21 & 22 Weeks

Ok, I did good there for a second. After I get done catching you up though, you'll know why its been a while!!

The week we turned 21 weeks, Hudson became the size of a cantaloupe and I was busy planning a party for the church staff. It was a blast, the theme was Your Favorite Decade and everyone came dressed as a decade. Matthew and I did the 50s of course and drove the 57 up. So that, plus personal life business, getting ready for the wedding, dog sitting Sadie, meetings at work, etc. I never really found the time to post. I did find myself wishing there was more than 24 hours in the day though. My wedding present to Kari was making her cookie favors. So Sunday, June 29th, I began the process of baking 150 cookies. Which brings us to the week we turned 22 weeks and Hudson became the size of a papaya. This week I was busy trying to get things ready to be out of town Wed-Sunday for the wedding both at work and at home. At night I would decorate cookies, wash clothes and process what I had to do the next day at work. Starting on Sunday I had a low dull pain in my left side. I didn't pay much attention to it. This is where I usually have pain and the doctor has always assured me it is just ligaments and things of that nature stretching. So, after the crazy business of Mon, Tues and Wed, the stress of decorating cookies, packing and making sure everything was ready to go, I'm at the table finishing the last of the work on the cookies and all the sudden, this low dull pain sky rockets to about an 8 or 9 on the pain scale and scares the poop out of me. Being pregnant for the first time you're on edge about everything anyhow. So I decide to call the doc and make sure everything is ok. He said it is normal ligament stretching but because of being on my feet too much, not relaxing and stressing out it is making the pain unbearable. He put me under strict orders to relax, keep my feet up (my legs and feet were swollen for the first time ever) and drink plenty of water. Well, I had things to do and knew the rest would come in the ride to Houston the next day. And it did. Until Waxahachie when Matthew realized that we left my bridesmaid dress and his suit hanging on our closet door. Yes, that's right. We made a few frazzled phone calls to people we knew were coming. Luckily Joni was coming down early enough to get the dress to me by the time I needed it for pictures. After everything was settled I was back to sleep, legs propped up and getting the much needed rest. We made it to Houston with time to spare. The rehearsal and wedding and all the other festivities went great! Kari was absolutely beautiful and I was honored to be by her side on this life altering day. Everything seemed to be calming down to a more manageable state...until Sunday. When we were on our way home. My tummy all the sudden became one big huge knot in my belly. I was miserable and the pain just kept getting worse. All I wanted to do was curl up in my bed and hug a pillow. But we were in the car, 4 hours away from the house. I grinned through it the best I could until Matthew got us home, nice and safe. I hadn't had too much in the way of food all day, so when we got home he made me a couple of pieces of toast. I ate one and shared the second with Bentley, took some Kaopectate and laid down. About 45 minutes later, I was hugging the toilet, watching the toast, sprite and Kaopectate come right back up. I immediately felt better and hoped that was all I needed to get me back to regular old Carmen. But those hopes and dreams were squashed an hour later when I was back in the bathroom, hugging the toilet again. And again another hour later, and again, and again. I was absolutely miserable and became fearful of dehydration and the effects it would have on Hudson. At 10:30pm we decided to call the on call doctor. He was extremely concerned and immediately called in medicine to stop the vomiting. He told me once the feeling of nausea had subsided, to drink a half and half mixture of sprite and Gatorade to get me rehydrated as soon as possible. If this did not work, I was to go immediately to the ER to get on an IV. I did not like the sound of this and began praying right away for the Lord to intervene on my behalf. Matthew went and picked up all the necessities and I did as I was told. Thankfully, around 4am I finally stopped shaking, the nausea fully subsided and I had about 16 oz of liquid in me - and it was staying there! I spent Monday in bed recovering. I woke up Tuesday feeling like Carmen, with not much of an appetite, but grateful to be over whatever it was that had gotten its grip on me. Throughout the day I continued to get better with no looking back. Which brings us to the current hour. Now, can you forgive me for not writing for 2 weeks? I sure hope so!!!

