19 Weeks

How Far Along: 19 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 12 lbs.
Maternity Clothes: Definitely needed.
Sleep: Continues to be undisturbed, though wake up to an annoying alarm clock and a full bladder.
Best Moment of the Week: Finding out that the little baby is a boy! First boy in my immediate family and the grandson who'll inherit my dad's Rolex!
Movement: I think so! Feels like little taps, twinges.
Food Craving: Sweets, dairy. I'm craving filipino food and can't wait until I go home and my mom can cook for me. This baby is definitely filipino!!
Food Aversions: Still poultry. I eat it like once or twice a week.
Morning Sickness: Nope! And hope it stays that way!!
Gender: It's a boy! Another little Chuck running around and causing havoc!!
Labor Signs: Just an achy back occasionally after work.
Belly Button: Still an innie :)
What I Miss: My wardrobe!
What I'm Looking Forward To: A big round belly so people aren't so surprised that I'm pregnant, no less 19 weeks pregnant. And of course, going to Seattle in March!!!!!
Weekly Wisdom: It's not to early to buy diapers....especially when they're on sale.
Milestones: Finding out our little baby is a boy!

It's A Boy!

Yesterday, we had an anatomy ultrasound scan of baby boy Rust. It's amazing how much he's grown in a month! He's in the 48th percentile for weight, weighing in at 9 ounces and his heart rate is a healthy 141 bpm. We saw him hiccup, punch his fists in the fluid, and turn his head sideways! He was being a bit stubborn and kept his legs closed. It was a while until the ultrasound technician could pronounce him a boy. She had to wiggle my belly with the ultrasound head to see if he'd budge and open up his legs, but he was being modest for a long time. Finally, he cooperated and we saw his penis! Definitely a boy, she said.

The doctor called today and said baby boy Rust is looking good. Nothing abnormal on the ultrasound. I'm progressing well in my pregnancy.

I thought he was sucking his thumb, which is not all surprising, as I was a big thumb sucker as a kid. He kept punching his fists in the fluid. The technician said he was a very active baby as he kept wriggling around.

The technician said he's developing normally. His spine, brain, heart and everything else is looking good.

The money shot!! It's definitely a boy!!!!!

18 Weeks

This pregnancy is flying by fast! I can't believe I'm a couple weeks from the halfway mark. We find out on Friday if we are having a boy or a girl. I am so excited! Boy or girl, I'm just hoping for a healthy baby.

I just started training at my new per diem job at the hospital. So far, I am enjoying it there. The therapists and nurses are really friendly and helpful. The physical therapist who is training me is also pregnant! She is 12 weeks along and is combatting dizziness and morning sickness. I really feel for her, but reassure her that she'll feel better by her 2nd trimester...we hope! This is her 2nd child and has had the same symptoms as her first. The difference is that she wasn't working with her first, so has found it much different now. I also didn't work much my first trimester and if I did, I can imagine feeling pretty crummy since you're on your feet so much and doing pretty physical labor.

It has been pretty tricky trying to get my snacks in-between meals and unfortunately, it hasn't worked out. So I end up eating breakfast, lunch and dinner without snacking. Once in awhile, I'm able to sneak in a banana or granola bar...but rarely. But I make up for it by snacking at night. My doctor said she'd like to see me snack more between my meals, having more of a balanced diet, but is reassured by me gaining the right amount of weight; especially since I've increased my physical activity by working full-time. Just as long as I'm not losing weight and not starving, that's fine by me!

I told a few therapists at work that I'm pregnant. They are surprised, like the majority that I've told, that I'm pregnant because I don't look pregnant. I tell them "Check my side view out."! It's hard to tell from the front angle. Though Chuck and I can totally tell that I'm pregnant. Of course, we've seen me more and are more familiar with my body. It'll be a nice change, though, for people to tell that I'm pregnant.

How Far Along: 18 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 11 lbs.
Maternity Clothes: Only thing I wear for pants, except for my scrubs and stretchy pants. Some maternity shirts with regular shirts that are long.
Sleep: Sleeping through the night!
Best Moment of the Week: Hasn't happened yet...will be on Friday when we find out the baby's sex.
Movement: Not yet :( The doctor said for first-time moms, it's around 20 weeks....maybe in a couple of weeks?
Food Craving: Goat cheese, anything sweet.
Food Aversions: Still poultry....though I ate a little last week and it was just ok. Still grudgingly eating veggies.
Morning Sickness: Nope!
Gender: We find out on Friday!
Labor Signs: I hope they aren't....I think they're just round ligament pains. They go away and have been more dull aches than contractions.
Belly Button: Still an innie :) Though my belly has been getting stretched.
What I Miss: Beef jerky, tons of sugary sweets and caffeine, sushi and a gin martini with a twist. Same as last week :)
What I'm Looking Forward To: Finding out the sex of our baby, some sort of job enjoyment. Same as last week :)
Weekly Wisdom: As long as you follow the precautions at work, you should be just fine. And it is safe to get a Tb test done, which I did yesterday. Hoping for a negative result so I don't have to get an x-ray!
Milestones: Starting yet another job and getting to have another ultrasound on Friday to see the baby's privates!

