I'm feeling much better now that morning sickness has FINALLY passed me by. The unrelenting nausea (think all-day seasickness) was one of the reasons my summer trip recaps were nonexistent. June and July were spent laying down, alternately clutching my head and stomach, and praying for someone to put me out of my misery.
Everyone had told me that the 2nd trimester ushers in a period of high energy and action. LIES! The nausea is mostly gone but I am exhausted by the time 9 p.m. rolls around. I crawl into bed, read for about 45 minutes and am passed out by 10 p.m. In other body changes, my waist is getting thicker (goodbye skinny body!), my face is breaking out and my nose is consistently stuffy at night. My sweet tooth has returned and I'm still eating small meals, but more often. I can't go more than 2 hours without a snack or bigger meal. The one thing I can't get enough of is cheddar cheese! Before bed I have to eat a few cheese slices and crackers or I'm ravenous in the morning.
My most recent appointment was on Tuesday and they took my blood pressure (117/65), weighed me (gained 4 pounds since the beginning of my pregnancy - normal), and had me pee in a cup. With the Doppler, the doc checked the baby's heartbeat and it measured at a very nice 148 bpm. My next appointment is scheduled for September 22nd in the morning. It's the 20-week visit - when we'll find out the sex of the baby!
The following are images from our 12-week ultrasound, taken 4 weeks ago. We also opted for the nuchal screening at that time, which is a combo ultrasound and lab work to test for chromosomal abnormalities like Down Syndrome. We are in the clear with that and the sonographer says our baby is perfect so far. It's amazing to see our little peanut get bigger and bigger! (Click on the images to see them larger...)
I'm so sad that my Dad won't be around to meet our baby and teach him/her all of the wonderful things he wanted to share about the world. But the one blessing we have is that he knew about his grandchild before he passed, and I know it meant so much to him. I know he will be our baby's guardian angel forever.
Drift and I went for a quick 1-mile walk last night. Sadly, it tuckered us both out! What a bunch of wimps we are. My doc says the elliptical is fine to use if my heartrate doesn't get too high, so I need to start working out again. I've started to tell people at work about the pregnancy - my boss knows and seems very excited, which is good because she's the one who will be approving my maternity leave.
D is off working an out-of-town job about 2 hours away, but is able to return home on the weekends. It's quiet around the house without him. Our friends who know about the pregnancy have offered to help if I need anything done during the week, and Risha will be up here in Alaska by mid-October.
Weather is wet and rainy now - low 60's during the day and colder at night. Feels like fall already! The raspberries and rhubarb in the backyard are all starting to come in, so I spent Wednesday evening gathering those. They get wrapped and frozen for use in winter baked goods.