So here are some fun things. I woke up Monday the 30th and Hudson kicked 7 times in a row. I decided to count how many times I felt him kick that day. Actual kicks, not the rolls, just kicks... probably a few punches got counted in there as well. Anyhow, he kicked 97 times that day. It was the most active day he's ever had. So then I did the same thing Tuesday and he kicked 164 times. Yes, it was insane. Then Wednesday he was back to normal, I didn't count, but it was his normal movements of approximately 40-50 kicks a day. Monday and Tuesday were just really crazy abnormal days. But they were fun!! I love feeling him all the time now. He's kicks are getting stronger and some actually hurt at times. For the most part though, I just love knowing he's ok in there. Earlier he was kicking so much, and so hard, that I decided to rock in my chair to see if I could get him to go to sleep. And he did. About 15 minutes later, it was completely still in there. I just think Matthew and I need to be prepared to have a non stop rambunctious boy on our hands!

Oh, and I do want to say thank you so much to my sweet husband who has taken such good care of me. He helped me around the house to get things ready to go out of town so I could focus on the things he couldn't assist me with. I would have been double stressed out without him. And he was more than wonderful when I was sick. Taking care of my every need without complaining once. He drove us home 4 and a half hours and I'm sure all he wanted to do was crash out. But instead, he was by my side every minute making sure I was as comfortable as one who is 5.5 months pregnant with a tummy virus could be. You are my sweet best friend Matthew and I love you beyond words.

20 weeks - The half way point!!

Believe it or not I have officially reached the half way point of this pregnancy! In some ways, it has gone by very fast feeling like I've just adjusted to the thought of it. In others, it feels like forever and a year ago that we found out and began telling everyone. The former is encouraging for the next 20 weeks that are ahead of me and the thought that maybe they'll go quickly. The later is encouraging too as I still feel like we have so much to do to prepare for the arrival of our little man!! I am starting to really enjoy being pregnant. My belly is starting to round and it is 100% obvious that I've got a little bundle in there! I have been so blessed to have such an easy pregnancy. And feeling the baby move definitely makes pregnancy fun and rewarding. As I'm typing I can feel Hudson moving like crazy . . . right above my bladder! He's been resting on it ever since I woke up this morning, making his mommy take frequent trips to the bathroom today. Never the less I would much rather feel him move, even if its on my bladder, than not so no complaints here. Bentley barked loudly when Matthew came home and started playing with him today and Hudson jumped in response, which was very fun. Just a few more weeks and he'll be big enough for others to feel him move. I can't wait for Matthew to feel our little man moving around inside of me!!

Speaking of the little man, he's the length of a banana today! Just for your information, they change the way the measure babies this week. It's been crown to rump thus far (hence the 6.7 measurement from the doc) and from now on will be crown to heel since the babies are stretched out now. They told us Monday that he's at 53% on the growth chart which means at this stage 47% of babies are bigger than him and 52% are smaller. I'm telling you this because on babycenter.com today it said your baby is about 10.5 ounces. So, we're just a little ahead of that but the banana reference is towards the length and not weight. I feel this is kind of random and possibly not anything you want to know. I guess I'm just typing thoughts here as I've told myself, "ok, when you look at the produce your baby is each week, just know we're just a little ahead of the game".

OOOKKKKK how cool is this. I've got the laptop on the coffee table so I'm bending over a little to type and its making Hudson move like crazy. Since the kicks and turns are so strong right now I decided to see if Matthew could feel it. I pressed his hand on my belly right where he was kicking and then all the sudden Matthew goes, I felt it!! So just to test I said, what did it feel like and he said a little thud which is exactly right!!! AGH! I mean, he's definitely not really feeling anything very hard, just a little thud and it will get stronger later but so cool he can feel a little bit right now! It's only every once in a while that he kicks that strong anyhow. I know he couldn't feel the regular movements right now, but someday soon!!

Well, I've spoiled y'all with two posts in one week and look forward to doing it more. Take care my friends!

