. it's a ...

so, yesterday, thursday, i had a 14 week check-up.  we kind of wanted to see if we could peek at the baby's parts, but didn't think my doctor would share the gender.  i felt pretty confident that i could guess correctly if given an accurate shot of them.  i've looked at enough pictures to know. 

my appointment was at 2:15, but my doctor had an emergency surgery to dart off to, so we waited for a LONG time for him to come in.  he said he almost cancelled the entire afternoon b/c of the surgery, but knew i was there and he wanted to take a peek at our miracle baby as well. 

of course we looked at all the important things first.  the baby's brain is perfect.  it's heart was pumping.  it's arms and legs were moving all around and you could see bones throughout the body.  it's so amazing!  i still can't fathom how God creates babies like this. 

then, my doctor got giddy.  i think he was more excited than we were to find out what it was.  he did do the ultrasound on my tummy first, but decided that we could get a better look if we did it internally.  he did explain that he usually waits until 18 weeks to tell, but that his new ultrasound machine was so good, that it makes it too easy to tell sooner.  some machines don't get accurate pictures.  this one is new and improved apparently. 

it took a little while.  the baby was moving all around.  and then there it was....

IT'S A BOY!!!! 

my doctor and my husband may have fist bumped over the top of me.  they were like two kids in a candy store.  my doctor did say he would tell me that he was "80% sure" but that he had to say that since it was still early.  he also said "it's hanging down to his knees" and "if it comes out a girl, we've got serious problems anyway."  our boy was proud and made it very clear who he was.  and daddy was proud.

the girls reaction was interesting.  we had not planned on finding out yesterday.  the plan was when i was 18 weeks, we'd take them with us to find out.  but we sat them down and told them that the doctor told us it was a baby brother and that they'd get to go with us to our next appointment to see him.  we took video of their reaction.  it was hysterical!!  karsyn was excited.  she said "i knew it was a boy."  mykah was just the opposite.  she yelled "NO.  IT'S ONLY A GIRL!"  over and over and over, as she hit me in the arm.  she then walked away and didn't talk to me for a while.  she finally came around to the idea, but i'm not convinced that she's accepting it well.  she wanted a sister!!

so.  there's our news.  it's been so fun to tell everyone!  and now the shopping can begin!  we'll probably wait until my ultrasound when i'm 18 weeks or so before we go overboard, just to make sure.  and lots of people are asking about names.  we might have a list.  i'm not sure.  it's all happened so fast.  we have thought about names, but nothing has struck us just yet.  plus, we're known for not telling until the baby is born.  we shall see!

. 14 week update .

How far along?  14 weeks
Gender?  BOY!!!  i'll post that story and picture today too!

Total weight gain/loss: lost 9 lbs

Maternity clothes?   finally broke down and bought a pair of maternity pants.  they're just more comfortable than wearing the belly band.

Best moment this week:  finding out the gender!!!  it wasn't planned, it just happened.

Miss anything:   being able to drink anything.  i sip on either water or barely-sweet tea (this week) all day long, but to just gulp down a big drink is something i actually miss.  and coke icees.  baby likes no soda! 

Movement:  i've felt a few flutters, but i'm not convinced yet that it is the baby i'm feeling

Food cravings:  fresh, ice-cold fruit.  mainly cutie oranges this week.  and salty stuff. 
Anything making you queasy or sick:  today ... the thought of smelling chicken.

Have you started to show yet:   definitely.

Labor Signs: no.

Belly Button in or out? it's still in, but it seems to be surfacing quickly this time.

Wedding rings on or off? so far, they're still on.

Symptoms:  as long as i take zofran (4 times a day) i'm WONDERFUL!  i've had several good days this week, but today i'm out of zofran and feeling queasy.  my dr is working with my insurance this morning to get me more meds!

Happy or Moody most of the time:  happy, i'd say! 

Looking forward to:   buying all things BOY!!!

Dreading anything?:   still dreading my gall bladder surgery, which is now officially scheduled for may 18th.  i definitely feel like it's the right decision for me, but it's still stressful.

. 12 week update .

I decided to skip the picture this week for a few reasons.  First, I look and feel yucky.  Second, I think my belly looks the same.

How far along?  12 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: lost 8 lbs

Maternity clothes?   still wearing the belly band, however, i lost weight, so my jeans are so loose now and i have a hard time keeping them in place.

Best moment this week:  eating a real meal.  not only have i been nauseated, but being on a no-fat diet has been horrible.  last night, i strayed from that and had a steak and it was absolutely delicious.  and it stayed down!!  that's extra points!

Miss anything:   having any kind of energy.  i haven't cleaned in quite a while now.  i haven't done much laundry.  i don't do much of anything.  movement sends me straight to the bathroom, so staying still is best. 
 

