Lil' G Week 7

Week 7 (11/17-23/13)

Soooo... this was obviously a rough week... I didn't write a thing lol. 

Due Date: 7/7/14!! Can you tell I'm lovin' those numbers? :)

The baby is the size of: a blueberry!! 0.51in

"Your baby is now about the size of a blueberry (and about 10,000 times bigger than he was at conception). Most of that growth is concentrated in the head as new brain cells are generated at the rate of 100 per minute. Your baby's mouth and tongue are forming as arm and leg buds sprout, and those little kidneys are getting ready to do their job (pee production and excretion)."

 http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-7.aspx

Gender: I daily flip between boy and girl… honestly, we just want a healthy baby!

Symptoms: The same (breast tenderness, bloating, cramping, serious nausea) PLUS I’ve developed round ligament pain (the ligaments in my pelvis are stretching to make room for Lil G so everytime I stand up, sneeze, etc. it feels like Lil G is stabbing me from inside… you can imagine the dramatics that ensued the first time that happened), and I’ve also developed sinusitis (the hormones cause your mucous membranes to swell so my sinuses are rebelling). On the plus side, I can’t smell so it’s a little easier to eat things. I feel AWFUL, but I can’t complain because it’s the price I’ll pay for a healthy Lil G.

Sleep: As much as possible! I’m exhausted!

Cravings: No “cravings”… still only holding down Boost, grapes, oranges, pineapples and I’ve managed to be ok with salad and cereal on occasion.

Food Aversions: very few things sound appealing.

Total Weight Gain: 0lbs.. possibly negative lbs, but I don’t want to think that, so I’ll stick with 0… eating as much as I can to give Lil G the nutrients he/she needs.

Activity: what a novel idea

Bump: there are no pics since there's really nothing to see.. ;)

Lil' G Week 6

Week 6 (11/10-16/13)

Adam and I got home from Galveston late Sunday night and it felt good to be home! Of the 46 days we’ve “lived” in Tucson, I’d only been home 20. I was proud of myself (and my body) for making it through my travels (almost) before rebelling… just wait for the symptom breakdown. The nausea began and I was thinking my lucky stars that I didn’t have anything to do! I rested the whole week until the day of my FIRST ultrasound on Thursday 11/14!!... Well, first for this baby (see Lessons in Patience for my NOT so great experience with the first). This one was a much better experience! First of all, this clinic is HIGH TECH! At only 6 weeks they only had to do an abdominal ultrasound to see our 7.9mm bean AND hear the heartbeat at 122 bpm!  This is a big deal because it’s rare to see the baby at 6 weeks without doing a transvaginal ultrasound, and even more rare to hear the heartbeat that early. It was music to my ears! Adam couldn’t be there because he was at work, and since we weren’t telling anyone he couldn’t weasel his way out (plus I wasn’t really expecting to see much). Hopefully he’ll be at the next one!
Our little bean!

Due Date: 7/7/14!!

The baby is the size of: a sweet pea!! Which is roughly 0.25in… our sweet pea was 0.3in (yay! I can already attest that our little one wasn’t below the 25^th percentile it’s entire life like its mom!)

"You might be coping with full-blown pregnancy symptoms (sorry), but there's plenty of good news too. Your baby's jaw, cheeks, chin, eyes, ears, and nose are beginning to form what will eventually become one adorable face. In addition, her kidneys, liver, and lungs are developing, and her heart is now beating 80 times a minute (and getting faster every day). All this and she's still no bigger than the length of a nail head (about a quarter of an inch) from crown to rump!" 

http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-6.aspx

Gender: Starting to think maybe a boy? I’m getting boy vibes… and my sister is helping me with names… Although, some of those names are making me hope for a girl… Slade? Really Melissa?! Baby, not heavy metal band...

Symptoms: Serious breast tenderness, major nausea (and I call BS on “morning sickness”.. it’s ALL day!), bloating

Sleep: As much as I can to ignore the nausea. I’m also pretty much tired all the time so it’s not an issue.

Cravings: Nothing sounds good, but the only things I can keep down are cheese and crackers (Gouda is Goud-a!), grapes, oranges and chocolate Boost (yep, you heard me… gotta get some kind of nutrition in me eventhough the ingredients label makes me cringe). I actually ate pizza on Friday night, but I had to remove the cheese… crazy talk, I know.

My set up every morning:

Food Aversions: EVERYTHING sounds awful, but seeing any kind of meat (even in a commercial) makes me want to lose my insides.