It's a . . . It's a . . . It's a . . .

BOY!!! We are soooo excited!!! So, so, so excited!! Everything looked great, bones are healthy, brain looks great and is the size it is supposed to be, same with the heart. All his organs are the right size and functioning properly. The eyes, ears, nose and mouth look great, no cleft lip. Hands and feet look great as well. He's 13 ounces which puts us on track to have a 7 pound 7-9 ounce baby boy! It is so wonderful to know it is a boy and that he is completely healthy so far!!

This is a nice profile shot of him:

Here is a precious little foot!


And here is the proof! It's like he's sitting on a glass bottom floor and we're looking up. His little bottom is on the left, then his legs are sticking straight out, then his little boy part is in the middle!
Beautiful!!! Like I said, he's 13 ounces and about 6.7 inches. He's doing great and I am soooo relieved to hear it! His name will be Hudson Lloyd Johns. Hudson we both just loved the name, Lloyd is Matthew's grandfather's first name. I can't wait to hold the little guy for the first time!!!!!!

I have to say I am sorry it has been literally one month since I posted. I didn't know how many of you were so faithful to check the page until I wasn't updating it. That definitely motivates me to write more now. I really do have intentions of being better at it from now on, I promise. For now though, let me catch y'all up.

I have been great! Feeling wonderful and not anything like I was up to the 13 week mark. I have been sooo hot, which I have always been cold natured so I'm definitely not used to this. It has been a really tough adjustment. I have to say its pretty annoying. And to top it all off, it looks like we are in for a pretty hot summer. Already hitting the 100s yesterday and today. I just pray I can make it through!!

The baby slowed down in growing there for a little while but is back on a growth spurt. Which means the heartburn has the potential to return, and it has a couple of times. Not as bad as before but I've still had some pretty rough moments. We've been enjoying the fact that the baby can hear now and talk to him all the time (so cool that I can say him now instead of it!!). Matthew's so cute when he lays his head on my belly and talks. I feel the baby move all the time. I usually feel him (on the outside) on my sides and down low (and of course on the inside) and I found out why today. The placenta is on the front of my uterus. Which is ok, it doesn't mean any danger or anything (it's supposed to be on the back side) it just means that there's an extra layer between the baby and the outside. Which makes it a little harder to feel in that spot. I have felt movement there but its always a poke or kick. So if the placenta wasn't there, those pokes and kicks would be a lot harder!! But I feel all different kinds of movement. I eat a lot of fruit and the baby always moves when I do. He was moving like crazy during the sono! She was like, my goodness, what did you eat?! I drank orange juice while in the waiting room to make sure those legs were open, hehehe!!! And they were!

We are just really excited. Matthew was telling me the other day how excited he is that we are starting our own family and how its going to be the 3 of us now. It's so surreal. I mean, now its the three of us, not just me and him. We have someone to take care of and now WE are mom and dad. Now we have our own traditions to start, own family memories to make, family vacations, etc. It's unbelievable, crazy, cool and overwhelming. I love that I am doing it with Matthew though. He is such a great husband and I am so excited that he is going to have a little boy to be his buddy. Matthew and his dad are best friends and I am just grateful that the Lord gave us a boy so Matthew can form that same relationship with Hudson. He's going to be an amazing father . . . and I am so grateful I get to stand by his side as he transforms into this new role.

Ok, I promise to write soon!!!!

15 Weeks

It's crazy to think that I am already 15 weeks pregnant and that my little poppy seed is already the size of an apple. It's amazing how time passes when pregnant and how fast things happen with your baby's development. How fast they grow. This week the skeleton is really developing, taking shape and starting to retain calcium. It's crazy how obsessed you, and your husband, become so focused on nutrition and what's going into your body. Making sure you get enough of every nutrient to give your baby the best start possible. And the very, very long list of items you avoid. My most missed are Coke Zero, Sushi and sugar-free gum. Everything else is tolerable. If you want to get me a 'congrats you've had the baby' present, anyone of those three would make you my most fav person in the World!! hahaa But I have to say, it's all totally worth it. Oh, and I'm over cold slushy things. Gatorade is the latest obsession. Just drinks still, no crazy food cravings or anything.

