifetime away. Now-it's just around the corner! This time next year Sweet Pea will be 6 months old! It still doesn't seem real to me. I've had 3 ultrasounds and still find it hard to believe. I'm sure this is all so normal. And especially since I was told it would never happen. I still find myself pinching myself at times. I did it today when I finished in the baby's closet. I went to close it and opened it back up again. I saw diapers, wipes, clothes hanging, bibs, stuffed animals and the thought really came to my mind, "Is this serious???"

I'm gearing up for a busy week at work with lots to finish up at home, but a very relaxing break next week with my friend Heather. We're headed to Destin on Saturday with the hopes of lots and lots of sun!!!!! I had to check with my doctor and make sure it was ok to travel. She said as long as I stop every 2 hours to walk around I will be fine-just don't want me to get any blood clots. I went up to Cincinnati with my mom on Friday and started having horrible leg cramps. We might have to up it to every hour and 1/2. Luckily Heather is very patient and we're not really on any timetable! We'll get back later Saturday evening with Easter the next morning. Then that week we find out what baby is! It will be here SOOO fast!

I'm learning that I can't do it all. For those of you who know me well, you know I plan my meals out a week in advance. I organize what needs to be bought at the grocery and even make a grocery list to have ready when I come back from Destin (it's called OCD, I think). I cook, clean, wash, bake, and repeat. I don't take much time to sit down. I'm learning that it's ok to not have everything perfect. I know it will take me a while but it will be worth it. I have to learn to say "no".

The names are still set in stone: Adyline Margaret for a girl or Baker Newman for a boy. The cribs are the same as posted earlier, but bedding is still up in the air. For a boy I'm thinking of painting the room blue and using black and white polka dots for more of a simpler look. For a girl....I just still don't know. And as you know I think it will be a boy :) These are a few hunches friends/family have:
Me-Boy
Joseph-Girl
Mom-Girl
Dad-Boy
Caden-Girl
Tatay-Girl
Joanna-Girl
Valerie-Boy
Kelsey-Girl
The Nauert's-Boy

We will see in only 18 days!

Down, but not out

Well....when it rains...it pours! I am still going through the WORST sinus infection I have EVER had. I finally went to the doctor this past Wednesday. Since I had symptoms for over a week, the doctor told me the chances of me kicking it on my own were slim to none. So...she prescribed me a Z pack. She told me that it was more risky to the baby to NOT take it, than to take it. She assured me it was safe and that she took it when she was pregnant. Apparently the infection can get into the bloodstream and hurt the baby, so when it was approached like that-I didn't think twice about taking the medicine.

I have officially gone through TWO boxes of tissues in FOUR days. I have a horrible, horrible cough as well. I can feel it down in the pit of my stomach each time I cough. Last night the only thing that helped was the 3 watermelon popsicles that I had for dinner :)



My day started yesterday like any other day. I woke up, walked into the bathroom and went to grab my toothbrush. I coughed (no surprise) and then instantaneously felt excruciating pain in back. I was unable to stand, sit, lay without this pain. I just started crying it was hurting so bad. I have an incredibly high tolerance for pain. This pain was the same type of pain I endured for over a year trying to figure out WHAT was wrong with me. However, it never had gotten to this degree. I (not being very smart), still got myself ready through tears. I told Joseph good bye and that I might call him in a bit. As I sat in my car unable to speak I was crying so hard, I decided to call my doctor.

Let me first stop and tell you just how lucky I am to have this doctor. She is a specialist and is the most knowledgeable woman I know. She is the only one in her practice, so when you have an emergency you talk to HER, not just anyone. After over a year of calling many doctors after hours, I never once was able to get the one that knew ME. So...I am so blessed to have Dr. Karon. She IS the best doctor in Lexington.....

