The cat's out of the bag

I am happy to report I no longer am carrying around a secret. Well, technically I am carrying *the* secret, but it's not a secret any more! We are expecting our third child in mid-September.

We wanted to wait until after Ryann's baby shower to spill the beans so on our way home Saturday afternoon we told the girls. They are thrilled! Ainsley keeps saying "I can't believe it, I can't believe it! I'm going to be a big sister." We've let them hear the heartbeat and now they pester me to listen to it all the time. They will join us for the u/s next week so they can actually see the baby for the first time.

I've been feeling okay. My nausea is better, but the fatigue is still hitting pretty hard. Hopefully that will ease off once my hours change next week. I've been pretty hungry lately and it's hard not to eat everything in site. I was pretty bad over the weekend, but managed to pack a salad for tonight's dinner.

So that's the big news from our house! A third baby is on the way!

25% of the way there!

As of tomorrow I'll be 10 weeks along. 10 down and 30 more to go!! I've been feeling better these last few days. I certainly have an appetite anyway. I'm eating anything that isn't nailed down. It's a nice change after my nausea, but I'm worried about stepping on the scale on the 6th. We've been listening to the baby's heartbeat every other night or so. I can't wait to tell the girls about the baby this weekend so they can hear it too!! Anastasia told me today it was time for me to have another baby. I swear that kid is psychic.

R.I.P. Dorothy.....

Well tonight we lost our beloved Beta fish, Dorothy. We've had her since early Sept. 2007 so she had a long and happy life.  Anastasia cried and decided flushing her down the potty was NOT what she wanted. She wanted Dorothy to stay with us, so she's now buried in the back yard. We selected a plot near the daffodils so she can see them when they bloom. I grabbed a rock form the pile near the steps and painted a purple fish on it, along with Dorothy's name. It was freezing out there, but we managed to dig a hole. Anastasia poured her into the hole and then we covered it with dirt and leaves. Not sure if another fish is in our future. Ainsley was consoling the cat. I think she realizes how much Helen enjoyed watching Dorothy swim around and around in the bowl. 

Aside from the fish funeral, it's been a good weekend. We had a nice Valentine's Day and enjoyed lunch out with the girls. Today we got a big girl swing for Ainsley so now she can swing like her big sister.  She loves it, although we have to keep reminding her to hold on!!!

Tornado tales

Anastasia and Ainsley always call me before they go to bed at night. Last night I was having my typical conversation and I asked Anastasia how her day at school had gone. "Well, we had to hide in the bathroom during the tornado," she said with nonchalance. (I gasped!) "Were you scared?" I countered. "No, not really. One of the schoolagers was crying. I was kind of worried about my sister, but then I found out she was just hiding in the other bathroom." The casual tone of this conversation blew my mind. It was as if hiding in the bathroom to wait out a raging thunderstorm was a completely normal part of her day. I give credit to their teachers for not panicking the kids. Obviously they did their job VERY well.

This morning the girls and I prepared their Valentines for the class parties tomorrow. Ainsley chose Pixar Valentines (which of ccourse included Monsters, Inc.) and Anastasia selected Puppies and Kitties. Anastasia wrote her name on all 14 Valentines and then demanded that *she* be the one to write the names of her friewnds. She did very well and I enjoyed the commentary along the way. Brianna....B-R-I-A-N-N-A I would spell. "Oh...Brianna cries a lot." Riley....R-I-L-E-Y. "Riley broke her leg on a tramploline!!!" Eli.....E-L-I "He won't even be there tomorrow. Whoy do I have to make him a Valentine?" We continued this way until all her Valentines were finished. It was funny to hear her side of things. Can't wait to hear how the party goes tomorrow.

Houston, we have a heartbeat!

It's appropriate that on the week full of hearts, we would hear Monster's heartbeat for the first time. We tried several times over the weekend, but were unsuccessful. I was frustrated and stressed. I took a sick day today because I am still about to cough up a lung. I've slept a lot in the last few days which was not only good for the cold, but for the baby as well. I've been SO nauseous. Like...sleep with a trash can next to the bed nauseous. But I'm feeling better tonight.

After the girls went to bed I flopped down on the couch...less than 10 miutes later Jamie located the nice, strong heartbeat! It sounds just perfect. Plus, now I know exactly where to look when I want to hear it again. This should hold me over until I can see the baby again on March 6th.

8 Week Appointment Update

I had to be out of bed much earlier than usual today since my appointment was at 8:30. They told me to prepare for a two hour appointment, but thankfully it only took about 45 minutes. My weight is still lower than my very first appointment, but I had gained back a pound since last Friday. We did all the usual things...urine sample, blood pressure, pap smear. I saw Dr, McAmis today who is one of my favorites. He is actually the doctor that delivered Ainsley three years ago this week. He said I can keep running as long as I feel comfortable doing so. Yeah! He didn't seemed concerned about my weight but said I could drink one Ensure a day to make sure I'm getting all my nutrients.


