Fun questions and randomness about the pregnancy!

I have been asked by someone in particular to do weekly updates on my pregnancy.  I will try to remember to do these, but I'm super forgetful lately and so I can't promise anything! lol.  

We had another ultra sound yesterday to do some testing for down's and trisomy 18.  So far we are in the clear, but its only 75% accurate.  We will have another blood test done at 15 weeks to confirm to 90% accurate.  I'm super thankful for these tests they do as they just calm this anxious heart.  God knew exactly what we needed when we needed it.  He's provided for us the whole way so far.  We are so thankful.  

So lets get to it! 

How far along: 12 weeks 5 days!

Total weight gain: So far a loss of 1 lb.  (I actually lost 5, but have gained some since I went to winter camp!)

Maternity clothes: I have been in maternity jeans now since weeks 3 or 4.  Since I started out heavier, my jeans sure shrunk up fast on me.  Especially because I was so bloated from the IUI which was normal every month I had it done.  

Sleep: Sleep? what is that?  lol.  For a few weeks I was waking up all night long and would sometimes wake up at 2:30 a.m. and not be able to go back to sleep.  I just do a lot of tossing and turning these nights....Sorry baby! At least you get naps! 

Best moment of this week: Seeing le bebe on the ultrasound yesterday for about 40 minutes.  We really got a sense of when he/she does while they are cooking in there.  Lots of playing and pushing off with their legs.  

Miss anything: Sushi, wine, beer, sandwiches! for the love of all things holy! I just want a bagel sandwich! lol.  

Movement: Nothing on the outside, but the last couple days I've been feeling this tapping and spasm-y/fluttery feeling right where the baby is. I know it's super early, but who knows!   

Food cravings: It more of lack of food craving.  Since I have been so nauseated, only certain foods are okay to eat for me.  Meat and I have a daily battle and some days it constantly is loosing.  I've been eating Mac and Cheese, Cereal, fruit is wonderful, eggs, and bland foods.  

Have you started to show yet: hmmmm...i think i just look fatter! 

Gender: not yet! 

Labor signs: I hope not yet, way to early! 

Belly button in or out: Nothing yet.  

Wedding rings on or off: def on! 

Happy or moody most of the time:  I was happy until Monday.  I started feeling really aggressive.  I'm not sure if it is the hormones changing, which means the baby is growing a lot! 

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender soon.  Being able to get more energy in the second trimester.  We will see if what they say about that is correct or not! 

I'm not sure I completely love this one, but I will play around with the questions.  Hope you all enjoyed this, and I'll see you guys next week! love you all and praying for you as you go about your weeks! 

Amazing weekend

This past weekend I was able to experience God in a way that I haven't been able to in a really log time. As some of you may know, I volunteer at church in our Middle School group. I also lead a D-group with my good friend Tiffiny. I love it! It took me a long time to put myself out there and to trust God to let myself be uncomfortable and be outside of my comfort zone. It has definitely stretched and strengthened me and I am looking forward I it continuing to do so. Back to what I was saying..... We all headed up to Forrest Home and oh my word, it was amazing! God spoke right to this aching heart and he knew I needed to be fulfilled by only what He could fill me with. The theme this weekend was Louder! Not being louder as a person but being louder for God. And maybe, just maybe being louder isn't always a good thing. You see, when we are loud, we aren't listening for God. We need to shut everything off and listen to the still small voice. Our tounges can be used as a hurtful and harmful weapon instead of being used for good. That isn't loving. In order to love others, we have to love God first. Loving God is vital to us just like breathing air. When we love God, amazing things can happen.  Coming away from this weekend, I was able to get to know some pretty fantastic 7th and 8th graders. I feel so privelaged to know them and I know they will make my life better for knowing them. There is something huge about pouring your heart into someone else's life, especially young people. 

 I'm thankful and forever grateful for the time I had at Forrest home this past weekend. I will forever be changed and never loose sight of the One who lovingly made me wholly and completely to love Him. 

Happy New Year!

Well hello everyone! I hope your holidays were wonderful and fantastic and spent with amazing friends and family and focused on the High King! As our family is winding down from the fun that was had, we are starting to get further along with the baby! I'm officially 11 weeks as of this past Saturday! I had a doctor's appt.  today and was feeling nervous because my symptoms had changed so much.  I wasn't really feeling pregnant aside from nausea, sore lady's, headaches, and extreme fatigue.  I used to be able to actually feel that I was pregnant way down there.  So I asked the nurse if we could just get a heartbeat, and she kindly responded with, Of Course! You get an ultrasound today too! ahhhhh! I was so happy! So baby is healthy, happy, and squirming like you wouldn't believe! We have another ultra sound next week as well.  I'm so thankful for Kaiser.  They have amazing people working for them, and the way they do things is phenomenal!

