January 5th - Ultrasound

Mia took this pic one day after Noah told me I needed to go on Biggest Loser because my belly was too big. Gotta love kids!

The new year brought an exciting event for us. On January 5th, we were able to get the next glimpses of our sweet little baby. I set the pics aside so I could scan them in for you to see, but haven't had time to do that yet. For the second time in a row (the first being with Mia), we had a MODEST BABY! The ultrasound tech tried everything she could to sneak a peek at the gender, but no luck. Kirt is VERY sure that it is a girl because of that. The baby is growing and developing well, which is what I was most happy to see. She (according to Kirt) even turned her head to look at her daddy and wave at him. It was very cute. Almost as if she could hear his excited voice as we were looking at different body parts.

Now, ALL the kids and Kirt are calling this baby a girl. I'm still not so sure, but if there is anything that would convince me, it would be these horrible headaches! I had headaches with Mia too, and had to drink lots of Coke to get them to dissipate. This time the Coke isn't working as well. I never had headaches with any of the boys.

A couple weeks ago I had a migraine type headache that lasted for 4 days. YES, 4 DAYS. I finally decided I better see the Dr. to make sure there wasn't an underlying problem. I went in and they checked my blood pressure and blood sugar. Both numbers were great, so he prescribed Lortab for me to take when the headaches get really bad. Go figure. My migraine medicine isn't safe to take during pregnancy, but narcotics are... WHAT?? I have only been taking 1/2 a Lortab when they get bad, but it does worry me to take it. This mom has to function though so she can work full-time and be a mom full-time to 4 other kids, so she doesn't have a choice! That's all for now...

Today's Dr. appointment

I went to the doctor again today. It's weird not to have Kirt going with me, because he always has before, but our lives and schedules are too crazy lately. Dr. Lunt is THE BEST Dr. ever. I love him! He asked about my bout with the swine flu and we chatted about it for a minute.

I am always nervous before I hear the heartbeat for the first time because of my miscarriage. Today it took awhile for him to find the heartbeat. I was so anxious I was SHAKING! When he finally found the racing little heartbeat I was ecstatic!

"158 beats per minute sounds like a healthy little girl to me," he said.

I laughed and told him the kids would be so excited to hear that he said it was a girl! He chuckled and said, "Oh no! You can't tell anyone that. That gets me in trouble ALL the time!"

I'm breathing a bit easier since I've heard the heartbeat, but until I see the 20 week ultrasound, I still don't feel safe. Hurry up and wait.

The little peanut at 8 weeks

Piggy Flu

Now that I am (almost) fully recovered, I guess I should blog about my HORRIBLE experience of the "piggy flu" as Mia calls it. I was nervous when my kids came down with it, because the mortality rate of pregnant women who get this sickness is 30%! My Dr. told me that at my last appt. ACK! Scary. I was SO, SO careful the whole time they had it, but alas, I still ended up with it.

The first day, I thought I had a bad head cold. I was thankful, because I was sure that I had something different than the kids had. I went through a whole box of tissues as my nose ran and ran and ran. That night my mom and dad came and my dad helped Kirt give me a blessing. I was sure I was going to be fine, so I went to bed. That night I woke up coughing about every 2 seconds, and every time I coughed it felt like my head was going to explode! I had a SUPER bad headache, but suffered for awhile because I AM PREGNANT, and I hate taking meds while I am pregnant!

The next day I gave in and took Tylenol for my headache. I called my Dr, and they strongly suggested I take the Tamiflu, because this flu is SO hard on pregnant women. Kirt went and picked it up, and I began the 10 day treatment. My cough persisted into the night, and finally at 3am, we made a trip to the ER because I was having trouble breathing. They told me, "Yep, you have the swine flu", "Your oxygen levels are fine", and "phenergan with codine is safe to take during pregnancy". I was SO miserable at that point, I had to give it a try. Codine makes me really sick, but I figured I couldn't be any sicker than I was, so I took it. And slept. For 2 days.

I don't really remember those two days, but I think I got up to use the bathroom and get a drink. Period. Luckily, Dallin was home with the "piggy flu" too, but had much milder symptoms, so he took care of the kids during the day (with GREAT help from my neighbor Heather) and Kirt ran the house.

After I surfaced again a few days later, I still couldn't do much. Hacking away, I got worn out REALLY quickly. I wish I could remember more details, but this sums it up: I have never been more sick in my LIFE! I finally felt a little better on day 4, but day 5 I was back in bed. Day 6 too. Day 7 I finally felt among the living again, but the Tamiflu was making me really nauseated and sick. It gave me a really bad headache too. I almost stopped taking it, but since the Dr. said that was a bad idea, I believed him and stuck it out. I sure hope the Tamiflu didn't do this baby any permanent damage!

I'm now on Day 14, and STILL struggle with energy at the end of the day. I do pretty well until about 5:00 and then I'm toast. They say it can take up to a month for a full recovery in pregnant women. Whew. I guess I'll feel better just in time for the Reno trip. :)

I am glad I survived it, but MAN that is NASTY STUFF! Hopefully my little peanut survived unscathed as well.

Ultrasound

On Monday, we went in for an ultrasound. I've never had one this early in my pregnancy, but when I went to my first dr. appointment last week, I wasn't measuring as big as I should have for being 10 weeks along. So, Lisa (my CNP) asked me to come in for an ultrasound. She was right. I thought I was 10 weeks 5 days, and really I was only about 8 weeks 5 days. DARN! The fun part was that we were able to see this little one's heart beating a million miles an hour, so it made me happy. Everything looked well, so my new due date is May 27th, 2010. *sigh* Seems like forever away, but I'm sure it will be here before we know it! And yes, there's only ONE.

Heartburn City

BLECH. There aren't many things I hate worse than heartburn. It is SO bad already! I've already downed a big, mega bottle of tums. Kirt keeps telling me that I just don't remember because it's been 5 years, but I SWEAR it's never been this bad this early. The heartburn, chest soreness, and back pain are at least twice as bad as they've ever been! No morning sickness and not really too much fatigue! YAY!) Kirt says, "That's because it's twins." Ever since he agreed to another baby, he's been praying for twins because he knows I'll want one more and he'd rather not have to endure ME through another pregnancy. What about me?? HA! Kill me now. I guess we'll find out this week. I'm sure there's just one. Kirt's sure there's two. My first doctor's appt. is on Thursday. More to come then!

YEOUCH!

Okay, so I didn't end up going in for the spotting because it stopped, but I can just say that I NEVER remember my chest hurting this bad in previous pregnancies??? Oh, man! Every time one of my sweet little ones climbs up on me to have a story read or even just cuddle, I get an elbow and it about KILLS me! I really hope that part of it ends in a few weeks when I hit the 2nd trimester...

The back pain (sciatica) varies day to day. Some days I'm flat in bed from it, and others I am totally fine. I'm sure all of you have been wondering what the HECK is up with that, but I can't tell you right now... Can't wait 'till you all read this blog and go "Oh, THAT'S what her problem was!"

It's getting REALLY hard to hide this news. This is my 6th pregnancy. (WHOA!) My belly popped at about 6 weeks and it is SO hard to disguise. I'm sure many of you are wondering, but are nice enough not to say anything. I just keep telling everyone that I keep "finding" weight and it all gathers around my middle. Well...it's TRUE!