Total Weight Gain: 0lbs... I don't know why I even post this yet... I really shouldn't be gaining yet, and since I'm not really wanting to eat I don't expect the scale to move..

Activity: haha.. that’s funny… poor Lola. If I can make it from the bed (or toilet) to the couch, it’s a good day. 

Lil' G Week 5

Week 5 (11/3-9/13)

I had an appointment to see my doc and she confirmed that everything was looking great! This was such a great feeling. I didn’t even make it past 5 weeks last time, much less did I even see my doctor… instead, my betas were checked and I was told to “wait until you get to Tucson.” Thank God for a doc that would agree to see me so early on and provide that peace of mind. My first ultrasound was scheduled for week 6. EEK!! Would I really make it to get the opportunity to SEE our baby?!

I went home later that week (to Galveston for my bestie’s wedding). It was SO hard to not tell my whole family, but I knew it was still too early and I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. Soon enough :)…. I’ve got some good announcement plans!

Due Date: 7/7/14!!

The baby is the size of: an appleseed!! 0.13in

"Your baby now resembles a teeny tadpole (complete with a tiny tail) and is about the size of an orange seed. The circulatory (or blood) system, along with the heart, is the first part of that tiny body to be functional; and as your baby's heart starts to form, you may even be able to see it beating on an early ultrasound. Another part of your little tadpole that is under construction: the neural tube, which will eventually become your baby's brain and spinal cord." http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-5.aspx

Gender: Imagining a girl. It’s time for a baby girl on the O’Connor/Hubbell side of the equation. There hasn't been a girl born since my sister (who's 26)... and there have been at least 9 boys since... 

Symptoms: Serious breast tenderness, starting to get a little nauseous in the mornings… it started WHILE I was at home in Galveston…. That was fun covering up… “Do you eat toast this much at home?!?”, bloating.

Sleep: falling asleep early and waking up early… for me… I’m usually a night owl

Cravings: none, but toast is the only thing that’s keeping the nausea at bay

Food Aversions: none in the first half of the week, THEN the nausea hit and it was pretty much everything!

Total Weight Gain: 0lbs… funny story… I was at my first appointment, the nurse came out, called my name and brought me to the back to weigh me. She immediately says “So at your last appointment you were 155lbs?” Ummm no! Does it look like I was 155# is the recent past? For those of you who don’t know me… I’m 4’10” and 95lbs… losing 60lbs in a month would be pretty impressive. Turns out, there were 2 Crystals… both short and blonde, but the other one was 8 ½ months pregnant… That makes more sense! It was pretty cool to see that… It was like a glimpse into the future (except I do NOT plan on gaining 60#s).

Activity: Walking Lola and Daily 300’s (see week 4). 

Lil' G Week 4

Week 4 (10/27-11/2/13)

So, I was at my friend’s bachelorette party in Austin, TX and I started to get that feeling again… It had been 6 weeks since my miscarriage and I hadn’t 'started' yet…. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for me to go 6+weeks without, so I didn’t think much of it… EXCEPT those damn symptoms were coming back. I didn’t even want to fathom that I could already be pregnant! Don’t get me wrong, after 6 weeks I was (we were) ready, but I was SCARED TO DEATH of going through another heartbreak. I didn’t want to take a pregnancy test… for one, I wanted Adam to be with me; two, it was an awkward place to do it; and three, there’s nothing worse than seeing a big fat negative… if you’re taking a pregnancy test, it’s because you think you’re pregnant…. I sure as hell don’t like being told I’m wrong.

Jen and I (and unknowingly my little bean) at her bachelorette party:

 We were in Austin for Halloween weekend (big deal on 6th!) and Jen wanted everyone to dress up as one of their favorite female "heros" I was Rosie the Riveter and Jen was Madonna ;).. If I had known better, I could have just been a Mom...

What to do?

I called Adam… he said go for it! (of course)! I waited until right before we went out that night. I had to know. If I was, I shouldn’t be drinking and knowing was the only way I could resist the temptation of a Mexican Martini (and for the record, I’ve never wanted a Mexican Martini MORE in my life… and if you know me, you know that’s a LOT).

Well…Sure enough! Another positive!

This time, I wasn’t excited or overjoyed or even happy. I was nervous. I was scared. I was in disbelief.

I shared the news with Adam and immediately told him to not get excited. It was too early. It could happen again. He complied, but I knew he was doing his own little happy dance on the other end of the line…. And a part of me was too.

