Today's Prenatal Visit

So today was my first official prenatal visit with Dr Lowder. We met with Calista, one of his nurses first and was given a bunch of baby information and it was suggested that we go ahead and pre-register at the hospital sometime soon. He did another ultrasound and said that at this stage (8 wks) the baby looks like a gummy bear. Little arms and legs are starting to form. I had questions for the doctor about cord blood banking and was surprised that he said it wasn't worth doing. Partly because they do not know how long it will be viable. He said in all his deliveries he has only suggested it once or twice. His suggestion was that we set aside that money and use it for the baby's education. My next visit is February 20th and I'll be 13 weeks on that day.

After we were done we went to lunch at Old Chicago and I ended up only eating a few bites of my spaghetti. Chuck told me that I was giving the waitress dirty looks, which I didn't realize. I just was not feeling very well, looked more like a zombie! Instead of walking the mall afterwards we came home and I watched a little tv and took a nap. I have to watch the time of day I take a nap otherwise I don't sleep well at night.

Where I had energy yesterday for the first time in weeks, I was zapped after the doctor today. Hopefully only another few weeks of the exhaustion!

Energy Levels

Wow, if someone would have told me that the first trimester of pregnancy leads to complete exhaustion and no energy I would never have believed it. But now that I do know....The last few weeks have been really rough. Last week I was really sick and I am constantly tired. I feel like I have been in a fog for several weeks. All I want to do is sleep. I haven't really wanted to do much of anything and have tried to avoid being around others so as not to expose them to my moodiness.

Today was the first day that I haven't been exhausted so when I got home from work Chuck and I went out to look at baby items that will soon be needed. By the time we got home at 6:30 I was ready to eat a bowl of cereal and watch a little tv, something that I have not done much of in the last few weeks. Hopefully tonight I can fall asleep at a normal time.

Tomorrow is my first official prenatal visit with the doctor. Chuck is going with me and it should be a good visit. Not quite sure what to expect exactly though. Chuck is so excited about the appointment. He is more excited than I am at this minute. Of course he hasn't been the one that is sick and exhausted all the time either! He told me that he had a dream about the ultrasound - the baby wasn't a blob anymore! Since I will be 8 weeks tomorrow the baby should have started to develop little arms and legs!

Drug Withdrawal & My First Ultrasound

Well after spending the entire weekend absorbing the fact that we are now going to be parents, I had to immediately see the doctor about several medications I am on. For the last month I been sick with the flu, sinus infection and now a kidney infection so the first signs of pregnancy were not even noticed (not to mention I had a negative pregnancy test right before Christmas). Now that I am pregnant I have to stop these medications that I have been on for a long time COLD TURKEY! We were in the process of lowering the dosage of the seroquel which helps me to sleep at night and my antidepressant, cymbalta. Now I have not had either of these in nearly a week and a combination of the withdrawal headache, nausea and little sleep is wearing on me. My poor huban has to sleep out on the couch just to get some sleep. I am taking asprin free Excedrin only of I really need it, because when I do take it, I can feel my pulse beating in my head!

Anyway, I did not expect Dr Lowder to do an ultrasound today. I got to see the first glimpse of my baby! I can't even begin to tell you how exciting that was for me. Here is a picture of the "little glob" as Chuck has so sweetly put it!

Learning to TRUST GOD

I wanted to share a little lesson on Trusting God with you, that I FINALLY gotten through my head. Back in November, I was having fertility procedures done. When we received our first negative pregnancy test I was crushed and angry with God....didn't want to pray, nothing....I had told a group of friends from church this and heard everyone’s 2 cents - me being me I got really angry with them and didn't want to go back. Since the leaders of the class are really good friends of ours Chuck and I went to talk with them and Ted once again set me straight. I wasn't trusting God with the situation....Well we had the same procedure done the first of December again. Well, after having the flu for a few weeks, I went to the doctor and my parents had been here as we had a funeral to attend. Well, I had the doctor take a pregnancy test and it once again came back negative. Instead of crying over it again fro weeks I completely gave the situation to God. As I was talking to those in my class Sunday night I recounted this to them and expressed my feelings of the prior class to them. Well, then I found out I have a kidney infection and had probably already had it for a few weeks. Well, Friday (Jan 2 - my birthday) I was still not feeling the greatest. When I finally realized where I was in my cycle, I decided to take a cheap pregnancy test. Oh my gosh! It was positive! Then I took another, more expensive test, it was POSITIVE!! Took a third Saturday morning and it was positive.....

Chuck and I are finally going to be parents!!! We are so ecstatic! It took me completely giving my hopes and desires, my heart and life to God. Once I did that, HE gave me the biggest desire of my heart - a baby! From what I can tell, I am due the end of August. We do not know yet if it is a boy or girl, and there is the chance of multiples. The morning sickness has begun, I am nauseous all the time, completely tired but more importantly - I AM BLESSED. This baby that is growing inside of me a TRUE GIFT from God our Father. This baby has been wanted and is already loved with all that we have within us.

Please pray with us for a healthy pregnancy, Little Abigail Grace or Alexander Behrens to develop the way that God sees fit and that mommy would remain as healthy as possible. Not sure that I can endure the vomiting feelings all the time. And if God sees fit to give us our other hearts desire and have multiples that God would grant us the patience, health and everything else in His perfect will.

So, your lesson to be learned from this story - Trust God with your whole heart. Give Him the Praise and Honor that He Alone Deserves!

Love & Blessings to you all!
Chuck & Angela