Just scheduled my first ultrasound!

I am just so excited. It is next Wednesday at 6pm and I don't even have to take any time off from work. That is perfect. I can't wait to see the heartbeat and Baby Bear. I hope that we'll be able to see something. I know that since I am still early that it will be a vaginal ultrasound so I warned Mr. Bear about it. He is not so sure about it, but I think he'll come around. It will be so worth it!

The First Appointment

Today, I had my first pre-natal appointment. I did not meet with the OB today but with the nurse practitioner, which is standard for by OB/GYN office. Since they calculate the due date by the date of your last menstrual period, they have my due date as June 4th, 2009, which puts me at about 9 weeks. But since I was charting I know that I ovulated late and I believe that I am around 8 weeks. When I had my pelvic exam, the nurse practitioner said that it felt like I was probably about 7-8 weeks rather than 9. I told her! They will check at my ultrasound next week.

I cannot wait for my ultrasound! It is too early to hear the heartbeat with the Doppler, but the ultrasound will be able to detect a heartbeat. I can’t wait. This appointment wasn’t very exciting and I am glad I didn’t have Mr. Bear come with me for this one. There really was nothing for him. I had a pap smear and pretty routine exam. I gave a urine sample, which I learned that I will have to do at every visit. And I came away with a packet of information and nice goody bag filled with stuff. I will get to actually see an OB in 4 weeks and by then I will be out of the first trimester. I will see the OB every 4 weeks at first, and in the beginning of the third trimester every 2 weeks, and then from 36 weeks until I deliver once a week.

I am a little disappointed that when I asked about exercise, she said that I shouldn’t run. What?? I know several pregnant women who do run. She said that I can do pretty much any exercise that I was doing before pregnancy but she advises women not to run because you want to keep you heart rate at a certain level. I am little bummed out about that. But, she also said that running will not harm Baby Bear.

I have been reading up on it and it is okay to run but you do need to be careful with the possibility of overheating yourself. I guess I can maybe do a slow jog/walk. I work out a lot and I was doing very high intensity exercises prior to pregnancy in addition to running. She said I could do aerobics and anything else but, a lot of those are high impact, high intensity activities that were very similar to running. I don’t think she did a very good job at getting to know what I actually do.

I have still been exercising, but I have toned it down. In step class, I have gone down a step and I don’t do the plyos. In yoga, I don’t go into or attempt the intermediate/advanced poses like I used to. In my strength training, I use light weights. It has been a little difficult since I do want to go all out and stay fit. But I also know that I need to do what is best for Baby Bear and listen to my body. I am glad that I can still exercise.

Told BFF

Last night, I called one of my oldest and closest friends. I told her the news and she was sooo happy for us. It was nice to finally tell someone and I am so glad that I told her. She couldn't have been more happy. Right off the bat the asked if she could throw a baby shower for me. She is just the sweetest and best friend a person can have. Her support and love is so great. I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful person in my life.

She has two children and shared some advice and some of her experiences, which were so helpful. I know that she is someone I can turn to for advice. i may need to bring her with me when the time comes to register for the baby. She has already given some great advice for my shrinking bras. There are bra extenders I can buy or help for in between sizes, I am going this weekend to check those out and possibly get some new bras. I am in need.

It was a little earlier than I wanted to tell people, but since Mr. Bear has been telling his friends, I really wanted to share the news with mine. And she is one of my nearest and dearest friends. In the next few weeks, I will slowly start sharing the news with my friends. I still want to wait at work. In time the world will know!!

Week 8: fingers and toes

Baby Bear has grown from a blueberry to a raspberry. Growing oh so fast! Baby Bear is looking more and more like a baby (human baby, that is). From the hands and feet are coming fingers and toes. The heart is beating faster and the womb is growing.

Nausea and no appetite

I had been feeling so well and this afternoon the nausea returned. Ugh, not feeling so well now. I guess I should not complain since I have been very fortunate for feeling so well. But nothing sounds good to eat either. Ugh, I feel so blah. I was lucky but I knew that wouldn't last forever.

