You've got questions, I've got answers

Well, as expected my previous post yielded quite the response and quite a few questions. I think I'll start at the beginning as that's where most good stories start.

My fateful friend did not show up at it's appointed time in Dec. I personally didn't think this was cause for alarm as I am not generally Miss Regular and as we all know the Christmas season can be stressful. I decided that if it didn't come by the time Christmas was over I would take a test. Well Christmas came and went, I took the test, and it was negative. I breathed a sigh of relief, not because I was particularly nervous but hey we weren't trying so why tempt fate. A few days later, still nothing, took another test, nothing. Well the beginning of January hit and I was complaining to Graham that my chest hurt (and by chest you know what I mean) and he looks at me odd and says, you don't you're pregnant are you, and I kind of looked at him like he was crazy and said well, maybe, but I've had two negative tests. (Up until this point I hadn't said anything to him since I didn't think there was anything to say.) Well off to take another test I went and this was one was by far positive. We were suprised but happy although I still didn't believe it so I bought a different brand test the next day and it too was positive. Time to make an appointment with my doctor. She confirmed all I had suspected but as she's a GYN not an OB I had to find a new doctor.

I'm currently with a practice of 7 doctors who are the main OB's in the area and although I like them fine I'm considering switching to a midwife. They just don't give you the personal attention and time that a midwife does. Strangely enough Greenville is lacking in midwives - I think I could count the ones I know about on one hand!

I've had two ultrasounds, one at 5 weeks and then one at 8 weeks to confirm the date. I've also heard the heartbeat once. At my last appointment the doctor measured me and said "There's definitely something growing in there" to which I responded, "I just feel fat." I'm sure he hears that quite often. Although I haven't had morning sickness I also really haven't gained weight. I lost 4 pounds initially and have stayed pretty close to that weight although today the scale fluctuated a bit so I may have put on a pound. I blame the lack of weight gain (not that I'm complaining!) on my stomach shrinking. About the only time I feel sick is if I try to eat too much and by too much I mean what I used to normally eat. I am definitely doing the pregnancy thing of eating lots of small meals. I honestly feel like I am constantly eating - it's just never much at one time.

While I haven't had morning sickness I have had other lovely pregnancy related problems: heartburn, sore...chest, stretching and pulling in my stomach, tiredness, insomnia, and headaches. Oh the headaches - this I think has been the worst thus far. I have experienced some very bad, almost migraine like headaches that last for days and I cannot take anything that works. I'm pretty much limited to tylenol and although it's a great fever reducer, it does squat for me. Graham did buy me a homeopathic product called Head On and it seems to help. It doesn't eliminate it completely if it's really bad but it doesn't take the edge off.

I also met with a doula on Monday that I plan to use whether I stay with my OB or switch to a midwife. She comes quite recommended and I've heard good things from people who have used doulas. Hopefully that will hold true for me.

I've actually bought my crib set already. I found a few online I really liked and one day while I was at Babies R Us I ventured into that section of the store and absolutely fell in love with this set. Thankfully it's gender neutral so no matter if it's a boy or girl, it'll work. I'm not that enthused about the dust ruffle and curtains that go with it (too much brown) and as luck would have it Graham's sister (an interior design major) needs to do a crib dust ruffle for a class. She and I picked out fabrics that coordinate nicely with the set and she'll be making the dust ruffle and a roman shade for me. I plan to sell the dust ruffle that came with my set on eBay.

Oh yes, when am I due - Sept 11. A lot of people have expressed their feelings about this date but it really doesn't bother me. For one thing, most babies don't come on their due date. Secondly, it's a day and although it can be associated with sad things it can also be associated with happy things. Bad things happen every day but so do good things. I think I'll focus on the good ones.

That's all I can think of for the time being. If I didn't cover something you want to know, feel free to ask!