Movement: not yet. it's still pretty early to feel anything i think.

Food cravings:  being on a no-fat diet had me craving everything i couldn't have.  yesterday i craved steak and had to give in.  i think i wanted something that would just fill me up! 

Anything making you queasy or sick:   smells still.  and i can't walk into my kitchen AT ALL without gagging.  it's a little ridiculous now.  bending over does me in too.

Have you started to show yet: yes.  i don't think i've grown any since my last update, but it's still very obvious that i'm pregnant.

Labor Signs: no.

Belly Button in or out? it's still in, but it seems to be surfacing quickly this time.

Wedding rings on or off? so far, they're still on. 

Symptoms:  still very naustead.  i was able to stop taking progesterone this week, which i thought would ease the nausea a little, but it didn't. 

Happy or Moody most of the time:  both still.  pray for my husband!

Looking forward to:  working on the nursery!  we'll do that this summer, once we know if it's a boy or a girl.  i'm really just ready to have it all in place.  everything ready.  and to hold this sweet baby already.  then i remind myself that i still have 6 months to go!!!

Dreading anything?:   gall bladder surgery.  i know it needs to happen, but surgery while you're pregnant just doesn't sound fun to me.  i'm still confident in my decision though, so surgery will take place on may 18th.  i also had to tell all of my daycare parents that i will no longer be keeping kids after my surgery.  it's bittersweet.  i'm definitely going to LOVE my time with only my children, but i'll certainly miss my daycare kids. 

. another chance to trust .

in the early hours of wednesday morning, i woke up suddenly with horrible chest pains.  part of me worried it was my gall bladder, just because every woman in my family has had theirs removed i think, so i kind of knew my time was coming.  another part of me thought it was just really bad gas.  the pains continued to get worse, i was sweating, throwing up, and couldn't breathe.  i waited it out for a few hours before i couldn't handle it anymore and called my doctor's answering service.  i wanted to reach through the phone when she asked if it was really an emergency or if i could wait until business hours.  seriously?  i was gasping for air.  i kindly informed her that i was a high risk pregnancy, that i had seen dr. gayle every week since i got pregnant, and that he'd want to know what was going on.  he called me back about 20 minutes later and told me to go to the ER right away.  the next day he told me that he though i had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in my lung) because of the way i sounded.  he was really worried.  i could barely walk, but managed to make it to the car.

to the ER we went.  wouldn't you know, when you say "pregnant" and "chest pains" in the same sentence, they get you in fast.  within 2 minutes, they had me in a bed, robe on, doing an EKG, which came back perfect.  they got me hooked up to an IV because i was also dehydrated and added some zofran and pain meds in with it.  i was feeling better fast.  next up was an ultrasound, which did reveal that i had "gall stones and sludge" in my gall bladder.  sludge just doesn't sound very pleasant.  they sent me home later on and had me follow up with dr. gayle.

dr. gayle called and wanted to see me at 8am the next morning and had also arranged for me to meet with a surgeon (whose name i still can't remember.  how ridiculous is that?).  dr. gayle's first words to me were "if it's going to happen, it's going to happen to erin hill."  i'm unsure now how many times he's said that in the last 8 months.  he did an ultrasound to check on the baby, who was thriving.  the baby is doing so well and was wiggling all around, which was such a blessing to see.  the heart looks great, the brain looks great, and everything is developing as it should.  i immediately praised Him!!!

dr. gayle discussed with me the risks of having gall bladder surgery as well as the risks of not having it.  my mind was kind of already made up that i wanted the surgery because i knew that it was safe for the baby and i didn't really want to experience that pain ever again.  he directed me to be on a no fat, lots of liquid diet and lots of extra rest.  we discussed bed rest, just because he's being extra cautious about any added stress to the baby since i'm still in the first trimester, but i simply promised that i'd rest as much as i could. 

meeting with the surgeon brought even more comfort in the decision to have surgery.  it would have to wait until i was at least 14 weeks, but he has performed this surgery on lots of pregnant women with much success.  we are tentatively planning the surgery for the last week of april.

as i was leaving the surgeon's office, dr. gayle was walking in the hallway, so i was able to update him on what all the surgeon had to say and our decision to do the surgery.  i let him know that the surgeon would keep him informed on how the surgery goes and that they would be monitoring the baby the entire time.  dr. gayle immediately said "oh, i'll be there for the surgery."  i can't say enough how grateful i am for such a wonderful doctor.  he has truly been amazing. 

even better, here's another situation in which God is forcing me to trust Him.  i can't be worried.  i can't stress out about it.  He is orchestrating the entire process.  and there's a peace about it.  once again, there is peace.