The baby's taste buds are also developing this week as well. The legs are really growing and all the limbs can bend at the joints. The eyes and ears are developing, within a couple of more weeks the baby will start to hear. Which is extremely exciting as I look forward to reading the bible to the baby and watching Matthew talk to my tummy. The eyelids are fused shut but the baby can sense light. The other night we put a flash light up to my tummy. Which leads me to my most exciting announcement to date. I'm about 98% sure I've started to feel the baby move!!!! The first time was Thursday. I was sitting at my desk, starting to sip on a fresh fruit and soy milk smoothie when I felt a feeling I've never felt before. My first thought was, that was the baby! And I would like to think my maternal instincts are not to far off. You feel all kinds of things in your tummy but this was the first time for this type of sensation and my first time to have the thought of it being the baby. So, I'm pretty sure that's what I'm feeling. Which I have to say is the most very exciting thing about being pregnant so far. Feeling that little one move around inside of you is the coolest, most secretive thing you can experience. It's like someone just told you that you've won the Lotto and you're having a private little party...on the inside...that no knows about but you. It lasts about 2 seconds but I am constantly paying attention now, waiting for the next possible movement. I felt the baby three times yesterday. Two of the same fluttering sensation that I had on Thursday and one little quick jab. They're very subtle at this point and I'm anxious for the day when they become more noticeable, more frequent and stronger.

So, that's really the exciting things for the moment. My next regular check up is next Thurs the 22nd and I'm anxious to hear the heartbeat again, Matthew too, we can't wait! But the day that we are really, really looking forward to is June 16th at 9AM! We get to find out what this little poppy is. Ugh, its taking forever to get here so I just try not to think about it. Which is very hard. Also, our One Year is almost here! Monday! Once again, amazement at how time flies is the response. Which makes me think "Time flies when you're having fun" is an appropriate statement to end this post!

14 Weeks!

I'm officially in my second tri! One down, two to go!! Which is pretty exciting and very encouraging. My chances of having a miscarriage are way less now. I'm doing great and all the 'aches' and pains that I have been dealing with are basically non existent. It's pretty much just heartburn every once in a while. I'm in the in between stage on clothes which is kind of frustrating. My regular jeans don't fit at all now, at all. Most of my tops still fit but if they're not long then I don't feel comfortable wearing them. Also, you can tell I've gained weight but I don't have a nice little round ball so its not so obvious that I'm prego. I'm definitely starting to show a little though, which is very exciting. It takes a lot longer to show with your first though. It's just nice to have some physical proof that everything I've been going through is actually going to have an end result. Which I am very excited about. Right now the most exciting thing is June 16th at 9am. That is the day and time of my next sono and I seriously cannot wait! We are definitely going to find out what it is. 5 weeks and counting and we'll know if it is going to be Hudson or Camille! AGH! the excitement is a little hard to contain. Just think, 6 months and Matthew and I will have a little baby that we made together here, in our arms. Amazing.

So the poppy seed is now the size of a lemon, about 3 1/2 inches long! The baby is doing all sorts of things now! The baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Just think of a little miniature baby with it's thumb in its mouth! Thanks to brain impulses, the facial muscles are getting a workout as tiny features form one expression after another. The kidneys are producing urine, which is released into the amniotic fluid — a process that will continue until birth. Yes, the baby is peeing inside of me. Lovely. I just pray everything is going ok, the baby is developing properly and that its healthy!

It's crazy how fast time goes by. In 11 days we'll have been married one year! I'm already 3 months pregnant and it feels like we found out yesterday. And before we know it, I'll be going in to labor. We'll be leaving our house for the last time just the two of us and coming back with our lives completely changed and for the better. I really hope time slows down when that baby gets here. I try not to think about the fact I only get 8 weeks maternity leave and then I have to leave my little baby everyday and go to work. I already know its going to be one of the hardest things I will ever experience. We are praying for the Lord to show us who to trust our little baby with. It's amazing how much this little one has already got us worried and fretting over every little thing. Parenthood is going to be one crazy ride!

