Foggy New Year

Its foggy here, and the snow is melting away. I can see the grass in a lot of places (and piles of dog stuff). This is very strange Northern Michigan weather. It is suppose to freeze up again, but really, this is weird weather. My poor daughter was convinced that winter is over. But, I assured her, that no, it was not really over yet.

Baby is 10 weeks and 4 days old. My due date is July 25th. And, today, we heard the little ones heart beat! What a glorious sound! God really blesses families - with the ability to hear inside the womb. We all heard it, kids, daddy and I. What a lovely sound of life! No ultrasound yet, I must wait till about 20 weeks. This is because of my insurance. They won't pay for an ultrasound at any time, unless it is for a medical reason. The doctor assured me that it won't be a problem at 20 weeks.

The kids were intrigued. They put the jelly on my belly, and they wondered what in the world the doc was doing! Part way through, my daughter went to touch it. I started to laugh and could not stop. I kept picturing her finger painting my belly. The doctor laughed too, but must have been wondering what pregnancy hormones had gotten a hold of me!

I am measuring big, but this could just mean weak abs, or it could mean the baby is further along than we think. It is possible. But, I doubt it. (I don't think it is twins, the doppler had enough trouble finding one heart beat). The ultrasound will show what we need to know, so I just have to wait. My hubby was a little bit nervous about a June baby- with our moving plans and all.

Its not advisable that I travel after 30 weeks. Because, I have a history of gestational hypertension. That means after the half-way point, my blood pressure starts to go up. The risk is higher since I am over 35. And, this baby will likely arrive via c-section, because they cannot induce labor when you have high blood pressure, and there is risk involved with a VBAC, and I won't take that risk. I am a pro at c-sections anyways. I have never felt that I was missing out on the birthing process. And, no tears down there for me. No thank you!

I am not nauseous, as bad, right now. That's not a very good sentence. I mean, I don't feel wonderful, but, I am not suffering right now- the prime time for my nausea. I would love to ring in the new year with a settled stomach! I have swiss chicken in the oven, and it smells heavenly. Swiss Chicken is: boneless chicken, swiss cheese, mix sour cream and cream of mushroom soup, and cover with stuffing mix. Yummy! Food doesn't taste or smell good at 4:30 PM any night in the last month or more. So, that's a good sign - right?!

We got a nice advertisement magazine with the stages of pregnancy - great pictures of the baby in the womb, and it is much nicer than what I've been able to show my kids on line. The last online description was: Your baby is now the size of a Kumquat. What kid knows what a kumquat looks like, let alone its size?? Hubby says he ate a kumquat once, in Florida.

Ok, I don't know why the kumquats in this picture are wet.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas! This year was quiet at my house. It was just the four of us- no extended family or friends. But, we had a very nice day. All season long, we have celebrated Advent (The Coming of Christ) with devotional readings and lighting candles on our advent wreath. I love doing that with the kids. I love it for hubby and I too- because it is easy to forget the reason that we celebrate Christmas- the birth of our Savior so many years ago. And, I am so thankful for God's gift to us.

We did not go to church on Christmas eve, I wasn't feeling up to it. But, there is always next year! And, Christmas morning was fun- the kids enjoyed all their presents. We played a game of Sorry and built with Legos. My daughter is enjoying her Sponge Bob sno-cone machine. My hubby got a new bicycle saddle. I got pretty mittens and a wonderful bread machine. I will enjoy it when I am no longer nauseous. Even the dog got a couple toys, although he destroyed the first on in 5 minutes!

I tried to write Christmas cards. At least, a Christmas letter. Then, a New Years letter. I don't think its going to happen. Maybe, I'll send a change of address letter this Spring? It makes me feel a little bit guilty, when I receive such nice Christmas cards sent with love.

Friday, New Years Eve, the baby and I will have our first check-up. We will meet our first OB (first, because I will likely deliver in Alaska). I hope she does an ultrasound, or at least that we can hear the heartbeat. I had initial ultrasounds with my other two kids- but, you never know what a new doctor is going to do. I am bringing the family in case there is something to see or hear. The baby is the size of a kumquat. I don't know what a kumquat is- but, its a fruit, I think, and bigger than a grape.