As soon as I got back to Tucson I called my awesome doc and scheduled my first appointment. I had my “betas” (pregnancy hormone levels) checked on Tuesday and Thursday. They wanted to be sure my levels were increasing as they should... The results took 24 hours to come in so I was afraid I wouldn't get the results from Thursday until after the weekend (torture!). Sure enough, the office closed and I'd heard nothing... THEN my doc called (this is why she's awesome) after hours on, her own time to let me know my betas were increasing just like they should. I was feeling reassured… and every little annoying pregnancy symptom was just more reassurance. I was scheduled to see her the next week. 

Due Date: 7/7/14!! How perfect is that date for a numbers loving gal? PLUS the baby will be a Cancer, which is the same sign as my hubby and my best friend… Cancers are pretty cool people!

The baby is the size of: a poppyseed!!  So tiny!

"The ball of cells that will develop into your baby has completed its journey from your fallopian tube to your uterus. Once settled in its new home, it will undergo the great divide — splitting into two groups. Half will become your baby (or embryo), while the other half forms the placenta, your baby's lifeline until delivery. The multilayered embryo then begins to grow into specialized parts of your baby's body. The inner layer, known as the endoderm, will develop into your baby's digestive system, liver, and lungs. The middle layer, called the mesoderm, will soon be your baby's heart, sex organs, bones, kidneys, and muscles. The outer layer, or ectoderm, will eventually form your baby's nervous system, hair, skin, and eyes." http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/4-weeks-pregnant.aspx#

Gender: Imagining a girl. It’s hard to believe a male could be growing inside of me… Plus all of my favorite names are girl names…. I canNOT get into any boy names…

Symptoms: Breast tenderness (feels like they’ve been used as punching bags in my sleep.. not unlikely knowing Adam ;)), MOODY BIA and irritable… e.v.e.r.y. l.i.t.t.l.e. thing drives me wacky (I really feel bad for Adam…), some cramping (which is scary because I equate cramping with not being pregnant, but apparently some cramping is normal since my body’s making room for Lil G), bloated!

Sleep: falling asleep early and waking up early… for me (8:30p-6a)… I’m usually a night owl

Cravings: none

Food Aversions: none. Eating normally!

Total Weight Gain: 0lbs

Activity: Walking Lola daily (2-3 miles), my “Daily 300’s”.. if you don’t know me, then you don’t know about my greatest invention… I do 300 of something everyday after I get out of the shower (ie. 50 lunges, 50 squats, 50 arm dips, 100 jumping jacks, 50 leg lifts etc) and mix it up everyday. It takes 10 minutes and makes me feel great! Greatest idea ever since I despise the gym! I’ll be scouting out a yoga studio as soon as I’m back in Tucson for good. 

The Bump (Adam insisted immediately that we take a weekly photo… this was on Halloween... after a bunch of candy.. and still really nothing... but I will admit I was letting myself a little loose because I was so ready for a bump lol!!): 

Playing Catch Up, Part 2

November was almost as eventful as October. 

We went back to Texas so I could stand by my friend of 18 years and watch her marry her (junior) high school sweetheart (my other friend of 17 years). Pretty crazy!! She was a beautiful bride!

We returned to Arizona (for good... well at least for the next 6 weeks) so Adam could continue F16 training. He actually started in October, but that was all academics. Now they're actually letting him fly this beast:

HE. IS. LOVING. IT.
So of course I had to get some cheesy family photos done (Photos courtesy of Darcey Hammond):

Isn't he dreamy? :)

This month was pretty cool because we got quite a bit of quality Sendlein time. We spent Thanksgiving with them, which was incredible! So much yummy food and Lindsey did a great job with her first ever Thanksgiving! Then we were able to go to a Cardinal's game. Of course Cadence was adorable representin' her Daddy (her jersey actually said Daddy on the back :)

 She loves Lola (mainly because Lola has a tail and Madisyn doesn't ;)

Adam decided he needed to trade in the Maxima (the final straw was when the radio quit working when the outside temp was over 75... comical). So now we're a silver Chevy family!

I admit the wheels are a little much, but he's in love and who am I to stand in the way of love. At least we fit in here in Mexico.. ahem, Tucson. 

Oh, we also discovered some house guests:
Black widow (outside and dead, thank goodness!)

 And a wolf spider. It was HUGE. that white spec is a large piece of popcorn... I just wasn't getting any closer. Thank the Lord for exterminators (I've already had them out twice)

We put up our Christmas tree, but decided to go for the Charlie Brown look with only one ornament since the ornaments are in the attic and that is where Mr. wolf spider came from.... I'll get a pic later ;)

On a happier note, I got a J.O.B.!... 2 actually!.... I will be the coordinator for the RN refresher course at Pima County (this course is for RNs who have been out of practice and want to get their licenses back), and I will be part time nursing faculty at the University of Arizona. SO ready to begin working again! I do not do well sitting idle.