11, 12 and 13 weeks Oh My!

Yes, it has been 3 weeks since I last posted. What can I say? Work has been super busy, life has been super busy and the weekends have been packed. Things are slowing down a little though so I feel like I can actually breath. the really great news? I feel GREAT!!!!! woo-hoo! I actually feel like a normal human being again. I'm not sick at all . . . smells still get to me every once in a while but that is it!! I'm not fall down tired anymore and have a pretty good amount of energy and overall just back to being my normal self. Which is very exciting. Matthew and I made a trip to San Antonio last week to celebrate our One Year Anny a little early. We had such a blast, it was wonderful to just be with each other 24/7 and just be two best friends experiencing new things. Also, the opportunity to just be a couple before the little one gets here!

So, let me catch you up. Week 11 the baby was the size of a fig and the little hands began to open and close and little tooth buds began to develop under the gums. Week 12 the baby was the size of a lime and reflexes began to develop plus a whole lot of other things including the toes started curling, the baby's little mouth began making sucking movements and the brain and nerve cells were developing rapidly. And now, in week 13 the baby is the size of a shrimp, about 3 inches long!! Fingerprints have formed on the tiny fingers, can you believe it? The baby already has its own individual, unique fingerprints that are totally the baby's. The baby is growing like crazy and get this. If it is a girl, she already has 2 million eggs in her ovaries! Which means the first steps that are required for my daughter to have this same life experience have already taken place. So, if it is a girl, I'm carrying my future grandchildren as well...the start of them anyway! Pretty cool when you think about it that way, huh??

Ok well, I'm definitely way more excited about being pregnant and loving life again. Hopefully I'll be better about bloging. I started a myspace page as well. I know, I know. I revolted for so long and now I'm on the wagon. And blogging. The world we live in. So it's www.myspace.com/carmengia519 check it out because it has all our pics on it. Including San Antonio! Oh! And I'm totally obsessed with cold slushy drinks and Gatorade right now. But thats it, no pickles and ice cream cravings or anything else weird.

10 Weeks!

Hey everyone! Sorry I'm not good at posting all the time! I'm pretty much the same but at the same time better. Definitely tired. Definitely having mood swings and crying randomly. But some days I'm good all day. I've noticed that if I have a super busy day then the next day I'm pretty much a lump on a log and good for nothing. Matthew has been super sweet and supportive. He's been cleaning the house, doing laundry and he brought me home roses the other day not to mention all the little thoughtful things he's done. He's such a good hubby and going to be such an awesome daddy! He's been patient with me and my moods which has been extra helpful as it helps me get over my moods faster. We just keep telling ourselves its not permanent, just 9 months. The upside is that its only 5 more weeks to the end of my first tri!!! That's so encouraging!!! Ok so I totally had to copy this from one of the websites I'm on, it makes me feel better: "This is often an emotional period for many women, a time when you may not feel as excited about your pregnancy as you think you should. Not to worry—this is normal! Within a few weeks, your joy will be hard to contain! And don't be concerned if you're also feeling a little tired. That’s normal too!" Yeah, I feel normal.

So what's up with the baby this week? Well, the poppy is now the size of a kumquat and is 1.25-1.5 inches long from head to bottom. The baby swallows now and is constantly kicking. Nails are forming on the tiny toes and fingers and the hands are long enough now to touch! Basically, the little tike is just busy growing away and getting bigger day by day.

Matthew and I are almost married a year!! We are going to San Antonio in a couple of weeks to celebrate and cannot wait. We are so looking forward to getting away together and just enjoying the river. The weather should be perfect! Speaking of perfect weather we went on a picnic yesterday in the Botanical, it was perfect!

Love y'all!