I now have maternity underwear and bigger bras, maternity pants and a couple tops. I am busting out of my clothes. I have acne on my face. I can now brush my teeth, thanks to cinnamon flavored toothpaste (I know, weird), because mint flavored makes me gag. I need maternity pajamas. cause I have to tuck the current ones under my belly. I'm at 10 weeks people!! Only 10 weeks! My husband claims that I am not as big as before. He thinks that I'm more beautiful than ever. Perhaps, I am. Its hard to feel lovely when you are gassy, bloated, you've got acne patches and even some gray hair. But, I'll still accept the compliment.

A bit of snow

We got some more snow. I don't know if it was another foot? But it has been blowing around a lot. 193 school districts in the area were closed. Not our school, of course, but the air station was closed, so daddy was home and he helped us with school today. Fractional parts of a whole for our daughter, and Countries Around the World with our son, he was learning about England. It was so nice to have his help, we were done by 2 PM, and that hasn't occurred in a very long time.

I am still so nauseous all the time. I am eating lots of Clementines. They take the edge off, but they aren't really working as well. I wore maternity pants for the first time today. They do not fit right, they are too low, because I am not "showing" yet. I just can't handle the pressure of tight pants on my abdomen. I wore out by 9 PM, last night. I can't believe the amount of rest that my body requires.

My kids are making gingerbread cookies today. I barely made it through the dough, with my daughter. Butter, molasses, lemon and sugar smell miserable. I remember that these cookies taste wonderful, but I would have thrown the batter away, if I didn't know better. It is all mixed, and chilling in the fridge.

My husband snow plowed the drive, knocked down the icicles (the dog is playing with one), bought ingredients to make dinner, put gas in my car, washed it, and is holding down the fort today. He reminded me how wonderful things get when the nausea ends. I truly blocked out most of this experience with my other two kiddos. I don't remember being so run down, but he remembers and I guess I was. I do remember vomiting in the hallway - not making it in time, and my loving husband sliding through it in his socks in an effort to help me. That's real love, isn't it. I am glad that I'm not re-living that moment!

Brussel sprouts and dijon mustard?

Ok, I had dreamed last night that I was at a potluck, with people from my dad's church (in NJ over 11 years ago) and I was filling my plate with ziti, chicken alfredo, green bean casserole, stuffed shells etc. But, I woke before I got to taste it. I felt ill most of the night, I was so thirsty, and the bed was just not comfortable. I also got way overheated.

But, buy 9 AM, I am craving brussel spouts. I finally bought some last night, the kind that you steam in the bag. I swear, I ate almost the entire bag with butter and salt. I did give my daughter a few. And, then whole wheat pita, with ham, dijon mustard, tomatoes, basil, and cheddar cheese. These foods actually settled my preggo belly!

And, I'm trying to drink seltzer water. I just can't drink very much without feeling sick. So, I'm on to the next experiment. Peppermint tea is out, ginger tea is out, plain decaf tea is out, water is out, water with lemon is out. So, I'm down to cranberry juice, seltzer and V-8.

We are going into town tomorrow, to a Christmas party for the kids at the air station. They are so excited about it. I can't blame them, they have been stuck in this house with me all week. They played outside in the snow with Daddy last night, so at least there was that. I just don't have much pep.

Its Kodiak!

We are moving to Kodiak. We got the word today! I am very excited about it! It will just be a two year tour. We don't have official orders cut, yet, so I don't know exactly when. But, at least now, I know where!

I am feeling so nauseous today. I pushed through school, and managed to finish dinner around 3 PM, because when I get hungry, I must eat or puke. So, now dinner is ready.

We learned yesterday, that baby "pinky" (the kids named the baby) is the size of a blueberry. That's about 1/2 inch. How can someone so small - be such a huge impact on every minute of my day?? I am told that morning sickness is a good sign.

I don't have energy to write anymore. But, that's the news!

Burned out Bread Machine

My bread machine bit the dust. It died today. I think the motor burnt out. How disappointing! I bought it used for $20-$30, so we've definitely gotten our money's worth, but the whole family loves homemade bread. My mother-in-law is considering getting us a new one for Christmas, so now I need to do some research.

I have been craving oranges. This is a good thing, I guess. Except, it meant sending my loving husband out into the snow to get more. He is riding out there with his studded tires on his bicycle. He is loving it. Yes, he loves to winter cycle. We needed other groceries too. It is so wonderful to have his help.

All food smells gross. Pretty much all day long. I managed to heat up a turkey ham, steam broccoli and bake potatoes for dinner. We had sour cream, and that was good. I had to eat it, the ham, broccoli and potato, or I was going to be ill, but yuck. Nothing tastes or smells good. Then, I needed an orange. We had a couple left, and they weren't the greatest, but they made all the difference.