17 Weeks

We went to the doctor today and were able to listen to the heart beating in the 140s. At first, it was difficult to obtain a consistent heart rate as well as trying to get one because the little one wouldn't cooperate! S/he was moving around so much in the womb, but finally staid still for a minute to hear a strong heart beating. I am hoping the little one will be more cooperative next week so we can find out if it's a girl or boy!

I had blood drawn for the 2nd trimester screening for the risk of Down's Syndrome and Trisomy 18. The test results for the 1st trimester screening came back with a low risk for both chromosomal abnormalities. With both tests combined, it should give us a better picture, though not 100% accurate, of our risk factor.

So far, I'm having a normal pregnancy. Just the usual round ligament pains, especially in the left groin, and one-time bout of acid reflux. I was surprised to be of my usual work energy as I started working full-time last Monday. Fortunately, my back and SI joint haven't bothered me at work. But I haven't had to work with too many heavy care patients.

Unfortunately, I have been having a hard time adjusting to work. I haven't been enjoying work since I left Seattle. The major reason, I think, is I don't really enjoy working in skilled nursing facilities. I am hoping to find more enjoyment and hope working per diem at the hospital will be more to my liking. As of tonight, I have also applied for a per diem job in home health. I have considered applying for a job completely non-therapy related, but unfortunately, none would pay as well.

I shouldn't wish my time away as that means I'll be wishing this joyful time of being pregnant away, but I can't wait for the three month maternity leave!


How Far Along: 17 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 10 lbs. I surpassed my highest weight ever!
Maternity Clothes: 4 pair of pants and 5 shirts. 1 pair of my old jeans and 1/4 of my shirts still fit as well as some of my work scrubs. I've been mixing scrubs with maternity pants at work.
Sleep: I have had a difficult time getting my mind to sleep. It's always racing with thoughts about the baby, the future and work. My frequency of getting up at night has increased...I was up to the bathroom three times last night.
Best Moment of the Week: Getting to hear our baby's heart beat today!
Movement: Not yet :( The doctor said for first-time moms, it's around 20 weeks....boo hoo!
Food Craving: Goat cheese, Jello
Food Aversions: Still poultry....haven't tried it yet. I've been mostly eating beef, pork, seafood and nuts for protein as well as dairy. I'm going to try eating it soon since we have chicken in the freezer!
Morning Sickness: Nope...cross my fingers, it doesn't make a come-back.
Gender: We find out next Friday!
Labor Signs: Heck no! Just round ligament pains.
Belly Button: Still an innie :)
What I Miss: Beef jerky, tons of sugary sweets and caffeine, sushi and a gin martini with a twist.
What I'm Looking Forward To: Finding out the sex of our baby, some sort of job enjoyment.
Weekly Wisdom: It's okay to eat the occasional hot dog...just make sure it's cooked and buy the 'no nitrates' kind....I like the turkey dog at Trader's Joe. Gotta satiate your craving somehow!
Milestones: Hearing our baby's heart beat a healthy 140s bpm and getting through a week of work.

16 Weeks

This photo was taken closer to the end of my 15th week. A baby bump for sure! Though I'm wearing close-fitting shirts, no one at work has said anything yet.

How Far Along: 16 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 8 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Bought another pair of pants. Will have to go back and buy another 2-3 pairs for work.

Sleep: Been pretty much sleeping through the night, although last night I was up once to the bathroom and was a bit restless thereafter. I have been going to bed at 11 so I can get 7.5 hours of sleep.
Best Moment of the Week: Spending the holidays with family in El Paso, Texas.
Movement: I thought I did feel a flutter last night, but not really sure yet. Might of been round ligament pain...
Food Craving: Goat cheese
Food Aversions: Poultry. It smells unpleasant and made me gag when I ate it.
Morning Sickness: None!
Gender: We find out Jan. 22nd if it's a girl or boy!!
Labor Signs: NO!!
Belly Button: Still an innie :) But getting a bigger belly everyday. Chuck says he's sees my belly get rounder from when he leaves for work to when we go to bed.
What I Miss: Deli meats, unpasteurized soft cheeses, beef jerky and massive amounts of caffeine!

What I'm Looking Forward To: My appointment next Wednesday when they start measuring my belly and we listen to the heartbeat of the baby.
Weekly Wisdom: Practice good body mechanics.
Milestones: Finally working! It's been a long 2 months. I did enjoy it, but got a little bored. Now the days go by faster and in no time, I'll be off again...but will be busier and more tired when our little one arrives in 6 months!!