There She Goes Again...

Exciting News! We're having a baby! What an appropriate announcement for a pregnancy blog, right? We're pregnant! Again... haha!

Well, Perkins #4 is eager to join the family! I knew once I moved to Arizona, that I was going to get pregnant. One of those omens... Which is why I gave my pregnancy pillow, Steve, a death stare. As if to say, "You better be going in the closet." But who listens to me any way? So far no one. Lol!

First Test

 Another test. I think I took four.

 I found out the big news on September 13th. I really REALLY wanted to tell Ben in a cute way. I typically just blab my guts, and never get creative. This was my fourth chance to get it right. I bought him some fun daddy books, and they were on their way in the mail. They were going to come the day I told him. What ruined my secret? Health Insurance. I was really pushing for it, and Ben said that we just might have to wait. And I laughed. I shouldn't have laughed. He pried my secret from my lips, and I'll just have to spend forever forgiving him. I was so nervous to tell him. I was excited about the pregnancy, and it was fun keeping it a secret (for a few weeks days.) According to Amazon, I told him on September 18th. To my perfect surprise, Ben was elated! I was so happy that he was excited too. And for a few weeks everything was perfect.

Around week 9/10, I started to feel sick. Really yucky. For all you TMI people, I don't throw up. But I feel like dirt, and lose all pleasure in eating food. I wanted my comfort foods. I was craving hamburgers and french fries. Somehow those french fries sooth my raging stomach. (And probably add unwanted inches. Too bad.)

On October 22, I had my first ultrasound. My OB office does not do these routinely. They only offer the genetic screening, and the gender ultrasound. I had to be kind of pushy to get one. I told them that I had a miscarriage this year, and it moved things along. (In case you didn't know, I really did in April.) I was so worried about something being wrong with the baby. So when I saw this little bundle, kicking and wiggling like crazy, with a beautiful flickering heart, I was excited, but nervous about how I was going to take care of another one!

Measuring 9 w 6 d, but they left it as 10 w 5 d

According to my LMP, my due date was May 15, and the ultrasound measured 6 days behind. I guess that is not enough to change the due date, so it will stay May 15. 

On November 10th, I had a visit with the nurse. That included the lengthy questions, and insane amount of blood tests. It was short and sweet. 

My first real OB appointment was November 11. I am seeing Dr. Maria DiLeo, and I really like her. She was funny, and genuine, and really empathetic too. I think she will be a wonderful doctor to have. She was really thorough, and made sure to answer all my questions. I complained about some severe stomach pain, which she believed was similar to acid reflux, but instead of the reflux, I was having acid reflex. After I eat a meal, about an hour later I have a really bad stomach pain, which I can usually get to subside if I snack a little bit more. She explained that when I eat, the acid is used up, and my body keeps making more. That's why it calms for a little bit after I eat, but flares up about an hour later. She recommended Pepcid AC. Does this sound familiar? Hmm... happened when I had Eve. Next, I got to hear the heartbeat. It was strong and loud! 166 bpm. Oh, wait... usually a faster heartbeat means a girl? Hmmm... wait a second... 

Yep.... Pretty sure I'm having a girl. I felt like I was from the beginning, and now I'm not changing my mind! And that makes me more excited! We let the kids guess if I was having a boy or girl, and they guessed girl. Eve keeps calling her, Tiana baby, because she keeps forgetting the name Julianna. If we are having a girl, that is the name I felt really good about, and I love it. Now Ben can finally have his Jewels. 

So here we go again right? I guess we are trying not to lose momentum. After this little cupcake, I'm ready to take a baby making break. I'm sure I'd love to call it the end. But then someone gives us a gentle nudge that it's their turn, and we start all over again. I couldn't be luckier. My current baby looks like this now:

I guess he's not a baby anymore! And yes, that is chocolate, and yes, I had two perfect handprints on the white bed sheets in my room. He found mommy's stash! 

Wish us luck! (or just me... )