Phillip, the numbers man he is, was not impressed when I proudly announced that we were at the 12 week mark. However, when I changed the numbers to statistics, stating that we were 1/3 of the way completed with the pregnancy or 33% completed it really caught his attention (oh the Van Court's and their fascination with numbers :). He began talking about how unprepared we were and how this time really will pass before we know it. I think the time passes more quickly for him due to fall harvest. For myself on the other hand, it's not passing quickly enough.
I had been warned about the alleged "morning sickness", I just had no idea what it all entailed. It's incredible feeling sick from the moment you wake up, until the moment you go to sleep. I've told Phillip that I feel like I'm already trying to parent this little Nugget. It doesn't want to eat anything! Not to mention all of the other Gastrointestinal issues that have come up during the past few weeks. Though, on the other side of all of this, I feel like it will make me a better nurse. I have learned more remedies, tricks, and medications in ways I never could have understood from a textbook, and I have to think that it's only to make me a stronger woman, mother, and nurse.
My mother and Grandma Cornelson have promised me that this will pass, though, I may be looking at, at least 6 more weeks before it's completed. Which, truly will be perfect, because that will put me feeling fine for the holidays! And between my family's and Louise's delicious home cooking, I would be incredibly disappointed if I didn't get to enjoy it all to the fullest.
I know poor Phillip feels so helpless and all he ever says is "what can I do?" and "I just want you to feel better." He's so attentive and caring, and is always there to hold my hair and scratch my back, even if it's late at night or early in the morning. I know I'm a lucky girl for having such a great man in my life, though I do occasionally blame him and his genetics for wreaking havoc on my body :) I've told him that his DNA is too intelligent to blend with my DNA therefore causing some sort of major chaos within me... he just smirks, because he knows it's true.
Tuesday, October 12th was our second prenatal appointment. It makes me so proud to walk in with Phillip by my side, you see an occasional spouse in the waiting room, and I'm just so happy to have his support right there with me. I love that even in the busiest of fall harvests, he makes me and the nugget a priority, though I've told him he doesn't have to.
We were taken into the little exam room were we listened to the Nuggets strong heart beating at 158 beats per minute, and I was shocked at how high on my tummy the heartbeat was found. Just a few fingerbredths below my navel. They listened for a solid minute and I looked over to see Phillip beaming one of those great Phillip smiles, it's just an amazing sound. My blood pressure was within normal range and I reviewed my lab work from the previous appointment. Everything was just right. Dr. Kauffman came in and measured the height of my uterus, just where it should be at 12 centimeters above my pubic bone. And Phillip proceeded with a few questions we had put together to ask Dr. Kauffman.
We asked about cord blood banking, due to the fact that Leukemia runs on both sides of our families. Dr. Kauffman responded that it's completely up to us, however, if we chose to bank the cord blood, the chances that we could use it for anyone in our family is not great and we would probably have to use someone elses. It was interesting to learn that especially if we had a child with Leukemia they would specifically not use their cord blood, because that could have some of the genetic components in it that caused the Leukemia in the first place. We're still debating over whether or not we will do the banking, again we'll let you know when we've made a decision. Another question we had was whether or not there have been any risks associated with having ultrasounds done too frequently in a pregnancy. Dr. Kauffman simply replied that he has some patients that are pregnant with twins that have tangled up/knotted cords that have to have ultrasounds/sonograms daily. He also stated that there have not been any proven risks associated with ultrasounds/sonograms. Which made me feel better because I do love getting to see the Nugget!
Our next prenatal appointment is scheduled for Monday, November 8th at 8:40am, we will be 15 weeks at that point, so the appointment following that will be the official sonogram that could tell us the gender, should we decide to find out (we still can't decide!).
I've decided to post a 12 week tummy photo. I still don't feel like I'm showing at all, I'm having some bowel issues, so I feel incredibly bloated, and I do have a little bit of extra chunk in my tummy. So this is why I don't feel like I am showing, despite the fact that my uterus is the size of a grapefruit this week.
Perhaps Grampa Van Court can give us tips for how to better photograph the tummy.
Sorry this has been a little long winded, thanks for hanging in there with me!
I know I promised a Phillip post, believe me, I've been working on him. I will continue to work on that this week.
Love to everyone!
From my perspective and from my recollection, early on you feel like you're so unprepared - and that you don't know how you'll ever be ready. As the due date (actually the only date you should really call "birthday") gets very close, you feel like you just want to get this done and meet this new person.
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