I am looking forward to my first appointment on Thursday! After that I think we will tell other family and close friends. I am excited to tell some people. Mr. Bear has already told quite a few people already. Our parents, however, have respected our (my) wishes to wait a little before going public. They are very excited and dying to tell people, as am I. I guess Mr. Bear has been pretty excited as well and really hasn't done to well keeping this little secret. I am happy that he is excited.

I do think I will wait a little longer before revealing my pregnancy at work. I want to give myself a little time with my new job to prove myself.

Patience

My first appointment is next week and that will be an appointment with a nurse practitioner. After that I will get an appointment with my doctor. I am dying to make sure that all is good. I know I must have patience.

I so want to tell people, especially some friends, but I want to wait until I know that all is well. I must have patience.

It is so hard to be so excited and happy about something, but not be able to share it with people. Plus, I would also like to tell important people in my life person. Unfortunately, being busy people in a busy world, I don't always get to see many people in person very often. I must have patience.

There is many months to be happy and share this exciting time with friends and family, I just want it to be now! Having patience is hard!

Been feeling pretty good

Not great all the time, but not too bad. The other day I really wanted a Big Mac so we had McDonald's for dinner. The funny thing is I'm not even a big fan of McD'S. But the Big Mac, fries, and strawberry shake (I needed my calcium!) was really good. Potato chips have been great too.

I am very lucky that I haven't had any morning sickness yet. I know it may still come, but I sure have been eating a lot of junk. During the day I do try to make healthy food choices. But it can be hard when I eat at college dining hall with many choices on most days. But I have been pretty good for the most part. It is in the evenings when I start to feel more blah and pretty much nothing sounds good so I end up eating very little or junk. I guess I can't complain. At least, I am not vomiting all the time. I can deal with a little nausea and cramps.

Week 7: Hands and feets

Baby Bear's hands and feets (yes, I know feet is plural without the s, but I like to say feets instead, haha) are emerging from developing arms and legs. They probably don't really look like hand and feet yet. Baby Bear has doubled in size since last week! And Baby Bear is 10,000 times bigger than a month ago! Wow how fast Baby Bear grows, now about the size of a blueberry! My little blueberry how I love you.

A lot is happening with Baby Bear beside the hands and feets. The brain is growing and so the head is growing too! Baby Bear has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually help in digestion. The umbilical cord is starting to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from Baby Bear blueberry sized body.

Photo Source

A pregnant woman at Oktoberfest

Despite being a pregnant woman at Oktoberfest, I had an enjoyable time. At first, most just believed that I was designated driver so no beer for me. I did have my fill of bratwurst and funnel cake. Yummy. After Mr. Bear found "das boot" and filled it with beer (see picture), he spilled the news to a couple of guys and it spread like wild fire to the group. He was very excited to share his news and just couldn't keep it a secret for very long. Immediately a couple of the boys came up to me to find out if it was true. They were so excited for this wonderful news and it really made me feel so good that the boys were so excited for us. We are so blessed to have people who are so supportive and happy for us. Wow, those boys might have had a lot of beer but their happiness was genuine. Who would have thought boys would be happy about a baby!

Baby Bump watch: week 7

My first baby bump picture. Well, it is all bloat and not much of a real baby bump and it doesn't look as big as it feels. I feel so fat right now and knowing that Baby Bear is only the size of pea makes me feel even fatter. Can't wait until this bloat goes away and it is a really baby bump. (Sorry for the messy room)

My co-worker is pregnant too!!!

I am so excited and happy for her! She just told me at lunch. She thinks that she is about 9 weeks, but she may be a little closer to me. She just found out recently and will have her appointment to confirm how far along she is. She has slowly been telling people on campus because of her past history. Her first child is an absolutely beautiful boy who has special needs. Her second son was born too early and is now an angel in heaven. So with the risks she has faced in the past, she is letting people know a little early in case she may have to go on bed rest.