Well, I think I'm all caught up!

I just have to say THANK YOU to all of our amazing family and friends who have been so amazing and supportive! We smile a little bigger everyday knowing we have you in our lives! 
Happy Holidays and Bless You All!! 

G'nite ;)

Playing Catch Up

I have a lot of catching up to do! I planned to use this blog as a way to keep my family and friends up to date on what is going on in our lives (aside from the other obvious purpose). So, here it goes...

At the end of September we packed up our lives and moved to Tucson, AZ. We had a TON of crap!

We rented a 26ft truck.... filled that one like a jigsaw puzzle... rented another 12 footer.... AND packed Adam's car and my Tahoe. Like I said, we had a TON of crap! (thanks to my parents and Adam's parents for helping us pack!!)

2 days (15 hours total drive time) and 1,000 miles later we made it to Arizona!

And started unloading!

And so began the ANXIETY! I do not do well in this type of environment. I remember Adam's dad (who was a SAINT and drove to Tucson with us and helped us unload along with his great friend, Bill... we are forever in debt to them!) suggesting on day 2 (when he was headed back) that we should just take a break for a few days and unpack when we returned from Hawaii...... Now that is funny! I would have a coronary! I could hardly sleep knowing not everything was in its place to begin with. Don't worry, I'm aware... I could be committed for these issues. But we finally got everything together

Relief!

THEN we could go to Hawaii, and boy was that a MUCH needed trip! We stayed at the Westin Princeville in Kauai for a week. It was incredible! Relaxing, rejuvenating, romantic... that's all the "r's" I can come up with, but they're all true! We took 100's of pictures, but I'll only post a few (if you want to see more, I'd be happy to share :)

We did a helicopter tour around the island. BREATHTAKING!! I can't tell you what we were seeing because the tour guide, while a great helicopter pilot, spoke in an unintelligible whisper lisp with a Hawaiian twang.... Adam does a great impression... please ask him to do it next time you see him.

Then we hiked 4 miles to this beach. The view was incredible, but the hike was pretty painful... I'm not going to lie! I can walk for days on flat land, but put me on the side of a winding mountain in 95% humidity and I perform like a crippled cat. But we did it!

A massage was in order the next day. We've learned we can't do couple's massages since we tend to make each other laugh at the most awkward moments.

Of course we ate.. a lot... I think food takes up 80% of my 300 pictures... I won't bore you, but OMG the fresh sushi!

 The view from the restaurant. Of course the picture does not do it justice.

We had to hit up some good ole mini golf!

 And a little Luau

 We went canoeing.... AKA Adam canoed and I took selfies.

 We found a pretty sweet waterfall!

 At the beach at the St. Regis.

 The view....

Ok, I'll stop.

So, we returned from Hawaii... reluctantly... and picked up our Lola Mae from the Sendlein's who took such great care of her for the entire week (we owe them big time too....). This is her with her new bestie Madisyn:

We spent 4 days at home before we headed back to Texas for my Grandparent's SURPRISE 50th Anniversary Party!!! I had been planning this shindig for 8 months!! My grandparents would have never allowed us to do this, which is why we had to keep it hush-hush... not easy with my nosey grandmother! My grandmother also isn't easy to please when it comes to food (after all, no one can cook like she can)... So, I had her recommend the caterer AND taste the menu by telling her it was for my friend's wedding ;). I know, hold the applause. So how'd we get them there you ask? And how'd we get them to dress up and get their hair did? Not an easy feat with these two since their idea of fancy is jean shorts and flip-flops (they're islanders). I told them we wanted to take them to a nice restaurant for their anniversary, but first we were going to take family photos since we didn't have any recent ones. SUCCESS!

               
                                                              She was surprised!!

 I had a cake topper made to truly represent Meme and Pop. Hilarious, yet perfect! I'm sure the woman who executed my vision thought I was crazy when I asked that she make my grandmother's boobs bigger and shorts shorter.... that's Meme! Pop is holding a beer and Blue Bell.

They loved it!

They LOVED it!! So well deserved!!! They have done so much for us and it felt so great to finally do something special for them!

The day after, we went to College Station for an A&M game. I wore white...
Of course we had to see the Corps. Yep, ladies and gentleman, I married one of those. I must say, they're pretty awesome guys.

Then I celebrated my friend's upcoming nuptials at her beautiful shower and bachelorette party in Austin.

And that was my October!!