At my request he made a weak effort to find the heartbeat, but said his doppler isn't really that great and I might have better luck at home. Mine arrived this afternoon so I'll be trying it out once I get home. It still might be a few more days until we hear it.


I've got a terrible cough that is making my ribs hurt. I've been very nauseous today as well. I actually thought I was going to have to pull over on my way in to work because I felt so sick. I'm a little better tonight after my workout, so hopefully that will carry over to the weekend.



I go back in four weeks on the 6th for my next appointment.

Zzzzzzzzzz

I'm 8 weeks pregnant today and I'm exhausted. This week has been particularly brutal for some reason. I have a cold and that's complicating things, but overall I am just purely exhausted. Crazy dreams prevent me from getting the quality rest I need at night and my schedule doesn't really allow for much sleep during the day.



Tomorrow is my next OB appointment. I called today because I couldn't remember if it was 8:15 or 8:30 or something else. It's 8:30, but the nurse was a complete jerk when I called. Like it was a huge inconvenience to look up my appointment. I am starting to look at other OBs in town. I still want to deliver at Blount Memorial, so that is going to limit my choices. I'm not convinced I want to switch, but some of the things at my last few appointments have started me thinking. I shouldn't have to stay with them just because it's easier. If I don't feel like I am getting the care I need, then I really need to look elsewhere.



Hopefully we will hear the baby's heartbeat tomorrow. I can't wait for that reassurance. It was great to see it on the ultrasound last week, but to be able to hear it. Now that is special. They also will be taking about 5 vials of my blood tomorrow. Yipeee. I am hoping I won't be nauseous in the morning and the blood draw won't bother me.

Well crap....

I've been pregnant twice. I'm familiar with the nausea. I'm familiar with the dizzy spells I have to endure whenever I get out of bed or rise to a standing position. But today I was reminded of one pregnancy "perk" I had forgotten. Nose bleeds. Ugh...I had to run to the bathroom a little while ago to stop it. I'll have to ask the doctor about that when I go in on Friday.

I've been struggling with some bad nausea the last few days. This morning I almost cancelled Ainsley's check-up because I felt so bad. I'm also pretty fatigued. It's funny because I'm exhausted, but I have trouble sleeping. Oh well, it's TOTALLY worth it!!

Healthy as a horse

Ainsley's three year check-up was this moring. We donned winter hats and mittens to brave the cold and snowy landscape outside the house. The roads had been salted, so once we got over our trecherous stairway to the driveway we were a-okay.

Ainsley measured 38 inches tall and 32 pounds. She had great blood pressure and had 20/20 vision. Her hearing was okay, but the tester said "She lost interest." There's a big suprise! She was rather rambunctious during her exam and talked Dr. Reiss' ear off. She was so funny.....we were playing I Spy as we waited on him to come into the exam room..he was talking to a nurse out in the hallway...Ainsley cupped her hand around her ear and said "Hey! I hear Dr. Reiss!!"

All in all it was a great visit and she is extremely healthy. Still can't believe she's three now.

A winter wonderland!!

After just an hour or so of snow....our yard is white. And the snow is still coming down!!! Should be an interesting afternoon. 

Happy Birthday Ainsley!!

It's official. Ainsley is now three years old. She thinks she's 23, but don't tell her she's a few years off. We had her party on Saturday. It was a small affair with just family, but she didn't seem to mind one bit. She got some wonderful gifts and really had a great day. She wanted to eat birthday cake for every meal. 

I'm trying to get her to nap before lunch, but it isn't going well. It's snowing like crazy outside and she's excited about taking her cupcakes to school this afternoon. Of course if this snow keeps up, they may end up at work with me. We'll just have to wait and see. 

The cat's out of the bag (Pt. 1)

We told the grandparents yesterday that they are going to be grandparents once again. The shock was pretty funny if I do say so myself. I said it (heart pounding in my ears the entire time) and then paused as the news washed over them and soaked in. Anna and Chris were here too so they got to be part of the announcement. Anna said she wins the pool as she said we'd be pregnant by Easter. Good call little sis, good call.

We aren't spreading the news much further until after Ryann's shower. I'm pretty adamant about that. The night after the shower is over we'll tell Ryann and Scott in person and then it's fair game. Facebook statuses will be changed, phone calls made, and e-mails sent. Should be fun! And it's only 3 weeks away so it shouldn't be that difficult.

I'm feeling okay, but not fantastic. My appetite remains lost and I'm forcing myself to eat small snacks throughout the day. I went for run today and that seemed to help. I'm looking forward to vegging on the couch tonight and watching the Super Bowl. I'm just counting down the days until Friday when I am hoping we can hear Monster's heartbeat!!