When she told me I was sooooo utterly happy for her. I ended up telling her that I was also pregnant. I am so glad that we will share this time together. I hadn't planned to tell anyone at work until after Thanksgiving, when I knew I had past the first trimester and made it through my first month in my new position. But I felt so honored by her sharing her special news with me, that I wanted to reciprocate and share my news as well. I know she will be discrete and keep my secret. This is such an exciting time. It will be nice to have someone to corroborate with in this experience.

I am a large breasted starving woman

My boobs are huge! Mr. Bear noticed yesterday that my boobs have grown. I have always worn "miracle" padded type bras. Not anymore, I have to tone them down a bit so that it is not so noticeable. Wow!

On top of that I am starving all the time. The students I work with must think I am a little piggy. I am constantly snacking at my desk because I am starving. I need something pretty much every hour and it seems like there is no end in sight. Funny thing is even with all this eating, I haven't gain a pound yet. Very strange to me. I better be pregnant, because if I am not there is something wrong with me.

All the parents are in the know

Monday night, we went to tell Mr. Bear's mom and step-dad. We brought up our new van for them to check out. It is nice to have some other news to share so they aren't so suspicious by our visit. While they were looking at our new van, Mr. Bear told them. They were very excited and even busted out some champagne (sparkling apple cider for me). It was nice to see the big smile on his mom's face.

Last night, we told Mr. Bear's dad. I happened to get a pregnancy book that I had ordered in the mail. I was opening the box and asked him if he wanted to see the book I got. I handed it over to him and he looked at it and looked at me and asked me if I was pregnant. He was a little shocked and had to sit down. He was pretty excited about it and in fact teared up a little. That was really sweet.

So now all the parents know. It felt good to tell them. In about 6 weeks we'll let more people know. For now I am trying to keep a tight lip about it. Although I just found out that Mr. Bear told his best friend the other night we went out. I am not surprised that he told him, he was one of the first to know when they were pregnant. Plus, I know that Mr. Bear is just pretty excited about it. Now I really want to tell one of my dearest best friends. I want to tell her in person, but the next time I see her will be at a kid's birthday party with all our friends. So I don't know that that would be the best time. I may just break down and call her. We'll see how long I can hold out.

Week 6: Baby Bear has a head!

A lot is going on this week. Baby Bear is the size of a sweet pea and now has a head and trunk. There are dark spots marking facial features of ears, eyes, and mouth. The kidneys, liver, and lungs are beginning to develop as well. Buds are showing that will develop into arms and legs. Later this week, my little embryo will start making movement. What an exciting week for Baby Bear!

Photo Source

Told my parents

Tonight, we went out to dinner with my mommy and daddy and told them the great news. They were totally excited!

While at dinner, I told my parents we had some good news. I gave them the news about my new job and though they were happy about it, I think they were hoping for different good news. Well I told them how exciting I was about having this new job and that the job security was very important especially because I was pregnant. My mommy started tearing up and my daddy was so happy. Next we will tell Mr. Bear's parents. Can't wait to see how they react. I am sure they will be just as happy.

Hiding it from the friends

We will tell our parents very soon, but we are not quite ready to let friends and extended family know quite yet. Saturday night, we went to dinner with some friends to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was fun to go out and have a good time, but it sure was hard not to drink. Everyone kept asking me if I wanted a drink. Fortunately, I am not a big drinker so I don't think anyone was suspicious.

I did do my best to pretend, I held onto a glass of wine and claimed not to like the wine and gave the rest to Mr. Bear. I had a fake cranberry and vodka (vodka replaced with sprite). Later in the night I claimed that my stomach was hurting (I was a little nauseous anyways) and so that gave me an excuse not to drink.

At the beginning of the evening people were asking us about kids and when we would start having kids. All I could say was, "we'll see what happens" or "when it happens it happens." Mr. Bear simply avoided the question and didn't say a thing. I think everyone will be really happy when they find out.

Feeling pretty good

I have been feeling pretty good. The pregnancy symptoms this week are not so bad. They come and go. I guess I should enjoy this time because who knows when that could all change and I can end up being sick as a dog. All I care is that Baby Bear is healthy and growing and developing. I am lucky for now.