Ok...so I called her and she asked me how long I had laid on my side, back, etc. I told her I was in my car on my way to work. She said, "you need to turn around NOW and get back home". I kept saying, "I need to get a sub, I don't have any plans laid out for a sub, etc". She told me it was critical that I get down ASAP. So...thank GOODNESS I have the most wonderful team at school who is so loving and caring that took care of everything. After going home and trying to lie down, the pain persisted. So she said to get to the ER immediately. Joseph drove me there with hopes of him being able to go to work. Apparently in the ER they don't take EMERGENCY into affect. We were the ONLY people in there and waited in the room for 2 hours. They called me back immediately to have a room, but we sat their forever. I was an emotional wreck. I wasn't sure what I had done to myself. I had never felt such terrible pain that kept me from walking, standing, laying, etc. I was also thinking of my precious baby. I just needed to make sure he/she was ok.

Well....the Lord's hand was completely on me and the situation yesterday morning. Thankfully I had some prayer warriors praying for me and for the baby. I couldn't have asked for a better ER doctor. It was a woman which made it better. (I saw a man in the ER over a year ago when this pain all started and he was NOT caring AT all). I knew this woman would understand my care for this baby. She told me immediately that I needed to go see a chiropracter. She said that she had a wonderful friend that would see me that day. For some reason, I just began hysterically crying. I said, "is my baby ok??" She said, "oh yes, honey your baby is fine." I said, "this is my miracle baby. I have to know that he/she is ok. We've come so far and gone through too much. I just want my precious baby to be ok." She was so cute and ordered an ultrasound ASAP. She walks in about 3o seconds later with this itty-bitty machine that Joseph said looked like it came from Radio Shack. She plugged it up and did an ultrasound to check on "critter". She kept calling him/her that-"see..there's critter's head, there's critter's legs, critter's sleeping right now". She was making me laugh so hard she kept having to tell me to lay still because you couldn't see the baby when I'd laugh. She was just the person I needed at that moment. She told me, "from the moment you find out you're pregnant, to the moment you die, you will worry about that baby." Did she realize she was talking to the Queen of Worrying?? Ha! Baby had a very fast, strong heartbeat. It was funny how much better I felt after knowing that :) Yes, I still had pain but I didn't seem to feel it as much. She asked if I'd take pain meds and I said absolutely not. She told me it was safe and wrote it and said I didn't have to take it. I'm sorry, but I don't see how Vicodin was safe. I couldn't even bring myself to take Sudafed 3 weeks ago. So...I'm learning to get through the most awful pain I've ever felt with no medicine. My mom tells me labor will be a breeze for me after all the pain I've felt over the past 5-6 years. Oh, I just can't wait for that day :)

I went to the chiropracter immediately after leaving the ER. I was there for a little over an hour and found out I have a twisted vertebrae (OUCH). The only way to fix it is for them to put it back in place. Due to the pain I was in, there was very little they could do. So....he told me to put ice on it 20 minutes on/20 minutes off until Monday and put me on strict bed rest. I go back Monday afternoon and he's hoping my muscles will have relaxed enough to allow him to shift things around. I asked if I could go to work Monday if I could at least walk. I don't think he liked that answer, but said "just don't be stupid." So...I will do everything in my power to be there. I can try and sit as much as possible (with kindergarteners-seriously???). But, I just hate to miss. So after 5 hours, I finally made it back home!

We've had quite a roller coaster, but I know in the deepest part of my heart that when I see my little sweet pea's face I will forget about everything we had to go through.

I get to see baby again on ultrasound this Thursday for another checkup.

And....34 days until Baby B has a name!!!!

Lime

Little sweet pea is the size of a large lime this week! I am so excited about the growth of this precious baby. The baby is able to now swallow. All urinary systems function. The baby is kicking, but I cannot feel it yet. Oh what fun it will be when I can feel that :)

As for names we've decided for sure on girl AND boy names.

If it's a girl:

Adyline Margaret....and we will call her Ady

If it's a boy:

Baker Newman........

9 days until the next ultrasound!

38 days until Baby B has a name :)

I am still exhausted but it will so be worth it in the end! I'm not feeling the terrible sickness I had for so long so that is WONDERFUL! Just trying to get over a nasty cold/congestion. It just won't go away! Soon I will be on the beach, soaking up the sun, and resting. Can't wait for a trip down South with my good bud Heather!