I am going to try seltzer water next. It just sounds good. Maybe with a squeeze of orange in it? And, I put ingredients for a vanilla fruit smoothie on the list. I need to drink more.

Hubby is home- lots of snow out there!

When will I need maternity stuff, baby stuff?

I got rid of everything. I mean, really- everything. We have no baby or toddler stuff anymore. When my two kids were little, especially my first, I wanted everything to be brand new. I didn't have a lot of new maternity clothes, I did borrow those and manage to stain nearly everything by spilling stuff on my shirts (poor sister-in-law who lent them to me). But, you know with your first child, you get this amazing baby shower. I even had one with my second.

Now, this will be the frugal baby. I probably won't buy cloth diapers, because they aren't cost effective for one child (but, I'm still thinking about it). I used cloth diapers with my daughter, but they were hard to manage, cause I lived with my mother, and I didn't know what the heck I was doing. They leaked a lot, through the leak-proof velcro diaper covers. But, I will use the consignment shops for when ever possible. I think with the first two, I used the consignment and thrift stores like they were cute little shops to buy "this and that" - stuff that I really didn't need. But, I don't do that anymore. Most of my own clothes are second hand. My kids clothes are second hand, and I feel like I've been robbed when I shop at department stores. Of course, Grandma helps a lot with the kids clothes. She is an expert on buying things on discount. I do buy some things new- like underwear, socks, and most shoes. My winter coat (its hard to find winter coats that aren't out of the 80's or worn out here, unless they are new).

I don't know what size maternity clothes to try on. I should do this while my hubby is available, because taking the kids shopping is awful. I am a size 16, sort of. I am not a size 18, and I am not always able to fit into a 16. So, I think this means XL. In shirts, I wear either a Large or XL. Some XL are huge on me.

Baby stuff, I just don't know when I want to start looking for the gear. We really are trying to stick to a budget. My girlfriend has offered to loan me some stuff. My sister-in-law offered her crib, but if we move to Alaska, I don't think that is a good idea. She isn't 100% certain that she is done having kids, and shipping would be a bear. Plus, I ruined most of her maternity clothes the last time . . . .

I am finding a trend. Every day, around 3 PM, things start to smell gross. This lasts till bedtime. Tonight, my hubby cooked turkey bacon for dinner, and pancakes. I did not eat any of this, but ewww. It smelled awful. Then, the gas. My abdomen blows up like a balloon. I have to say, I stop smelling the bacon. And, I know that I smell tons worse! But, the bloating and gas lasts all evening. This has been going on all week. I have tried to add more calcium to my diet. And, I have thrown beans and legumes into recipes - as these things are good for you when you are pregnant. I'm not eating more, in fact, I'm eating even healthier than usual - seriously, I ate anchovies with a salad and an orange for lunch. Maybe the bloating is the trade off for not puking this time?

Oh, this is a lovely post! Sorry! I'm going to surf the internet for cloth diapers now.

Fixing stuff

Today, Cadillac Garage Door and K&K Heating arrived at the same time. So, now my garage door works right and we have heat again! All accomplished this morning before lunch! Actually, the heater needs a part, but it is repaired for now.

While this was all happening, I managed to read together with both kids, erupt a volcano (we recreated Olympus Mons- giant volcano on Mars) and finish I science lesson about Asteroids and Meteorites. I love these science lessons, because I learn stuff that I didn't know either! Oh, and we are learning about how the birth of Christ is celebrated in countries around the world. Tomorrow we will paint shells and make ornaments to hang on our tree, like they do in the Caribbean.

I had to pull out the snow blower for the first time this season. I managed to clear the driveway, mailboxes, and porch, because we had a few inches of snow last night.

Now, I have fed everyone, eaten lunch, and I am very sleepy. I didn't sleep well, because it was 2:30 AM when I realized that the fan on the heater wasn't shutting off and the temperature was starting to drop. It never really got cold. It is good to have a hubby to snuggle with : )

I need to wake up- and get moving now. There is more school to teach, bread to bake, the kids are begging to play in the snow, and perhaps a nap before dinner and dance lessons (for my daughter) tonight. Oh, and measure my daughter for a dance costume that she may never get to use. The deposit is due now, but of course we still don't know when or where we are moving. Well, she will have pretty play clothes, at least? Nausea seems to set in about 3-4 PM, so I have to make sure I clear time to just lay around like a lump around then.