Tonight we are going out to L.A. to celebrate a good friend's birthday. No drinking for me! Somehow I will have to hide the fact that I am not drinking. Fortunately I am not a big drinker so no one will probably notice. I just need to make sure no one buys me a drink or anything. I so wish I could tell people. I want people to know but we will wait until after Thanksgiving. By then the first trimester will have past and all should be well. We are, however, planning to tell our parents very soon. We are just too excited to keep this from them any longer. Tomorrow, we are having dinner with my parents to let them know. I can't wait!

Hungry, hungry hippo

That's me! This week, I am hungry all the time! Last week, I was nauseous so I could never tell if I was hungry. That is definitely not the case this week. I am not so nauseous and definitely hungry. I seem to really love carbs! Pasta and crackers are so yummy to me.

A new pregnancy symptom I have been experiencing this week is back pain and cramps. I am not liking those so much. They make me worry that something is wrong. But from all I've read cramps are very common. I need to not worry and realize that my body is going through so many changes and that is a sign of pregnancy. I am positive that all is good. I can't wait until my first appointment.

I am still way tired in the afternoons. The last two nights I have gone to bed before 10pm. I still wake up several times a night to head over to the bathroom though. I guess uninterrupted sleep may be a thing of the past, sigh.

Photo Source

I am sooo tired all the time

I just can't seem to get enough rest. I wake up a couple of times each night to go pee and sometimes have a hard time getting back to sleep. I was experiencing this in the weeks before I found out I was pregnant. At the time, I could not figure out why I kept getting up in the middle of the night so often to go to the bathroom. Now I realize it was because of pregnancy and hormones.

In the afternoons, I am am so so tired. I can barely stay awake to get through work. I am constantly yawning. I am yawning as I write this post. Well, I better work up some energy since I rode my bike to work today. I got to get home and my means of transportation today is the bike. I hope the exercise will give me some energy.

Week 5: The heart is beating

Baby Bear is an embryo and growing very quickly and is now about the size of a sesame seed. Baby Bear is looking kind of like a tiny tadpole. Baby Bear's heart will start to beating and pumping blood this week. The neural tube is developing and from this Baby Bear's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will develop. The placenta and umbilical cord are starting to provide nourishment and oxygen to Baby Bear. Wow, a lot has happened! Develop, Baby Bear, Develop!

Grow, Baby Bear, Grow!

Last Week, I found out that a friend of mine was pregnant via IVF. Today, I learned that the pregnancy is no longer viable and they will try IVF again. I am so sad for them. We would have been due at about the same time.

Baby Bear keep cooking in my tummy and grow!! I know that the first trimester is when a miscarriage is most likely to occur. I just pray that Baby Bear keeps growing and developing inside of me. I do worry, but I also know that I can't be worrying too much because the stress is not good for Baby Bear. I am very positive that Baby Bear will be strong and healthy!

Today, I told one of my friends the news about my new job and when I told her, she was of course very happy for me. She told me that she thought I was going to tell her that I was pregnant. I would have loved to tell her and share the news, but we are waiting until after Thanksgiving to let people know. It is just a little funny that she said that considering that I am indeed pregnant.

Baby Bear and I did a triathlon!

I completed my first relay triathlon today! For a recap see my other blog, Sher's Corner.

I have been training for this since July and when I found out I was pregnant last week, I knew that I still had to do it. I am early in my pregnancy and I knew that since I had been training regularly that I could get through this. I told myself that I would finish this and that would be my goal, I was not going to push myself too hard. Amazingly, I was still able to run the 10K in a personal record time, 1:11, which is better than I thought I would ever do. I really think that I could have ran in less time had I not been trying to be a little careful for Baby Bear's sake. I am pretty proud of Baby Bear and I!

Here I go (notice my number strategically covering my bloated tummy):



Here I come entering the home stretch:



We (Baby Bear and I) did it!!

Blood test confirmed!

I am definitely pregnant! Wohoo!! I just set-up my first appointment with a nurse practitioner for October 30th. I will be about 8 weeks then. It will be an orientation and then I will get an appointment for my first ultrasound. OMG, this is real!!