We met our midwife today and I'm absolutely in love with her.  Her name is Diane, but she prefers you to call her D.   She is kind, and warm, and so informational.  God def knew what He was doing in this.  I will soon meet my new Doc soon, but until then, I'm just beyond grateful! Justin really loved her too, so that was so great.  I'm super healthy! I have actually lost 5 pounds due to the nausea I've been having, and causing me to not really eat very much.  It's okay! I'm starting out heavier, so it won't hurt the baby to loose some pounds.   I'm walking on average 2-3 times a week and I'm hoping when I get some more energy I will be able to get more days in.  My dr explained something to Justin and I today that made sense because I just can't understand why I'm so tired.  Basically you have sleep depths, as we all know, 1-2 is considered where you dream and relatively light sleeping.  You can wake up to anything at this stage.  3-4 is your deep sleep where your body can repair itself and heal, and give you your best rest and you will feel rested.  Pregnant women only sit at a 1-2.  They don't go into 3-4 but on rare occasion.  So.....it all makes sense! Last night i woke up around 3 am and couldn't go back to sleep until i got ready for work.  I'm a very light sleeper these days.  I feel so bad for Justin, because I am tossing and turning, ALOT! Thankful that he is on disability still and can catch up during the day as his body is still healing itself.

I'm loving the process of being pregnant.  I love knowing that half my world is inside me.  Justin is my other half.  It's just a special thing.  I will be forever grateful to God that he is making me a mommy.  Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers! They are so appreciated! We love you all!

Our Baby Shrimp!

Last Friday we had our very first ultra sound of our baby! We went in on Friday at 8:30am and she took a bunch of measurements.  Everything looked great and baby Gerhart was measuring exactly at 7 weeks.  We officially "graduated"  from Infertility and we can now be seen by an OB.  So we have our first OB appt appointment this Thursday at 10am.  Prayers would be greatly appreciated! It is a 3 hour intake appointment and Justin is so graciously going to come with me.  He is just incredible.  He wants to be there for everything, and I feel blessed by this man every single day.  While we were having our first ultra sound, Justin immediately whipped out his cell phone when we knew that we were going to hear the heart beat.  Here is what he caught!

My immediate reaction was, "Baby! It's a little shrimp!"  and it is! It is our little shrimp, and we couldn't be happier! 

It's been to long.

I realized I haven't been blogging as of late.  I love to write and I have been feeling like I have been missing something.  WRITING!

I just wanted to give a big disclaimer since I'm at the beginning of this pregnancy.  If I talk about how I'm feeling or things that are happening to me, it's not because I want to complain or that I am complaining.  I just want to document everything that is happening.  This is something that is beautiful and I can't believe it's happening to me! I was chosen to take care of one of God's children.  I"m excited to see where it leads and who I come across on this journey of motherhood.

The last two weeks, since I found out I was pregnant, I have been SO crampy.   They come and go, and the intensity comes and goes.  My Dr. said that it is fine, and to use a heating pad.  Well, I'm not comfortable using a heating pad, so a friend of mine who experienced the same thing, said to take a warm bath.  I'm good with that! I have also been experiencing headaches.  I had one right before we found out and I had to go home from work because of it, and then I had one yesterday that sent me home.  Since I can't take anything and I'm prone to migraines,  sleep in a dark room is the only thing that will kick it out.  I'm fortunate to have a very understanding boss, who is very family oriented and has already given me a lecture about taking it easy and resting and not lifting and take my vitamins.....He's great! I know he's on board 100% with this pregnancy.  Makes my life so much easier! I'm also STARVING! Like FEED ME NOW! lol.

I really can't complain at all.  I have it pretty easy.  No nausea, (knock on wood!)  I am really tired, but that is perfectly normal.

We feel extremely blessed by this whole process, but are nervous.  I think every new parent feels that way.  We are continuing to pray for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy delivery and most important a healthy baby.  Thank you for your prayers and being apart of such a bigger picture with us!

SOOoooooooo.....

If you don't already know, we shared some much long awaited news with the world this weekend! We are pleased to announce that baby Gerhart will arrive in late July 2014!  We are thrilled and couldn't be happier! 

We have prayed so hard for this and have had so many people, people we don't even know even, pray for us.  We are SO thankful and grateful.  We couldn't have gone through this process without all of you and your support and prayers! We are so blessed beyond anything we could ever deserve.  

Praying for a healthy, happy pregnancy!

One year later

I was sitting at my desk this morning at work, and I started to think how fast this year has gone by, especially the last 5 months.  As we finished up October and head into November, I'm reminded that one year ago, we started our TTC journey.  Well actually we started at the beginning of October.  After going through 3 months of Fertility meds, pokes and stabs, emotions and tears, I'm not really sure how I feel.  I feel like I'm just going through the motions of the process.  Like I've stated in previous posts, I'm so thankful for the process.  I've learned that I'm a pessimistic person.  Someone I never wanted to be.  It could be that we've been through 2 months and no results and currently waiting for our 3rd.  I want to stay hopeful and I want to be peppy about it, and so far, I think I have been.  It has taken every fiber in my being to do so, but I did it.  As of today, I'm feeling pretty negative about it all.  It's never going to work, I feel like I'm not pregnant this month(mind you, it's only been 3 days since our IUI).  I want to be joyful and happy and optimistic because that is the person I want to be.  Then, my feelings and emotions start to take over, and I sink.  It's not causing me to tidal wave into depression again, but I just feel defeated.  I know the enemy wants that from me.  I know he wants me to feel sad, and depressed, and defeated.  This week I will find Joy.  Going through ups and down's is not fun.  Being consistent is great and needed.  It's kinda been my life being an adult those up's and down's emotionally.  Sometimes it's easier to just ignore it, so I do.  Despite all my up's and down's one thing I know for sure, God loves me, He hears me, He knows my heart, and even though I might not always cry out to Him, He's always there holding me in his hands.