It better be real because I have been feeling queasy and I am tired a lot. But I am willing to deal with those not so great symptoms. Luckily, I haven't been vomiting or having awful morning sickness like stories I have heard. I hope the queasiness is the bulk of my morning sickness and doesn't go much further than that. What I have found to help is eating little snacks and working out.

Week 4

Weeks pregnant are calculated from the week of your last missed period. Since I was charting my temperatures, I am quite fortunate to have an idea of when ovulation took place. So I think I am at about 4 weeks (when I finally have my doctor appointment, I will be able to confirm). The developmental psychologist in me wants to know what is happening and developing at this time. I've been looking back at my old books and I figured that each week I will share about how Baby Bear is developing.

The first 2 weeks after conception is call the period of the zygote. It is during this time that cells are dividing. We have past that first period and are now in the period of the embryo, which will last until 10 weeks (the periods don't really match up with the trimesters, but developmental psychologists talk about these periods).

Right now, Baby Bear is really tiny no bigger than a poppy seed (about one millimeter). There is a lot beginning to form to get ready to feed and protect Baby Bear: the amniotic sac (where Baby Bear will live for the next 9 months), amniotic fluid (to cushion the baby), and the yolk sac (produces nutrients until the placenta is fully formed and developed).

Exciting times ahead. I already have so much love for my little poppy seed. It is so exciting to know what is going on inside of me and how my Baby Bear is forming.

Filled with great news all around

I just found out that a long time friend (actually my childhood neighbor who I coincidentally found on an online message board for wedding planning recently) is pregnant. I am sooooo happy for her. She is very early, like me, but she has shared this info on the online message board that we both frequent. She had some difficulties and went through IVF. What wonderful news!! I wish I could share with her and the other girls on the board my good news. But I must wait, it is not time yet.

More good news, I was offered a new position at work today!! There was a possibility that my current position would be eliminated or downsized due to budgetary concerns. My boss and my former boss were trying to find some solutions to keep me by restructuring my position so that my pay came from different departments. Well, this new position came to my attention on Tuesday, just 2 days ago. I received a call and they specifically thought of me for the position and wanted to see if I was interested. It is actually a better fit for me and a great new challenge. So of course I was interested. Today, I got the call that I was approved for the position and that I will probably start next month. For the rest of the academic years, I will work 50/50 in the new position and in my current position to allow for a smooth transition and to complete the commitments I began in my current position.

I am so utterly excited. This is such wonderful news and this new position provides a lot more job security for me, which I really need since Baby Bear is on its way. Of course, they don't know I am pregnant, but I am pretty sure I can work something out to make this all work. Beside I cannot be discriminated against due to pregnancy!!

When to tell

I went to get my blood work today. Now I have to wait for the results and then I can make our first real doctors appointment.

My pants are so tight, I am sooo bloated. What always makes me feel better is working out, so I went to the gym. I ran a couple of miles at a moderate pace and I took my favorite yoga class. I told my yoga instructor, Monica, and she was so happy. I don't want people to know since it is very early but I wanted to make sure I didn't do anything to harm my Baby Bear. She was great and explained to me a few poses that I should be careful with and modifications I can do with those poses. She is so knowledgeable and told me she has had pregnant women in her class who make it through the whole pregnancy. That is my hope. She reminded me to listen to my body and if I need to get out of a pose to get out of it. She was so excited for me and told me to let her know when she can start telling people.

Mr. Bear told his work partner yesterday. He felt that since he spends 50 hours a week with him, that he should let him know in case he starts acting strange. My funny bear. I love him and I know he just wanted to tell someone.

I actually can't wait to start telling people. I so want to tell our parents and I think Mr. Bear wants to tell them too. Mr. Bear and I have talked about and were going to wait to tell our parents until after our first appointment. So hopefully that will be soon. We will tell friends and extended family around the holiday season, after Thanksgiving, since that will lead us into the second trimester. It will really help to have something positive to focus on for the holiday season, as this will be the first holiday season without Tricia. It will mark a year since she was taken from us. Last year was a difficult holiday season, so hopefully this will help us cope.